If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some manufacturers are making many claims. And some of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to enhance your Muskogee home’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since newer houses don’t typically let in as much fresh air as aging residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 918-682-8238 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their benefits and our suggestions to help you select the best 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 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 down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to treat one room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your total house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can offer lots of good health pluses. Here are several of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your home, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms associated with bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to determine symptoms associated with indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably to blame.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with removing persistent smells in your residence, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health especially during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when choosing a system for your house:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, 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 cleans the air across your home. This solution works in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc., we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 918-682-8238 to begin breathing cleaner air today!