If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be finding that some brands are making many claims. And some of those claims might 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 worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic way to enhance your Manassas home’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Since newer residences don’t normally bring in as much fresh air as older homes, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Woody's Sudden Service can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 703-278-2036 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the ideal air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being recirculated.

These filters can 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 catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your entire residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can give lots of outstanding health advantages. Here are several of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your house, such as some of these common 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 alleviate other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be difficult to identify troubles associated with indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with eliminating strong smells in your house, our pros suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during cold months. To take full advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Stay Away From

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when selecting a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This solution works alongside your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Woody's Sudden Service, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 703-278-2036 to begin breathing cleaner air now!