Do Air Purifiers Really Work?
Are Air Purifiers Worth It?
You may hear a lot of people online and in commercials raving about their new air purifier and how much it helps keep their home clean, but do air purifiers really work? Do the potential benefits make the financial investment worth your time? It’s important to do your research beforehand to make sure an air purifier is the right fit for you and your needs and that you get the most bang for your buck.
Are you scrolling on your phone right now researching if an air purifier actually does anything and whether it’s worth the investment? You have come to the right place. This discussion will go over what an air purifier is, how it works, and the benefits of using one in your home.
What Is an Air Purifier?
The simple answer is that an air purifier purifies the air. Air purifiers are essentially filters that draw in air and collect unwanted particles, gases, chemicals, and even odors.
There are two main types of air purifiers: whole-home ones that connect to your home’s HVAC system, and portable purifiers that plug into an outlet and clean the air in one area of your home.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
The basic function of an air purifier is pretty straightforward: a fan draws in air and passes it through a filter that traps unwanted particles and gas before pushing that clean air back into the room. While the specifics can vary depending on the manufacturer and purifier model you choose, the basic filtration concept follows throughout.
If you are looking for a more heavy-duty filtration system that will clean out more serious germs, then you can look for upgraded models that have add-ons such as germicidal UV. This adds an additional layer of cleanliness to your air and is great for people who may struggle with getting sick frequently or compromised immune systems.
Different models and features provide different levels of cleanliness and effectiveness for your air purifier. The effectiveness of your unit can also depend on factors such as the size of your purifier in comparison to the size of the room as well as the clean air delivery rate of your unit.
Routine maintenance on your air purifier can also impact its effectiveness in addition to the unit’s lifespan. Maintenance can include regular filter changes and general check-ups to make sure everything is in proper working order.
The Benefits of Using an Air Purifier
Reduces Allergens
Your home is meant to be your safe zone to relax and take a load off from the day. However, dust and other allergens in the air can make it more difficult for you to comfortably enjoy your space. Excessive exposure to these allergens can lead to symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and even a cough.
For people who suffer from allergies or medical conditions such as asthma, these particles can cause even more serious symptoms. Allergy sufferers are more sensitive to these particles, leading to an increase in symptoms such as congestion and itchy eyes. Respiratory symptoms can be more serious for asthma patients, and clean air can help prevent asthma attacks and keep you healthy longer.
An air purifier works to trap these allergens in the filters before they can float around in the air and cause symptoms. Some of the most common allergens found in many homes include dust, pollen, pet dander, and even mold spores. Catching these particles before they can come in contact with you and your family can greatly reduce symptoms and help make your space feel like home again.
Removes Airborne Diseases
Many viruses, such as the cold and flu, can travel through the air in your home and get you sick. If one person in your family brings home a virus, a single cough can allow that virus to spread through airborne particles and droplets. This is why when one person gets sick, it usually spreads to everyone else in the household.
A good-quality air purifier can catch these viruses and trap them in the filter before they spread throughout the household. Some can even catch both bacteria and virus particles, keeping you and your household healthy and happy no matter what germ the kids bring home from school that day.
However, it’s important to note that no air purifier can completely prevent the spread of a virus, and other health precautions should be taken to help prevent the spread as much as possible.
Reduces Harmful Particles in the Air
Viruses and bacteria aren’t the only particles in the air that can be potentially harmful. Fine particles and air pollution can sneak into your bloodstream through your lungs, leading to serious long-term health conditions and an increased risk of illness. Long-term exposure to airborne pollutants can lead to health conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Limiting your exposure to harmful particles in the air can help to protect your heart health in the long run and decrease your risk of developing serious health problems such as diabetes and negative cognitive effects.
Less Dust
Dust is inevitable wherever you live, and it can start to feel like a chore to have to constantly clean up dust that builds up on your shelves or ceiling fan. While dust looks like one uniform color to the naked eye, it is actually made up of a bunch of different particles and debris that can cause irritation and allergy symptoms. These particles can include dirt, mold spores, dead skin cells, hair fragments, bacteria, pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and even some heavy metals like lead.
Excessive dust can be a nuisance to clean up, and it can also irritate your nose and throat, leading to symptoms such as a cough or runny nose. An air purifier can help slow down the buildup of dust in your home and reduce the amount of time you have to spend with a duster in your hand.
Neutralizes Unpleasant Smells
Sometimes that bad smell in your home can be fixed by simply taking out the trash or cleaning out your dishwasher. However, others can be a little trickier than that. Stubborn odors in your home can be caused by volatile organic compounds that evaporate at room temperature into a gas that makes you wrinkle your nose.
An air purifier can help catch these compounds and eliminate those unwanted odors. Filters with activated carbon in them are great for catching and trapping those smelly gases, keeping your home smelling fresh and lovely. The carbon traps and breaks down those organic compounds that lead to foul odors, eliminating them from your home for good.
Provides Better Sleep
Nobody wants to go to sleep with itchy eyes and a smelly home. Poor air quality can lead to a bad night’s sleep, from sneezing to coughing in the middle of the night. Having an air purifier in your bedroom can improve the air quality in that space and lead to more restful sleep at night. Now you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day, rather than groggy and with a stuffy nose.
Install a Home Air Purifier in Phoenix, AZ
While a portable air purifier may not seem like that big of a deal, it can provide significant improvements to the air quality in your home. These things are small but mighty, and they work hard to reduce allergens and neutralize unpleasant smells in your home. If you are someone who struggles with allergies or a weakened immune system, an air purifier can help improve your overall symptoms and make your home more comfortable.
Thinking about investing in an air purifier for your home or office space? Semper Fi Heating & Cooling is your team of local HVAC professionals, and we are ready to help with all of your air purifying needs. We are trained and certified to work with the REME HALO® air purification system, and we are ready to install one in your home today.
Contact Semper Fi Heating & Cooling today to book an appointment or speak with one of our experts. We are ready to take on any job that comes our way. We are proud to serve our local community in the Metro Phoenix area.
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