If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be finding that some kinds are making many claims. And many of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to enhance your Manassas house’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As newer homes don’t normally allow in as much outdoor air as aging residences, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Fire & Ice HVAC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 703-595-4157 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our suggestions to help you choose the right 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 irritants before being redistributed.

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 catching microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to treat an individual room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your house can give a lot of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a few of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower irritants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, such as 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 struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms related to low indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to determine troubles associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having difficulties with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our professionals suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Likelihood of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health especially during cold months. To take complete advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest 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 some air purifiers. Here are several options to stay away from when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use 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, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This solution operates in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Fire & Ice HVAC, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 703-595-4157 to get started breathing healthier air today!