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 may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic approach to improve your Magnolia house’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
As newer homes don’t naturally allow in as much outdoor air as old residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists 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. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our suggestions to help you find the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being recirculated.
These filters may include a charcoal filter, to eliminate odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat one area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your house can give lots of outstanding health advantages. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, including some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Symptoms 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 related to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish troubles linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you are having a hard time with removing persistent smells in your home, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Getting Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health even more so during colder months. To take total advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when picking a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style works with your home comfort system.
When you call the indoor air quality experts at JTech Mechanical, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 281-231-8768 to start breathing healthier air today!