If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some brands are spouting many claims. And most of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to enhance your Hudsonville home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since modern residences don’t typically let in as much outside air as aging houses, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at (616) 319-1436 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the right air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being redistributed.

These filters can include 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 miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter one room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your complete home.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can deliver many great health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your home, 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 alleviate other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to determine symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, our professionals suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Reduce Your Probability of Getting Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier particularly during colder months. To receive total advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to skip when selecting a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use 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 most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This option operates in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at (616) 319-1436 to begin breathing healthier air right away!