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

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent way to enhance your Wisconsin Rapids residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Since modern houses don’t typically allow in as much outside air as aging houses, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 715-301-0256 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our advice to help you select the right 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 trap pollutants before being redistributed.

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

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat an individual space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total residence.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your home can give lots of good health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, like some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be hard to distinguish troubles linked to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having problems with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during colder months. To receive total advantage of this benefit, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option works in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 715-301-0256 to get started breathing healthier air right away!