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

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your Greater Richmond house’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since modern homes don’t naturally allow in as much outside air as older houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 804-302-6657 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you find the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

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 catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your home can deliver lots of outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your home, like some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems 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 alleviate other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to determine symptoms associated with indoor air quality, as they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your residence, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during cold months. To receive full advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few styles to stay away from when selecting a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests 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 healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style runs alongside your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 804-302-6657 to get started breathing fresher air right away!