If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some brands are spouting a lot of claims. And many of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic method to improve your Auburn and Opelika house’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because newer homes don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as old homes, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 334-524-2458 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters may include a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at filtering tiny particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter one area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your complete home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of Air Purification

Installing an air purifier in your house can deliver many good health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your home, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be tricky to determine symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with eliminating persistent smells in your house, our professionals suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier particularly during cold months. To receive complete advantage of this plus, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Avoid

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when selecting a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option works with your heating and cooling system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Farnell Mechanical, Inc., we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 334-524-2458 to begin breathing healthier air right away!