If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be finding that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And some of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to better your Mankato area house’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As modern residences don’t typically allow in as much outside air as older homes, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Northern Comfort Inc can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 507-387-6596 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap irritants before being recirculated.

These filters may have 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 catching microscopic particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your total home.

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

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can deliver many great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, like some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to distinguish troubles related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having problems with removing strong smells in your house, our pros recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Likelihood of Getting Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health particularly during colder months. To receive total advantage of this benefit, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when selecting a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This style operates alongside your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Northern Comfort Inc, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 507-387-6596 to begin breathing fresher air right away!