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

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to enhance your Mount Horeb residence’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Since modern homes don’t naturally let in as much fresh air as older residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier 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 JW Brager Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 608-447-0555 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our advice to help you select the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect irritants before being recirculated.

These filters might have 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 down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

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

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver lots of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower 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. Lowers Other Issues 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 linked to poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, we recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during winter months. To receive full advantage of this perk, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to avoid when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option operates in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at JW Brager Heating and Cooling, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 608-447-0555 to get started breathing fresher air right away!