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

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic way to improve your Crystal and Twin Cities residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Because modern houses don’t normally let in as much fresh air as old houses, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at GV Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 763-535-2000 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our recommendations to help you find the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters can include 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 capturing miniscule particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter an individual space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your home can offer a lot of great health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

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

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

2. Reduces Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be tricky to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating persistent smells in your house, our professionals advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health even more so during cold months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

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

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This solution operates with your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality specialists at GV Heating & Air, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 763-535-2000 to begin breathing cleaner air right away!