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

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic way to better your Manassas home’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As newer houses don’t typically bring in as much fresh air as aging residences, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Air-Right Energy Design can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 703-260-1148 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters may have a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing tiny particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter a single area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your residence can deliver a lot of good health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

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

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be difficult to distinguish symptoms related to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having issues with removing strong smells in your residence, our pros recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Probability of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier particularly during cold months. To take total advantage of this perk, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Stay Away From

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when choosing a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This option operates in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Air-Right Energy Design, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 703-260-1148 to get started breathing cleaner air today!