If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be finding that some kinds are making a lot of claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to enhance your Des Moines home’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated houses don’t normally let in as much fresh air as older residences, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 515-278-2900 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our advice to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

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

These filters might 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 capturing microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can give many great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your house, like some of these typical triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be tricky to identify issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having difficulties with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, our pros recommend buying 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 especially during winter months. To take full advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Skip

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to avoid when choosing a system for your home:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This option runs in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 515-278-2900 to get started breathing cleaner air right away!