If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be finding that some manufacturers are making lots of claims. And some of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to improve your Hudsonville residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Since newer residences don’t typically let in as much outdoor air as aging houses, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have 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 choose 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 clean the air, their perks and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect pollutants before being sent out again.

These filters might include 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 down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to treat a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

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

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, including some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Problems 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 alleviate other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be hard to identify symptoms associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our pros advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Probability of Becoming 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 take complete advantage of this plus, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This solution operates alongside your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at (616) 319-1436 to begin breathing healthier air right away!