If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be finding that some kinds are making lots of claims. And some of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to better your Winnipeg home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
As updated homes don’t normally let in as much fresh air as old residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 204-272-8128 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being redistributed.
These filters might have a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to treat a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your home can provide a lot of outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your house, such as some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles linked to bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you having difficulties with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, our pros suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Reduce Your Chance of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier particularly during colder months. To get full advantage of this perk, 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 select air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when choosing a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate 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. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option operates alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 204-272-8128 to get started breathing cleaner air right away!