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

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic way to better your Fort Lauderdale home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Because newer houses don’t normally allow in as much outside air as older residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Solar Air Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 954-320-7398 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their advantages and our recommendations to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap irritants before being sent out again.

These filters may 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 filtering tiny particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to treat an individual area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your complete home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

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

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower irritants in your house, like some of these standard triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, including 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 troubles associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be difficult to distinguish issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

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

4. Might Reduce Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health even more so during colder months. To take complete advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

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

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make 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 clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This style works in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Solar Air Inc., we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 954-320-7398 to get started breathing fresher air now!