If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some kinds are making many claims. And many of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic method to improve your Fredericksburg home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As updated homes don’t normally bring in as much fresh air as aging residences, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The outcome? 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 professionals at Childress Heating & AC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 540-675-4306 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our suggestions to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.

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

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total home.

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

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can give many great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

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

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

2. Reduces Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues related to low indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be tricky to distinguish issues linked to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having problems with removing persistent smells in your residence, our professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Lower Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier particularly during cold months. To take full advantage of this perk, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs alongside your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Childress Heating & AC, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 540-675-4306 to start breathing healthier air today!