Do Air Purifiers Really Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Is there a benefit to using an air purifier for indoor air quality? Many people wonder if investing in an air purifier is worth the money. If they are beneficial, how do you choose the correct one?

When it comes to air purifiers, there are a variety of different units equipped with various filters. These different types of air purifiers and filters help to improve indoor air quality in many ways. Our HVAC repair and installation service professionals at Ambient Edge have outlined a detailed guide to best explain how an air purifier can make a difference in your home.

Does the Quality of Air in Your Home Matter?

You may be wondering if you need to improve the air quality in your home. Maybe you live far away from certain pollutants. How do you even know if the air quality is bad?

Air pollutants can be found in every home, no matter where you live. It is important to maintain clean air quality to ensure excellent health, especially for young children, elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Pollutants are typically categorized in two ways.

Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor air pollution can be caused by a variety of sources. Some of these pollutants can be easily seen, and others are virtually invisible. Indoor air pollutants can be caused by:

• Cigarette smoke
• Pet dander
• Cooking odors
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Candle smoke

Outdoor Air Pollution

Outdoor air pollution can also come from many sources, depending on where you live. Outdoor air pollutants easily enter the home through windows, vents, or on clothing. Outdoor air pollutants can be caused by:

• Smoke
• Mold and mold spores
• Pollens
• Combustible fuel emissions
• Factory emissions

These contaminants are hazardous and can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and cancer if they go untreated and unchecked. Most people have symptoms caused by these contaminants, such as sneezing, coughing, and itchy, watery eyes. Air purifiers can help remove these issues and prevent health concerns.

An Air Purifier Can Make a Huge Difference

Many people may consider an air purifier to be similar to common household appliances, but the benefits of owning one are numerous. By getting rid of odors, indoor pollutants, and viruses, you can maintain good health for yourself and your family. The following details ways you can make a difference by using an air purifier.

Reduce the Amount of Indoor Odors

Most people do not recognize odors in their homes. There are various reasons odors can be present in your home, including cooking aromas. Pet litter and mold growth can also contribute to unpleasant smells in the home.

These everyday household odors stick to furniture and clothing. Using an air purifier in frequently used rooms can help eliminate undesirable smells. A kitchen area or room utilizing a fireplace would be a good candidate for an air purifier fitted with an activated carbon filter.

Activated carbon filters do the best job of removing common household odors and dangerous gasses due to the working mechanism of “absorption.” The indoor air pollutants stick to the carbon lattice in the filter. The carbon filter specializes in absorbing gas fumes, VOCs, fumes, and cooking smells.

Remove Outdoor And Indoor Smoke

Indoor fireplaces can create warmth but can also give off toxins. Wildfires create smoke and lingering odors. Homes that heat with a wood stove commonly have this same issue.

You can safely heat your home with fireplaces and woodstoves while protecting your family from harmful toxins. Air purifiers fitted with multiple filters work to trap all traces of smoke in the room. In addition, they eliminate the odor that causes coughing and eye irritation.

Some of the common toxins related to smoke include:

• Formaldehyde
• Benzene
• Acrolein

Using HEPA Air Purifiers

Pollen, dust, and pet dander are the most common allergens in the home. These allergens contain airborne particles and travel through the home quickly. These allergens can often lead to:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Runny Nose
• Congestion

Reducing allergens in your home can lower the allergic reactions your family faces. Air purifiers trap these particles, reducing the risk of breathing issues. Cleaning and replacing your HEPA filter often is a best practice.

Limit Dust for Increased Indoor Air Quality

Dust is invisible to the naked eye and can be found everywhere in your home. Regular cleaning helps limit dust that collects in the home, but it is impossible to keep all dust and airborne particles at bay. Dust can come from several sources, including:

• Dirt
• Skin cells
• Fabric fibers
• Hair
• Mold spores

These dust irritants can easily be caught in an air purifier filter. The dust particles in the air go unseen until they fall and collect on surfaces. An air purifier catches the dust particles before settling on any surface.

HEPA Filters to Help Reduce Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies can be triggered by allergic reactions to irritants in the home. They often deal with symptoms such as fever and irritation of the nose and eyes. Some allergies cannot be treated with medicine.

An air filtration system can greatly benefit those who suffer from seasonal allergies. Air purifiers outfitted with high-efficiency filters can easily trap grass and tree pollen and indoor allergens that trigger allergies. Running an air filter daily helps prevent allergens from settling in the home.

HEPA air filters have an ultrafine mesh that catches pet dander, dust, pollen, and mold spores. HEPA filters ensure that 99.97% of air pollution is filtered out. Not all filters are created the same. When purchasing air filters, be sure you are getting only the best HEPA filter available.

Improve Your Air Quality and Save Your Family Hassles

In addition to the above-listed benefits of using an air purifier in your home, an air purifier can help keep your heating and air conditioning unit in tip-top shape. By removing dust particles from the air, your ventilation system will not have to work as hard, and your house will be heated and cooled with cleaner air. If your home has been running without an air purifier and your system needs to be cleaned, contact Ambient Edge today to schedule an appointment.