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

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to improve your Frederick home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Because modern residences don’t normally allow in as much fresh air as old residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at May's Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 301-690-0397 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our advice to help you choose the right 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 catch contaminants before being sent out again.

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 microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify one space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire house.

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

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your home can offer many outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple 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, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Lowers Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be difficult to determine troubles associated with indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of strong smells in your house, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during winter months. To get total advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to stay away from when choosing a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most 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 works alongside your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at May's Heating & Air, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 301-690-0397 to begin breathing fresher air right away!