If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are spouting lots of claims. And some 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 worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent method to better your Lodi residence’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
Since updated homes don’t normally let in as much outdoor air as aging residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Tokay Heating and Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 209-257-3156 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our advice to help you select the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters might 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 little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can provide a lot of great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your residence, such as some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms related to poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify troubles associated with indoor air quality, as they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.
3. Removes Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having issues with removing persistent smells in your house, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health particularly during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard 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 picking a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother 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. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This style operates alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Tokay Heating and Air Conditioning, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 209-257-3156 to begin breathing fresher air right away!