If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be finding that some manufacturers are making many claims. And most of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re a great way to better your Magnolia house’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
As newer residences don’t naturally allow in as much outside air as old residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at JTech Mechanical can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 281-231-8768 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch irritants before being sent out again.
These filters may 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 filtering microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to filter one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your entire residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your house can give lots of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, like some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to determine troubles related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with eliminating strong smells in your home, our professionals recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health particularly during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few styles to stay away from when choosing a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This option operates with your HVAC system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at JTech Mechanical, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 281-231-8768 to get started breathing cleaner air today!