If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some manufacturers are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to improve your Pella home’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since updated residences don’t normally bring in as much outdoor air as aging houses, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 641-628-3621 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters might 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 miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter one space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete home.

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

4 Advantages of Air Purification

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

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be difficult to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having issues with removing persistent smells in your home, our professionals suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during winter months. To get full advantage of this benefit, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Avoid

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several styles to skip when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use 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 the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This option operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 641-628-3621 to begin breathing healthier air now!