If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some kinds are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to enhance your Jefferson City home’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since modern houses don’t normally allow in as much outside air as older houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Stieferman Heating Company Inc can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 573-635-3547 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?

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

These filters can 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 catching miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total house.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can deliver many outstanding health perks. Here are just a few of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your house, like some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be difficult to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of strong smells in your home, our pros advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during cold months. To receive full advantage of this perk, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Skip

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use 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 most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Stieferman Heating Company Inc, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 573-635-3547 to start breathing fresher air today!