If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be finding that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And most of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic approach to enhance your Frederick residence’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because modern homes don’t normally let in as much outdoor air as old houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at May's Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 301-690-0397 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our recommendations to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?

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

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

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter an individual space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your total home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of Air Purifier Installation

Installing an air purifier in your home can deliver lots of outstanding health advantages. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your home, including some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms associated with bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to identify troubles linked to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with removing persistent smells in your house, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Likelihood of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during cold 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 Purification Systems to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few features to stay away from when choosing a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This solution operates with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at May's Heating & Air, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 301-690-0397 to start breathing fresher air now!