If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are spouting lots of claims. And most of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to better your Genoa home’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated houses don’t naturally bring in as much outside air as older houses, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Assured Appliance & Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 847-306-8990 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being sent out again.

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 capturing microscopic particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your total house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can give a lot of good health perks. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to identify issues associated with indoor air quality, because they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having problems with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, we recommend getting 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 good health particularly during winter months. To receive total advantage of this perk, our pros 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 several styles to skip when picking a system for your house:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This solution works in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality specialists at Assured Appliance & Heating & Air, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 847-306-8990 to start breathing cleaner air right away!