If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be finding that some kinds are spouting many claims. And many of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected 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 Fredericksburg house’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since newer homes don’t naturally allow in as much fresh air as older residences, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Childress Heating & AC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 540-675-4306 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our advice to help you choose the right 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 pollutants before being sent out again.

These filters can incorporate 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 filtering miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to purify one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver many good health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your home, including some of these common triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to identify troubles linked to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having difficulties with removing heavy smells in your home, our pros advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Chance of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health particularly during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this perk, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several styles to skip when selecting a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution runs with your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Childress Heating & AC, we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 540-675-4306 to get started breathing healthier air now!