Are Air Purifiers a Waste of Money?

January 12, 2021

If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some brands are making many claims. And many of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic way to improve your Tucson residence’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As updated homes don’t normally bring in as much fresh air as aging homes, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The outcome? 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 pros at A&M Heating & Cooling LLC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 520-200-1048 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their advantages and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters might incorporate 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 little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be portable and used to treat an individual space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your total home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Installing an air purifier in your home can give lots of great health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, including some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

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

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

It can be difficult to determine issues related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having issues with removing heavy smells in your residence, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Lower Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health even more so during cold months. To get complete advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few styles to skip when choosing a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This style operates with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at A&M Heating & Cooling LLC, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 520-200-1048 to start breathing healthier air now!