If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And some of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to better your Long Island home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As newer houses don’t typically let in as much fresh air as old homes, pollutants such as 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 sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Airmax Long Island can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 631-737-5566 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our suggestions to help you select the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap irritants before being sent out again.

These filters can incorporate a charcoal filter, to eliminate odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your total home.

The EPA says you should 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 reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

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

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your house, like some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other troubles related 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 issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you are having a hard time with eliminating strong smells in your residence, our professionals recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health especially during colder months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

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

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This solution operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Airmax Long Island, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 631-737-5566 to begin breathing healthier air right away!