If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are making lots of claims. And some of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent way to enhance your Los Angeles residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As newer houses don’t typically let in as much fresh air as older homes, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at AZ Air Conditioning and Heating can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 800-296-5088 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our recommendations to help you select the best air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect irritants before being redistributed.

These filters might incorporate 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 capturing tiny particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify an individual room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of Air Purification

Getting an air purifier for your home can give many great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Reduces 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 reduce other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be difficult to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with removing persistent smells in your residence, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during cold months. To take full advantage of this perk, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have 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, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This option runs alongside your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at AZ Air Conditioning and Heating, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 800-296-5088 to start breathing cleaner air right away!