If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are producing lots of claims. And most of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent method to improve your York home’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
As modern residences don’t normally let in as much outdoor air as aging houses, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 717-383-4479 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our recommendations to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being sent out again.
These filters can incorporate 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 miniscule particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to purify a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your total house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with a better 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 house can offer many great health advantages. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, such as some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues linked to poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having problems with removing strong smells in your residence, we advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health even more so during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this perk, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several features to stay away from when picking a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution runs alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 717-383-4479 to get started breathing cleaner air now!