If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some kinds are spouting many claims. And some of those claims might 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, since they’re a fantastic way to enhance your Northridge residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since modern homes don’t typically bring in as much outdoor air as old residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible 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 contact us at (818) 727-9993 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters might 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 little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete residence.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your residence can offer lots of great health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles linked to poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to distinguish symptoms associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots 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 tough to get rid of. If you having difficulties with getting rid of strong smells in your home, our professionals recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Chance of Getting Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health even more so during cold months. To receive total advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Avoid

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when picking a system for your residence:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This style works in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at (818) 727-9993 to get started breathing cleaner air today!