If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some brands are spouting lots of claims. And most of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to improve your Williamsport home’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
Since modern homes don’t naturally let in as much outdoor air as aging residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Lycoming Heating Company can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 570-326-4450 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect 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 remove odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter one area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can provide a lot of good health advantages. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, 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 Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to pinpoint troubles related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely to blame.
3. Eliminates Odors
Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having problems with eliminating strong smells in your home, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household healthier even more so during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this perk, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few styles to avoid when choosing a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution works with your HVAC system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Lycoming Heating Company, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 570-326-4450 to get started breathing cleaner air today!