If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some brands are spouting many claims. And some of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

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

As newer houses don’t normally let in as much outside air as older houses, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at (818) 727-9993 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being redistributed.

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

An air purifier can be compact and used to treat one room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire home.

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

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your home can give lots of outstanding health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your home, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Linked 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 associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be hard to identify issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having difficulties with removing persistent smells in your home, our pros recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during cold months. To get complete advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from 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 pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This option works alongside your heating and cooling system.

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