If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some brands are making many claims. And many of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic method to better your Cottonwood & Prescott home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since modern houses don’t naturally allow in as much outside air as older residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Connolly Electric & Mechanical can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 928-251-4327 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their benefits and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect irritants before being recirculated.
These filters can have 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 miniscule particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can offer lots of great health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, like some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish troubles associated with indoor air quality, because they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having issues with eliminating strong smells in your house, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during winter months. To take full advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few options to skip when choosing a system for your residence:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate 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. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This solution runs with your HVAC system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Connolly Electric & Mechanical, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 928-251-4327 to begin breathing fresher air today!