If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be finding that some manufacturers are spouting lots of claims. And many of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic approach to better your Sacramento home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As newer homes don’t normally allow in as much outside air as aging residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Bishop’s HVAC can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 916-591-6889 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters can 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 capturing microscopic particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat one space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your total residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can give a lot of good health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, including some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles 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 distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during winter months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few styles to avoid when picking a system for your home:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate 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, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Bishop’s HVAC, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 916-591-6889 to start breathing cleaner air today!