If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some manufacturers are spouting many claims. And some of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a great approach to better your Omaha residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
Since updated houses don’t typically let in as much outdoor air as older homes, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at The Frazier Company can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 402-628-0206 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you find the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being sent out again.
These filters can 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 capturing microscopic particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify an individual area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with an improved 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 home can deliver a lot of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your home, including some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These entail:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably to blame.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having difficulties with getting rid of strong smells in your house, we advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Chance of Being 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 full advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to avoid when selecting a system for your house:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce 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. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality specialists at The Frazier Company, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 402-628-0206 to start breathing cleaner air today!