If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some brands are spouting many claims. And many of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to enhance your Tucson home’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As modern residences don’t typically bring in as much fresh air as older houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Ambient Air can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 520-357-4912 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our advice to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being recirculated.

These filters may 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 tiny particles down to .3 microns, like 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 strong filtration for your total house.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can give many good health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your house, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other troubles linked to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Lower Your Probability of Becoming Sick

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

Air Purifiers to Avoid

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

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This style operates with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Ambient Air, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 520-357-4912 to start breathing fresher air now!