
If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some brands are spouting many claims. And most of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic way to improve your Los Angeles home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since newer homes don’t normally bring in as much fresh air as old homes, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at AZ Air Conditioning and Heating can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 800-296-5088 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our advice to help you choose the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being redistributed.
These filters may 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 catching tiny particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to purify an individual space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your complete home.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can give a lot of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your home, including some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems 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 lower other issues related to poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to determine troubles linked to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having problems with getting rid of strong smells in your house, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health especially during winter months. To receive total advantage of this benefit, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several styles to skip when choosing a system for your residence:
- Makes 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 outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This solution operates with your home comfort system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at AZ Air Conditioning and Heating, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 800-296-5088 to start breathing cleaner air today!