If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some brands are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to enhance your Auburn and Opelika home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
Because updated residences don’t naturally allow in as much fresh air as old homes, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists 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 assist you. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their benefits and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect 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 capturing tiny particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to treat an individual space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can give many great health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your home, such as some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Problems 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 decrease other symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish troubles related to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably to blame.
3. Removes Odors
Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of strong smells in your house, we recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during cold months. To take complete advantage of this plus, we advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few options to skip when picking a system for your residence:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs in tandem with your HVAC system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Farnell Mechanical, Inc., we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 334-524-2458 to get started breathing fresher air today!