If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some kinds are making a lot of claims. And most of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic way to better your Branchville home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because newer homes don’t normally allow in as much outside air as old homes, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 862-345-6896 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being redistributed.

These filters can include 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 catching miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter a single room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your entire residence.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can offer lots of great health perks. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, 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 struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to distinguish issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having problems with getting rid of strong smells in your home, our professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health particularly during cold months. To get total advantage of this plus, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when picking a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This option works with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc., we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 862-345-6896 to get started breathing healthier air right away!