If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some manufacturers are spouting lots of claims. And many of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to improve your Manassas residence’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because updated houses don’t typically bring in as much outdoor air as old residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Air-Right Energy Design can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 703-260-1148 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our advice to help you find the ideal air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect irritants before being recirculated.
These filters may have 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, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of Air Purification
Getting an air purifier for your home can offer lots of good health advantages. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms associated with low indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having difficulties with eliminating strong smells in your house, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Reduce Your Probability 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 even more so during cold months. To take full advantage of this plus, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several styles to avoid when selecting a system for your residence:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This option works in tandem with your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Air-Right Energy Design, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 703-260-1148 to start breathing cleaner air today!