If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some brands are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims could 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, since they’re an excellent method to better your The Bay Area residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because updated residences don’t normally allow in as much outside air as older residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Contra Costa Heating & AC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 510-343-9841 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our recommendations to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

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

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your home can offer a lot of great health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your house, including some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Issues Linked to 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 troubles related to low indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be tricky to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with eliminating heavy smells in your home, we suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health even more so during winter months. To get full advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This style operates alongside your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Contra Costa Heating & AC, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 510-343-9841 to begin breathing fresher air today!