If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be finding that some kinds are making many claims. And most of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic way to enhance your Kearney home’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since newer homes don’t naturally let in as much fresh air as old homes, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 308-624-3485 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our recommendations to help you choose 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 collect pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters may have a charcoal filter, to remove odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing tiny particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify one room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your total house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can deliver lots of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, such as some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Symptoms Linked 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 troubles related to poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be hard to distinguish symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having problems with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Probability of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several styles to stay away from when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use 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 the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style operates in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 308-624-3485 to start breathing cleaner air today!