If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be finding that some manufacturers are spouting many claims. And most of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to improve your Chelan and Wenatchee home’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
As updated homes don’t normally allow in as much fresh air as old residences, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Lakeside Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 509-284-4265 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters may 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 as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to purify a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total home.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can offer lots of good health pluses. Here are several of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower irritants in your house, such as some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Symptoms Related 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 linked to low indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.
3. Removes Odors
Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Probability of Getting Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health even more so during winter months. To receive total advantage of this benefit, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Stay Away From
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when picking a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This option works alongside your HVAC system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Lakeside Heating & Air, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 509-284-4265 to start breathing fresher air now!
