If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some kinds are producing lots of claims. And some of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic method to enhance your Mount Pleasant residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because newer residences don’t normally bring in as much outdoor air as old residences, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Olde Towne Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 843-485-0967 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being sent out again.

These filters may have a charcoal filter, to get rid of 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, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your complete residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can offer lots of good health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your home, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be difficult to distinguish troubles associated with indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of strong smells in your house, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few styles to skip when selecting a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs with your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Olde Towne Heating & Air, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 843-485-0967 to begin breathing cleaner air right away!