If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent way to better your Pocatello house’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Because modern residences don’t naturally bring in as much outside air as old residences, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Vogts Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 208-621-0129 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our advice to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Improve Indoor Air Quality?

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

These filters might have 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 as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to purify one room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of Air Purification

Installing an air purifier in your residence can offer many good health advantages. Here are several of them.

1. Lowers 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. Reduces Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be tricky to distinguish symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health particularly during winter months. To get complete advantage of this perk, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Avoid

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when picking a system for your home:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, 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 recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This solution works alongside your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Vogts Heating & Air, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 208-621-0129 to begin breathing fresher air right away!