If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic way to enhance your Rockford residence’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because updated houses don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as older residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at (815) 914-6197 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being redistributed.

These filters can 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 filtering microscopic particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat one area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your complete 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 greatly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can give lots of great health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, like 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 experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms associated with bad indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be difficult to determine symptoms associated with indoor air quality, as they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of strong smells in your house, our professionals suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Probability of Becoming Sick

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

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several features to stay away from when picking a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use 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 the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This option runs with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at (815) 914-6197 to begin breathing cleaner air now!