The air pumped into a home or office is just as important as the air that goes out. We protect ourselves from outdoor pollution but never consider the pollution inside our homes. You can help lower indoor pollution by changing your HVAC air filters regularly. But you can also go one step further by investing in an air purifier.

Why use an Air Purifier to Clean Your Indoor Air?

Air purifiers are used for a variety of reasons. For example, some people use them to eliminate dust and pollen, while others use them to remove odor and smoke from the air.

If you have allergies or asthma, an air purifier may help alleviate your symptoms. Air purifiers remove harmful particles like pet dander, dust, and pollen, making your indoor air cleaner to breathe.

How Air Purifiers Work in Your Home

There are many different types of household air purifiers. Some work by filtering the air, while others create a negative ionic charge to attract dirt particles and carry them away. When buying, choose the type best for your household needs.

What's the Best Air Purifier?

Many types of air purifiers can help remove pollutants from your home.

• HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are highly efficient. They can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns – the best choice for removing dirt, dust, pollen, and other small particles.
• UV light can be used with HEPA filters to kill viruses, bacteria, and mold spores.
• Ozone generators cleanse your air by releasing ozone gas into the atmosphere. While effective at killing odors, ozone is a strong oxidizer that can damage fabrics, so it should only be used in conjunction with other types of filters.
• Electrostatic precipitators use ultraviolet light to ionize particles in the air before attracting them to electrodes where they stick and fall out of the air. These devices are great for removing fine dust like pollen, pet dander, and mites.

How Effective are Air Purifiers?

Air purifiers can remove dust and allergens from the air, but they're not a cure-all. You should talk to your doctor first, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory problems.

The effectiveness of air purifiers varies from model to model. Even the best air purifier can remove most of the dust in your home, but it won't eliminate every pollutant.

What to Consider when Buying an Air Purifier

The key to finding the right air purifier is considering a few crucial factors.

• Room size. The first thing you'll want to determine is how much space you want your air purifier to cover. If you want something that can cover a larger area, choose one with a higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating.
• Dust and allergen reduction Dust and allergen reduction refer to how well an air purifier can remove these particles from the air. Some models are designed for asthma and allergy sufferers, while others are designed for use in homes with pets or those who suffer from hay fever or mold allergies.
• Odor control. Odor control measures how well an air purifier can eliminate smells already in your home by neutralizing them with chemicals or electrostatic charges. This feature is helpful if you suffer from seasonal allergies or live in an area with high pollution since it can help control odors caused by mold, smoke, and pets.
• Noise level. If you're looking for an air purifier that can be used in your bedroom or even in your living room, noise level should be one of your top considerations. Noise level is in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel reading is, the louder it is.

Getting the Most out of Your Air Purifier

Here are some things you can do to ensure your air purifier works to its fullest potential.

• Frequently brush your pets. While it's true that most air purifiers can remove pet odors, they're designed primarily for cleaning the air in general. And if you don't clean up after your pets regularly, your air purifier will eventually become overwhelmed by pet dander and hair.
• Schedule regular HVAC tune-ups.A properly maintained HVAC system can help improve the air quality in your home, which means you'll feel better and healthier. It also prevents overworking your air purifier by helping keep pollutants out of your home.
• Change bedding and vacuum every week. Dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens love to live in the fibers of your carpets, pillows, and sheets. Vacuuming and changing bedding weekly reduces the number of allergens in your home and keeps your air cleaner for longer.

Breathing pollutant-free air is important to all of us. An air purifier can give you peace of mind that you have the best indoor air possible for you and your family. Contact our HVAC experts today for more information about keeping your indoor air clean.