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

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your Auburn and Opelika house’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because newer houses don’t naturally let in as much outside air as older residences, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 334-524-2458 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, 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 passes through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being redistributed.

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

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire house.

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

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver many great health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your residence, 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 Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles linked to low indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to distinguish symptoms linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, our professionals suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Probability of Getting Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during winter months. To take total advantage of this perk, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs alongside your HVAC system.

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