If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be finding that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And most of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic way to improve your Northridge home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated homes don’t normally bring in as much outside air as old residences, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at (818) 727-9993 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

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

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter one area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing powerful 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 an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your house can offer lots of good health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your house, including some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Problems 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 troubles associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:

  • Scratchy 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 a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having problems with removing heavy smells in your residence, our pros recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier particularly during winter months. To receive full advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several styles to stay away from when selecting a system for your home:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make 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. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This option runs in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at (818) 727-9993 to start breathing cleaner air right away!