If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some kinds are making many claims. And most of those claims could 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, since they’re a fantastic way to better your Woodbridge residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since updated houses don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as old houses, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Fire & Ice HVAC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 703-595-4157 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being redistributed.
These filters may have a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to purify one space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can give lots of outstanding health perks. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your house, such as some of these standard 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 residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having problems with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household healthier even more so during winter months. To take complete advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several styles to avoid when selecting a system for your residence:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This style runs alongside your home comfort system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Fire & Ice HVAC, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 703-595-4157 to start breathing fresher air today!