If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some manufacturers 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 may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to enhance your Sandpoint residence’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Because newer homes don’t naturally allow in as much outdoor air as aging residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Age Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 208-603-2210 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our suggestions to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being redistributed.

These filters may include 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 microscopic particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to purify one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your total residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of Air Purifier Installation

Adding an air purifier to your home can offer lots of great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your residence, such as some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues related to poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be difficult to determine symptoms associated with indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having problems with removing persistent smells in your home, we recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during colder months. To get full advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to avoid when picking a system for your home:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This option operates in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Age Heating & Cooling, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 208-603-2210 to begin breathing cleaner air today!