If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be finding that some kinds are producing many claims. And many of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re a great way to improve your St. Louis house’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
As modern houses don’t normally allow in as much outside air as aging residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 314-262-4541 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our advice to help you choose the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being recirculated.
These filters may 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 filtering 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 space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can offer lots of great health benefits. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, including some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers 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 troubles associated with bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our pros advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Chance 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 get total advantage of this perk, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when choosing a system for your house:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have 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 advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This option operates in tandem with your HVAC system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 314-262-4541 to start breathing fresher air now!