If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some brands are producing a lot of claims. And most of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to improve your Bishop home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
Because newer houses don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as old residences, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The result? 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 specialists at Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 760-784-9034 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their benefits and our suggestions to help you select the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being recirculated.
These filters might include 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 capturing miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to filter one room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can give a lot of great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your residence, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers 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 issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint symptoms related to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly to blame.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with removing persistent smells in your residence, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during winter months. To get complete advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few options to stay away from when choosing a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This style runs alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 760-784-9034 to start breathing healthier air now!