If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are producing many claims. And most of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re a great method to better your Chadron residence’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since newer houses don’t typically bring in as much outdoor air as older residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The outcome? 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 professionals at MPC Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 308-832-4321 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their benefits and our advice to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch irritants before being recirculated.
These filters may include 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 catching tiny particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat a single room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can give a lot of good health perks. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, such as some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues associated with bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to determine issues related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.
3. Eliminates Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having problems with removing persistent smells in your house, we suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Lower Your Probability of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during winter months. To receive full advantage of this perk, we recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several features to stay away from when choosing a system for your home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style works alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at MPC Heating & Cooling, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 308-832-4321 to get started breathing fresher air right away!