If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent way to improve your Smyrna residence’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated houses don’t typically bring in as much fresh air as aging homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 302-653-0503 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our recommendations to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being sent out again.

These filters may incorporate 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 filtering miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter one area. Or they can be fitted 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 tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can give lots of good health perks. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your home, like some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be tricky to distinguish troubles related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating persistent smells in your home, our professionals suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health especially during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several options to stay away from when selecting a system for your residence:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy 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 purifies the air across your home. This style works with your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 302-653-0503 to get started breathing cleaner air now!