If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some manufacturers are spouting lots of claims. And many of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

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

As modern homes don’t naturally let in as much outside air as aging homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals 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 provide support. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch irritants before being recirculated.

These filters can incorporate 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 catching microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter an individual room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can give a lot of good health pluses. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower irritants in your home, like some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be tricky to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having problems with eliminating persistent smells in your residence, we recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health even more so during winter months. To get complete advantage of this plus, our pros suggest 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 options to avoid when selecting a system for your home:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This option works in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 308-624-3485 to get started breathing fresher air today!