Are Air Purifiers Effective in Controlling Indoor Air Pollution?

Do Air Purifiers Work for Pollution?

For decades, household air purifiers have been a popular way to combat the ill effects of air pollution inside the home. In any given room, pet dander, pollen, dirt, dust, and other pollutants contaminate the air and contribute to a less-than-ideal breathing experience, especially for those with allergies and asthma. Air filters are generally seen as the best way to combat this issue, but how effective are they really? Are there other means of improving home air quality? These are questions you must stop to ask if clean, clear air is your goal.

While running, air purifiers draw in air from around the room they’re stationed in, push that air through a filter to trap contaminants, and blow cleaner air back out. While this certainly does take care of certain larger contaminants such as pet hair, dust, and even pollen, the fan and filter system can’t handle every pollutant it comes across. In fact, the biggest pollutants you want to take care of as a homeowner may remain entirely unaffected by many common air purifiers in Phoenix and beyond.

Filters may catch small particles, but no mesh or fabric filter is small enough to completely stop gasses like radon and remove them from circulation in your home. In order to stop VOCs (volatile organic compounds) with a purifier, the filter must contain an absorbent like activated charcoal. While there are some models that include this crucial addition, most household filters do not, which severely limits their pollution-fighting capabilities. Because of this huge discrepancy in design, it’s not possible to say that all filters are effective when it comes to completely removing pollution from an indoor space.

However, there are purifiers that rely on interior ionizers to clean the air rather than filters, and these are generally suspected to be more effective at keeping gasses and other non-solid particles at bay. Because these don’t rely on filters than need to be changed every few months to remain effective, they may be installed in more useful places (such as your air ducts) to start their powerful work at the source. These purifiers are generally more expensive but are proven to not only zap pollutants out of the air but also to reduce the number of bacteria on your average household surface.

Does an Air Purifier Help to Improve the Air Quality in a Room?

While most air purifiers don’t eradicate indoor air pollution, they still work to increase air quality. They may not completely cut out the presence of irritants in the air inside of your home, but they help to reduce the presence of many, including:

• Mold
• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Dust mites
• Smoke
• Chemicals from cleaning products

Note that air purifiers reduce the presence of these irritants in the air, but may not completely get rid of them. It’s generally advisable to not only use a high-end filter in your purifier but to also use it in conjunction with a heavier filtration system. This is especially true when dealing with a serious air contamination issue such as mold. In any case, by reducing the number of solid particles in the air in your home, purifiers do work to increase the air quality of a room, even if they may need assistance to eradicate threats entirely.

Does Opening Windows Improve Air Quality?

Yes, opening windows in your home can raise air quality. This allows fresh, clean air to come into your home while whisking out some of the household pollutants present within a room. However, when dealing with air quality in Arizona, you’ll already know this isn’t the greatest approach. With searing heat covering this corner of the country for a large portion of the year, open windows mean the interior of your home can become sweltering in no time. That’s why it’s best to invest in professional services and an effective air purifier instead.

How Can We Control Indoor Air Pollution?

It’s possible to help your air purifier out with its monumental task by hiring a team of professionals to take important measures to keep pollutants at a minimum inside your home. Some services that are highly effective at reducing the number of interior pollutants in a home include:

• Duct cleaning
• HVAC filter changes
• General HVAC maintenance
• Regular inspections

Each of these services is designed to keep indoor air pollution under control through preventative measures. In conjunction with a high-end air filter, investing in regular maintenance visits from your local Phoenix HVAC professionals keeps pollution to a minimum so you can breathe easier.

If your end goal is to have clean, healthy air in your home, it’s time to call in the experienced Phoenix professionals. Contact Howard Air & Plumbing to schedule an appointment for an air duct cleaning or more information on how we can offer you cleaner air in your home with an air purification system. With our tools, know-how, and access to superior purifying products, we’re dedicated to getting you the breath of fresh air you deserve.