If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some brands are making many claims. And most of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to improve your Georgetown residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
As updated residences don’t typically let in as much outside air as old residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Miller Climate Control LLC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 512-937-2001 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our suggestions to help you choose the best 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 catch contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters might include 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 as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can offer lots of good health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, such as some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other issues associated with bad indoor air quality. These entail:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you having issues with removing heavy smells in your residence, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health even more so during cold months. To get full advantage of this perk, we recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several styles to stay away from when choosing a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This solution operates in tandem with your home comfort system.
When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Miller Climate Control LLC, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 512-937-2001 to get started breathing healthier air today!