If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be finding that some brands are making many claims. And some of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to improve your Oxford house’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As modern houses don’t typically let in as much fresh air as aging residences, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 662-281-1231 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters may incorporate 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 catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter one area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your total residence.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your house can give many outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your residence, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms related to low indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be difficult to determine issues related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you having difficulties with removing persistent smells in your home, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health especially during colder months. To take total advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to skip when choosing a system for your house:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This solution works with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 662-281-1231 to start breathing healthier air now!