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

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

Since modern residences don’t normally bring in as much outside air as aging residences, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at I-Deal HVAC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 505-445-1250 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, 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 pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect irritants 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 catching tiny particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter an individual area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your total home.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can give many good health advantages. Here are several of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your house, including some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Alleviates 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 troubles related to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

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

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of strong smells in your residence, we advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Chance of Getting Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health particularly during winter months. To take total advantage of this plus, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives 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 choosing a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This solution operates with your HVAC system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at I-Deal HVAC, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 505-445-1250 to start breathing fresher air now!