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

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to enhance your Lexington house’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Because updated residences don’t naturally let in as much outdoor air as old homes, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at James Heating & A/C, Inc can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 336-853-6070 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our suggestions 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 irritants before being recirculated.

These filters might 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 catching tiny particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your complete 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 along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

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

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

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

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

2. Alleviates Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be difficult to identify symptoms associated with indoor air quality, because they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of strong smells in your residence, we suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during colder months. To get full advantage of this perk, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style runs alongside your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at James Heating & A/C, Inc, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 336-853-6070 to get started breathing healthier air right away!