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

They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to enhance your Mason City home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As updated residences don’t naturally allow in as much fresh air as aging residences, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Mechanical Air Systems Co can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 641-243-4654 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our advice to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

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

These filters may include 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 tiny particles down to .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 effective filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of Air Purification

Installing an air purifier in your house can offer many good health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your residence, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues associated with bad indoor air quality. These entail:

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

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

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you are having a hard time with removing heavy smells in your house, our pros suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Likelihood of Getting Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health particularly during colder months. To take complete advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This option runs in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Mechanical Air Systems Co, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 641-243-4654 to get started breathing healthier air now!