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 could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to better your Sandpoint home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since updated homes don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as older residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive 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. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect irritants before being redistributed.

These filters might include 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 capturing tiny particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your total home.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of Air Purifier Installation

Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver many outstanding health perks. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems 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 reduce other symptoms related to poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to determine symptoms linked to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, we advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health especially during cold months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when choosing a system for your house:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style works in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Age Heating & Cooling, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 208-603-2210 to start breathing fresher air today!