If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And some of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your West Jefferson residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since newer residences don’t naturally let in as much fresh air as older houses, contaminants 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 struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 614-879-9091 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect pollutants before being redistributed.

These filters may incorporate 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 down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify a single space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can offer many great health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your house, like some of these typical triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Alleviates Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues related to bad indoor air quality. These include:

  • 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, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating persistent smells in your house, our professionals suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this plus, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few styles to skip when choosing a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This style operates alongside your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc., we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 614-879-9091 to get started breathing fresher air right away!