If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some manufacturers are spouting a lot of claims. And many of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to enhance your Hudsonville home’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As modern homes don’t normally let in as much fresh air as old homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros 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 help. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our recommendations to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters may have a charcoal filter, to eliminate odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at filtering microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify one space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete home.

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

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your house can offer many great health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your home, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms Associated with 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 issues associated with low indoor air quality. These include:

  • 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, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having difficulties with removing persistent smells in your home, our professionals recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Lower Your Chance of Getting Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health especially during colder months. To receive full advantage of this benefit, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several options to avoid when choosing a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding 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 pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This solution works alongside your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at (616) 319-1436 to get started breathing cleaner air right away!