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

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to improve your Mount Pleasant residence’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because newer houses don’t typically allow in as much outside air as old residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Olde Towne Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 843-485-0967 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our advice to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

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

These filters can incorporate 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 microscopic particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of Air Purification

Getting an air purifier for your house can give lots of great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, such as some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles linked to poor indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be tricky to determine symptoms associated with indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you are having a hard time with eliminating heavy smells in your house, our pros recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during colder months. To get full advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to stay away from when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option operates in tandem with your HVAC system.

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