If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are producing lots of claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic approach to enhance your Lake Forest residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since newer residences don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as old homes, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 949-204-0859 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters may 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 filtering microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify an individual area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your total residence.

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

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your residence can offer many outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, including some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be difficult to distinguish symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with eliminating strong smells in your house, our professionals suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during winter months. To receive total advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when picking a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, 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, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style operates alongside your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 949-204-0859 to begin breathing fresher air right away!