If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some kinds are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to enhance your Milledgeville and Middle Georgia house’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since updated houses don’t typically bring in as much fresh air as older residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Air Concepts of Middle Georgia can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 478-200-5689 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our advice to help you find the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being redistributed.
These filters might incorporate 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 filtering miniscule particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your entire residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver many outstanding health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues related to bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Chance of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health even more so during winter months. To take full advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several styles to stay away from when selecting a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends 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 healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This solution operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Air Concepts of Middle Georgia, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 478-200-5689 to begin breathing cleaner air right away!