If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some brands are spouting many claims. And some of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to better your Swanton home’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since modern houses don’t naturally bring in as much outside air as older houses, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Northwest Services can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 419-548-5017 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their advantages and our suggestions to help you select the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters can incorporate 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 filtering miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your house can deliver a lot of good health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your house, such as some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Alleviates 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 reduce other issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be difficult to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having problems with eliminating persistent smells in your house, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health particularly during cold months. To receive total advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few options to stay away from when selecting a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Northwest Services, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 419-548-5017 to start breathing fresher air right away!