If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some kinds are producing lots of claims. And most of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to improve your The Bay Area residence’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As newer houses don’t typically let in as much outside air as old houses, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted 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 provide support. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters might have 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 catching tiny particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter a single room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your total house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver lots of outstanding health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other troubles related to low indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be difficult to identify symptoms linked to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having problems with eliminating heavy smells in your home, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Chance of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during cold months. To take full advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few options to skip when choosing a system for your home:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Contra Costa Heating & AC, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 510-343-9841 to get started breathing cleaner air today!