If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are producing a lot of claims. And some of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to improve your Lancaster residence’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As newer houses don’t naturally allow in as much outdoor air as older homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Fairfield Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 740-331-4331 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our advice to help you select the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being recirculated.

These filters can 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 filtering tiny particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify an individual space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your complete house.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

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

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your residence, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems 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 reduce other issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be hard to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having difficulties with eliminating strong smells in your home, our professionals suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Probability of Getting Sick

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

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several features to stay away from when selecting a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This option works in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Fairfield Heating & Cooling, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 740-331-4331 to start breathing cleaner air now!