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

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your West Columbia house’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 modern homes don’t typically let in as much fresh air as old houses, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Tri City Fuel & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 803-265-4208 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our advice to help you select the best air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being redistributed.

These filters might include a charcoal filter, to eliminate 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, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

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

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

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

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, including some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms 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 troubles associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be difficult to identify symptoms associated with indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having problems with eliminating strong smells in your house, our pros suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Probability of Getting 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 take full advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution operates with your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Tri City Fuel & Heating, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 803-265-4208 to begin breathing healthier air now!