Are Air Purifiers a Waste of Money?

January 12, 2021

If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some brands are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims could seem 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 a fantastic method to improve your Troy residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because updated homes don’t naturally allow in as much fresh air as old houses, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Edington Heating & Cooling Inc can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 937-558-9478 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their benefits and our advice to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being recirculated.

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

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

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

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your home, including some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other issues linked to poor indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be difficult to determine symptoms linked to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely to blame.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having issues with removing persistent smells in your house, we advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health especially during winter months. To take complete advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several options to stay away from when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises 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 pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This solution runs with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Edington Heating & Cooling Inc, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 937-558-9478 to start breathing healthier air now!