If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be finding that some brands are making a lot of claims. And most of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to better your Delray Beach house’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Because updated homes don’t naturally bring in as much outside air as older homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Kilbourne Heating & AC can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 561-287-7071 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out 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 have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being redistributed.
These filters might include 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 catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver lots of outstanding health benefits. Here are several of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, including some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Problems 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 troubles linked to low indoor air quality. These entail:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to pinpoint issues associated with indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably to blame.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you struggle with getting rid of heavy smells in your house, our pros advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health especially during cold months. To receive full advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to skip when choosing a system for your house:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution runs alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Kilbourne Heating & AC, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 561-287-7071 to start breathing healthier air now!