If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some brands are producing many claims. And many of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic method to improve your Siloam Springs home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Because updated houses don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as aging homes, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Siloam Springs Heating & AC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 479-308-8176 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect irritants before being redistributed.
These filters may 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 catching miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to filter a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your residence can give lots of good health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other issues linked to low indoor air quality. These entail:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having problems with removing heavy smells in your residence, our professionals advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Reduce Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during winter months. To receive total advantage of this plus, we advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several styles to skip when picking a system for your home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This solution operates in tandem with your home comfort system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Siloam Springs Heating & AC, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 479-308-8176 to get started breathing cleaner air today!