5 Reasons Why You Need an Air Purifier

In our quest to adopt healthy habits, we learn to avoid things that cause problems — fatty foods, too little sleep, too little exercise. However, we can’t avoid breathing, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to make the air around us as clean as possible.

Indoor air can be two to five times dirtier than outdoor air, so filtering and purifying the air in our homes is even more important during cold-weather months when we’re shut up inside. Fortunately, air purifiers are available, and they have many benefits.

Removing Allergens

If you or someone in your family has asthma or environmental allergies, an air purifier in the home can reduce symptoms dramatically. Choose a purifier with a high-efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter, and it will remove pollen, pet dander, smoke, and other triggers. You may even find that you can do without your regular allergy medication while at home.

Clearing Out Chemicals

The number of chemicals present in the air in a typical home is staggering. Sources include furniture, carpeting, and cleaning products as well as cosmetics, smoke, and any pollution that comes in from outside your house. Air purifiers can significantly improve indoor air quality by eliminating these from your air, so you not only breathe easier but also may prevent future health problems.

Eliminating Odors

Homes can be smelly places, especially if you have pets and smokers in your home or like to cook aromatic foods like fish and onions. Air purifiers can control these odors and make your home a more pleasant place — and you won’t need to feel guilty about cooking cabbage. You also won’t need to rely on air-freshening products or scented candles, which can add even more unwanted chemicals to the air.

Filtering Bacteria

Nobody likes the idea of having bacteria floating around in the air, but a certain amount is unavoidable. Air purifiers can reduce the bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in the air, however, which is especially important for certain people such as babies, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Catching Dust

Do you dust the surfaces in your home frequently? If you could reduce the need to do this housecleaning task, chances are you’d jump at the chance. Household dust contains many different components — dirt from outdoors, pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and even toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, the way most people clean household dust just stirs it up again, allowing it to re-settle.

HEPA air purifiers can catch particles of 0.3 microns in size, or even smaller. Not only will you breathe easier, but you’ll also find the need to dust your shelves, furniture, and bookshelves less often.

When it’s time to choose an air purifier, you can select models that filter air in one room, which is handy for bedrooms. You can also choose larger whole-house models. Running an air purifier can slightly increase your utility bills, but an Energy Star-certified model should reduce operating costs substantially. Contact an HVAC professional with experience in indoor air quality to determine which purifier is best for your family’s needs.