If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are producing many claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to better your Rapid City residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since newer homes don’t typically bring in as much outside air as aging houses, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Precision Mechanical can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 605-206-3766 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the right 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 pollutants before being sent out again.
These filters can 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 tiny particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify one space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your entire home.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your home can offer many good health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems 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 decrease other issues related to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify troubles linked to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly to blame.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of strong smells in your residence, our pros suggest 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 better health especially during cold months. To get total advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when choosing a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This option operates in tandem with your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Precision Mechanical, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 605-206-3766 to start breathing healthier air right away!