If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some brands are producing many 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 worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic method to enhance your West Jefferson home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because modern residences don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as old homes, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 614-879-9091 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our advice to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap irritants before being recirculated.

These filters can include 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 microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify an individual space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your complete residence.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can deliver many great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower irritants in your residence, including some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, our professionals recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health especially during winter months. To get total advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to stay away from when choosing a system for your home:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution works with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc., we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 614-879-9091 to start breathing fresher air right away!