If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be finding that some brands are spouting many claims. And most of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a great way to improve your Lafayette home’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
As newer residences don’t naturally bring in as much outside air as older homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at AC Sales can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at (337) 234-2345 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap irritants before being recirculated.
These filters can incorporate 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 filtering microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to filter an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can offer many great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues related to poor indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you are having a hard time with eliminating heavy smells in your residence, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during winter months. To receive total advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few features to avoid when picking a system for your house:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution operates with your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at AC Sales, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at (337) 234-2345 to begin breathing fresher air today!
