If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re a great method to better your Mankato area home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
Because modern residences don’t normally allow in as much outside air as aging residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Northern Comfort Inc can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 507-387-6596 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters might include 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 capturing miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to purify a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver a lot of great health benefits. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify troubles related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having problems with getting rid of strong smells in your home, we recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Chance of Getting Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during winter months. To get full advantage of this benefit, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when selecting a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from 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 pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style runs with your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality experts at Northern Comfort Inc, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 507-387-6596 to start breathing fresher air right away!