If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some manufacturers are producing many claims. And some of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic way to improve your Tucson and Phoenix house’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since newer residences don’t normally bring in as much outside air as old houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Desert Husky HVAC/R Services can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 520-416-5415 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being sent out again.
These filters can have a charcoal filter, to remove odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter an individual space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your total house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your home can deliver lots of good health perks. Here are several of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease irritants in your residence, including some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish symptoms associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.
3. Removes Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having difficulties with removing persistent smells in your residence, our professionals recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health particularly during cold months. To take complete advantage of this plus, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when choosing a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This solution runs in tandem with your home comfort system.
When you call the indoor air quality experts at Desert Husky HVAC/R Services, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 520-416-5415 to get started breathing cleaner air today!