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

They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent method to enhance your Fredericksburg house’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Since newer residences don’t naturally let in as much fresh air as aging homes, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros 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 help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our advice to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect irritants before being sent out again.

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

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your total home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can give many outstanding health perks. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your house, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other troubles related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be difficult to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating heavy smells in your house, our professionals recommend purchasing 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 family in better health particularly during winter months. To get total advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have 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, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you call the indoor air quality specialists at Childress Heating & AC, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 540-675-4306 to start breathing fresher air today!