If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some brands are making lots of claims. And some of those claims could appear 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, as they’re a fantastic method to enhance your York house’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Since modern houses don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as aging homes, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Strine's can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 717-383-4479 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 choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being sent out again.

These filters may include 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 tiny particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire 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 along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver a lot of great health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your house, including some of these standard triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Reduces Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:

  • Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be difficult to identify symptoms linked to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having problems with removing persistent smells in your house, we suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health especially during winter months. To get full advantage of this perk, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when selecting a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from 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 clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution operates in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Strine's, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 717-383-4479 to begin breathing fresher air right away!