Are Air Purifiers a Waste of Money?

January 12, 2021

If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are producing many claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic way to enhance your Norco and St. Charles Parish house’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As updated residences don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as old houses, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Mayeuxs AC & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at (985) 764-2426 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their benefits and our recommendations to help you choose the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

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 filtering miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to purify a single room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your total house.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your house can deliver lots of good health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower irritants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be difficult to pinpoint symptoms associated with indoor air quality, as they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you struggle with eliminating persistent smells in your house, our pros recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health especially during winter months. To get full advantage of this perk, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style works alongside your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Mayeuxs AC & Heating, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at (985) 764-2426 to start breathing cleaner air right away!