We’re about to be in pollen season here in Northeast Ohio, and you’re probably starting to look for ways to make your indoor air healthier. Opening your windows periodically to ventilate your home helps, but adding an air purifier helps even more.
An air purifier uses an internal fan to pull the air in your home through filters to remove allergens such as pollen, dust, and bacteria from your home’s air. This process is repeated throughout the day, keeping the air that you and your family breathe clean and healthy.
Does my family need an air purifier?
The EPA estimates that, on average, a home’s indoor air is two to five times dirtier than outdoor air – and sometimes it’s up to 100 times more filthy! A quality air purifier keeps your family healthy. There are some compelling reasons to consider adding one.
Air purifier benefits include:
• Air purifiers don’t just clean your home’s indoor air; they also help eliminate unpleasant odors.
• We all love our furry family members, but your pets release dander, fur, and other airborne allergens into the air of your home. Air purifiers combat these allergens before they have a chance to settle into your home’s porous surfaces, where they’re more difficult to get rid of.
• Smoke stinks. There’s no denying it. If a family member smokes in your home, or you use your fireplace when it’s chilly outside, an air purifier will filter out smoke before it ends up lodged in your furniture.
• As every homeowner knows, there’s always dust in your home. It’s a fact. An air purifier helps trap dust before it has time to settle, which reduces build-up and enables you to spend less time cleaning your home.
• Air purifiers remove up to 99% of airborne bacteria in your home, such as mold, pollen, viruses, and bacteria.
• HEPA air purifiers with ultraviolet (UV) bulbs neutralize up to 99.97% of airborne germs and allergens to help your family stay healthy year-round.
• Air purifiers come in various sizes and with different features that will keep the air healthy in every room of your house.
What type of air purifier should I get?
To create an allergen-free space for your family, these four types of air purifiers are the most recommended:
True HEPA + UV-C – These are the best air purifiers that money can buy. While naturally more expensive than the other types, they are worth it for those who live in high allergen areas, have lung issues, and are more susceptible to pollen allergies. HEPA + UV-C air purifiers combine HEPA filters with germicidal UV light to trap 99.97% of airborne allergens and 99% of airborne germs and bacteria.
True HEPA – True HEPA air purifiers offer the minimum level of protection you should look for, especially if you or a family member struggles with chronic allergies. They rid your home of mold, pollen, and dust mites to keep allergies at bay and keep your home smelling fresh and clean. True HEPA and HEPA + UV-C purifier filters should be replaced at least once every three months.
HEPA-type – These less-expensive air purifiers are the less-effective cousin to True HEPA purifiers. If pollen or dust mites don’t seem to be a problem in your home, this type may be a good option. They still trap 99% of small airborne particles such as smoke, dust, and pet dander, but they don’t eliminate smaller allergy-causing particles like dust mites or pollen.
Permanent HEPA-type – These air purifiers work like HEPA-type air purifiers, but their filters don’t need to be replaced. Their reusable filters do require occasional cleaning, though, so make sure you set a calendar reminder.
Other types – When it comes to air purifiers and filters, there’s plenty of options to choose from. Some can even be integrated into the choices that we’ve discussed above. Here are some other air purification options to be aware of.
• Activated carbon filters use tiny absorbent pores to capture air pollutants as they pass through. The pores chemically react to airborne particles, so they’re great at removing odors, chemicals, and smoke, but they don’t remove dust or allergens. If you have persistent odors in your home, look for HEPA filters with activated carbon to help freshen up the place.
• UV purifiers remove viruses and bacteria from your home’s air with germ-killing ultraviolet light. These usually aren’t used alone, and they work best when combined with HEPA air purifiers.
• Ionic air purifiers don’t actually purify the air in your home. Instead, they project negative ions into the air that attach to airborne particles, making them too heavy to remain airborne. These negatively charged particles then settle on the surfaces in your home. So, while these particles are removed from the air, they still need to be cleaned from the surfaces of your home to effectively reduce allergens and their effects.
Remember, the air in your home is usually considerably more polluted than the air outside. Indoor air purifiers remove pollutants and allergens from the air in your home, making it healthier for everyone in your family.
Purify your air with Hey Neighbor Heating & Cooling!
Are you ready to purify the air and prevent allergens and pollutants from being circulated throughout the home? Call on our pros! We’ll recommend HEPA air purification systems and install them in your home.
Give us a call at 1-844-HEY-NEIGHBOR or contact us online to schedule an air quality audit and start breathing better at home today!
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