If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be finding that some kinds are making lots of claims. And some of those claims may 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 a fantastic approach to better your West Columbia residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As updated homes don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as older houses, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Tri City Fuel & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 803-265-4208 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our suggestions to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap irritants before being sent out again.

These filters might have 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 filtering microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to treat one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective 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 in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver lots of outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be tricky to identify issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.

3. Eliminates Odors

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

4. May Reduce Your Likelihood of Being Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This solution works in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Tri City Fuel & Heating, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 803-265-4208 to start breathing healthier air right away!