If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some manufacturers are spouting a lot of claims. And many of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to enhance your Rio Grande Valley house’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated residences don’t normally let in as much outside air as old houses, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 956-630-3522 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our advice to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being redistributed.

These filters can 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 catching microscopic particles down to .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 added to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your entire residence.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can deliver many great health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, 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 residence doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other issues associated with bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to determine symptoms linked to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having problems with removing strong smells in your residence, our professionals advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during cold months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, 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 an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This style runs in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C., we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 956-630-3522 to begin breathing fresher air now!