If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some brands are making many claims. And some of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to better your Michigan City home’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As updated residences don’t typically let in as much fresh air as old houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Paniccia Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 219-872-2198 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their perks 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 passes through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being recirculated.

These filters may have 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 catching miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter a single area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your total house.

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

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver many great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases 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 Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be difficult to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with eliminating strong smells in your house, our pros suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Reduce Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health particularly during colder months. To receive full advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This option runs with your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Paniccia Heating & Cooling, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 219-872-2198 to begin breathing fresher air right away!