If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are producing lots of claims. And some of those claims could seem 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 way to enhance your Kearney residence’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because newer homes don’t naturally let in as much outside air as older houses, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 308-624-3485 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our recommendations to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being redistributed.

These filters can 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 catching miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter one area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver lots of great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your house, including some of these standard triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Reduces Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

  • Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be tricky to distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having issues with eliminating heavy smells in your home, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health especially during colder months. To get full advantage of this perk, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to avoid when choosing a system for your home:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This style runs in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality specialists at Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 308-624-3485 to get started breathing healthier air now!