If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your Bishop residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because updated houses don’t typically let in as much outdoor air as old houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 760-784-9034 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our recommendations to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters might incorporate 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 filtering miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify an individual area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your total house.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of Air Purification

Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver a lot of great health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms 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 involve:

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

It can be hard to determine symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you are having a hard time with removing heavy smells in your residence, our pros suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during colder months. To get complete advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when selecting a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This option runs in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 760-784-9034 to start breathing cleaner air right away!