If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some manufacturers are making lots of claims. And many of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to enhance your Houston residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since modern residences don’t naturally let in as much outside air as older homes, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Air Current AC & Heat can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 713-322-4318 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our advice to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being recirculated.

These filters can include a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing tiny particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver lots of outstanding health perks. Here are just a few of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your house, including some of these standard triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Alleviates Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

  • Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be hard to determine issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Removes Odors

Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having problems with getting rid of strong smells in your residence, our pros advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Lower Your Probability of Getting Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health even more so during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this perk, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few features to stay away from when selecting a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution operates alongside your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Air Current AC & Heat, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 713-322-4318 to start breathing healthier air now!