If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are making lots of claims. And most of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic way to better your Alice home’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As modern residences don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as aging homes, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Rescue Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 361-265-4371 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters may 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 down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter one space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your total home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your residence can offer many outstanding health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your home, like some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be hard to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having problems with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health even more so during cold months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few features to stay away from when selecting a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This style operates alongside your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Rescue Heating & Air, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 361-265-4371 to start breathing cleaner air now!