Air purifiers are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people become aware of the dangers of air pollution and its adverse impacts on their health. While some people may view air purifiers as unnecessary luxuries, the fact is that they can provide several benefits that make them worth the investment. To help you decide if getting an air purifier is right for you, here is everything you need to know about them.
What Is an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers are machines designed to help remove harmful particles from the air. They do this through various mechanisms. If you have allergies or other respiratory disorders, an air purifier can make breathing easier by reducing the presence of airborne contaminants in your home.
Things such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores can negatively impact the quality of the air. Allergies to these substances can range from mild to severe and may present themselves in various ways, such as sneezing, congestion, itchy skin, and even asthma attacks. When you have an air purifier in your home, it can help to remove these contaminants and make your environment healthier. Although a high-end air purifier will cost more money to purchase, it can pay for itself in terms of energy savings, making it a better value in the long term.
Types of Air Purifiers
There are three basic types of air purifiers: electrostatic, filtration, and ultraviolet. The differences from one system to another are more technical than functional. All of them use some effective technique to remove particles from the air.
The first type, an electrostatic air purifier, works by generating an electrical field that can remove airborne contaminants from your home’s indoor atmosphere. One of the main advantages of this type of system is that it requires significantly less energy than a standard filtration system and is considered the most energy-efficient among all air purifier options. If you want an electrostatic purifier, ensure that the one you choose has a fan speed knob. For your air purifier to work correctly, it should produce a constant and steady flow of air.
The second type of air purifier is the filtration system. These are more common and have many designs, including HEPA and carbon filters. As the name suggests, this system uses filtration media to trap airborne particles in the home’s air. They employ materials that can trap particles based on size or chemical makeup. The effectiveness of these filters depends on the type and size of particles they are being used to trap. HEPA filters are designed to capture tiny particles, including bacteria and spores. It means that a HEPA filter can keep a large number of airborne contaminants out of your home’s atmosphere. Carbon filters are designed to remove larger particles from the air. They are not as effective at eliminating microbes and allergens, so they should not be used in place of a HEPA filter if you have severe allergies.
The third type of air purifier is the ultraviolet air purifier. These are more recent designs used to help disinfect the air in your home. The technique used by this type of system relies on ultraviolet light to kill airborne microbes, viruses, and other microorganisms that can be harmful to your health. It is important to remember that this is not a substitute for regular cleaning, and you should still perform routine cleaning tasks.
Benefits of Air Purifiers
There are several benefits associated with having an air purifier in your home. If you are one of the many homeowners who suffer from allergies, it can be challenging to breathe in your residence, and this can cause you to develop sinus infections or even more severe conditions such as asthma. These problems can make it hard for you to sleep at night and make your life a lot more difficult. Fortunately, an air purifier helps remove allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and other substances that trigger allergic reactions. It can make breathing easier for you, making it easier to fall asleep at night and feel better during the day.
Another benefit of an air purifier is that it can significantly improve the air quality in your home. Using your gas stove or fireplace daily means you are breathing in smoke and other toxic byproducts regularly. Also, even if you do not use these appliances in your home, plenty of other toxins can end up in your environment through paint fumes, carpets, and new construction materials. If you have an air purifier, you can remove these toxins and breathe in a cleaner, fresher atmosphere.
Additionally, by purchasing an air purifier, you can save money on your energy bills and healthcare expenses. By removing contaminants from the air, a purifier can reduce the number of allergens your family may be breathing. Using an air purifier will help you significantly decrease the need for medication to treat allergies and asthma attacks.
Air purifiers can also help you if you live in a home with a high radon concentration. Radioactive radon gas is found in some homes and can harm the health of the occupants. Radon is a health hazard because it tends to concentrate in houses, and it can cause lung cancer over time. An air purifier can filter out these harmful concentrations.
Do Air Purifiers Work?
While these devices will not be able to rid your home of all contaminants, they can help to remove the worst ones. Electrostatic air purifiers, in particular, can remove a wide range of particulates, such as mold, dust, and pet dander. At the same time, filters can also help remove germs and bacteria from the air. By reducing the number of contaminants in the air your family breathes, you can decrease the chances that anyone will develop allergies or suffer from asthma attacks, reducing the likelihood that they will experience any long-term health problems.
The Bottom Line
Air purifiers can help you improve the air quality in your home by removing contaminants and allergens that can make breathing harder for you. If you or any family members have breathing problems or are prone to allergies, an air purifier is a good investment since it can help you breathe better and feel better all year. Using an air purifier ensures that your family is breathing clean, contaminant-free air no matter where they are in your home. In addition to these benefits, an air purifier will save money on doctor’s visits and medication by making it easier for everyone in the family to breathe easily and enjoy a higher quality of health overall.
Relying on the Professionals
Your home could be at risk of having indoor air quality problems. If you or a family member has any allergies, then you need your indoor air quality to be free from all substances that could trigger them. If you live in St. Peters or any of its surrounding areas, giving us a call at Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning will save you the hassle of deciding what to do to ensure your indoor air quality is optimal. Our Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning indoor air quality professionals will help you identify the source of airborne contaminants and design a solution to eliminate them from your home’s environment. Furthermore, we are your go-to company when you need air conditioning services like AC repair, installation, and maintenance as well as heating services such as furnace repair, installation, and maintenance.
Call us at Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning today to discuss improving your indoor air quality.
