If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are making many claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent way to enhance your Wausau home’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
Since updated residences don’t normally allow in as much fresh air as aging residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Gilray Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 715-301-0727 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their benefits and our suggestions to help you choose the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being redistributed.
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 filtering miniscule particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat an individual space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your complete home.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your house can offer a lot of outstanding health pluses. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your home, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues related to bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably to blame.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you struggle with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Reduce Your Probability of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during winter months. To take total advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when selecting a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option runs in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Gilray Heating and Cooling, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 715-301-0727 to begin breathing fresher air today!