If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some brands are spouting a lot of claims. And most of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your Des Moines residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since modern residences don’t normally let in as much fresh air as aging residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Heartland Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 515-344-3579 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our recommendations to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters can 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 capturing miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to purify a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete house.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant 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 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver a lot of great health perks. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your home, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with 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 related to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be difficult to distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, because 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 a problem.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

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

4. Can Lower Your Likelihood of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during colder months. To get full advantage of this plus, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This option runs with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Heartland Heating & Cooling, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 515-344-3579 to begin breathing healthier air right away!