With spring just around the corner, homeowners can expect sunshine and blooming flowers to become part of their everyday routine. However, spring also means more pollen and allergens floating around. This new growth means you have to pay extra attention to your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ).
People spend roughly 90% of their time indoors. All that time inside means exposure to pet dander and other irritants. Your home could be seeing a serious drop in IAQ without you noticing at first.
Choosing a quality air purifier can help support better home health year-round, as long as you do a little research first. Check out our home air purifier buying guide to help you find the best equipment for your needs.
IAQ is huge for home health and comfort. We breathe in contaminants every day — from smog and pollen to candle scents. While not everything in the air is harmful, certain contaminants can lead to eye and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue and even respiratory diseases. Anyone in your home with allergies or asthma could see worsening symptoms due to air contaminants.
Other sources of indoor air pollution include cleaning products, smoke, cooking fumes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some furniture and building materials emit VOCs, while constantly using candles adds to the smoke pollution inside. If a home has poor ventilation, you might find yourself trapped inside with these pollutants.
Florida is famous for its humidity, but this moisture does more than just clear up dry skin. High humidity levels can encourage mold and mildew growth. If you want to protect your respiratory health and avoid long-term irritation, improving your IAQ is a great place to start.
Selecting an air purifier for your home starts with understanding which options are available. A good air cleaner will protect your indoor environment so you can live more comfortably. Between filters within your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and stand-alone air purifiers, you have many options.
Here are the main air purifier types to help you decide how to choose the right air purifier for your home:
Media filters are an affordable solution for tackling IAQ. Media filters are thicker and denser than standard 1-inch options, designed to capture more airborne particles. They’re installed in HVAC system ductwork. As the HVAC system sends out air, the media filter captures contaminants.
While media filters are part of an HVAC system, they aren’t the typical air purifiers you see on the market. If you’re looking for more intensive home air cleaning, you’ll need to make sure you’re pairing media filter upgrades with the other options mentioned in the list below.
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are one of the most effective solutions. They excel at removing airborne contaminants, capturing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. If there’s dust, pollen or mold spores floating around, these filters will help get rid of them. HEPA filters are ideal for people with allergies or asthma since they catch irritating particles.
While HEPA filters are great for grabbing particulates, they don’t remove odors, gases or VOCs. If you want a more complete air purification, you’ll need to combine HEPA filters with another filtration method.
Activated carbon purifiers specialize in removing VOCs and gases from the air. HEPA filters trap solid particles, but activated carbon models use adsorption to catch gases and odors. As air passes through the filter, these unwanted gases stick to the carbon’s surface.
Homeowners dealing with VOCs, smoke and other smells should invest in activated carbon options to clean their air. Remember to replace the carbon filters regularly to keep the system effective.
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) purifiers use ultraviolet light to neutralize bacteria, viruses and mold. UV-C rays are effective at killing germs, helping sterilize your home’s air.
While a UV-C purifier attacks microorganisms, it doesn’t filter particles from the air. You need an air purifier that combines UV-C power with HEPA or activated carbon filters to tackle your overall IAQ effectively.
Ionic air purifiers work by releasing negatively charged ions into the air. These ions attach to airborne particles, forcing them to clump together on surfaces or a collection plate. You then clean your home’s surfaces, removing the particles from the house.
Ionic systems are quiet and low maintenance. However, they don’t remove particles from the air. The trade-off for a lower maintenance system is more frequent home cleaning, but they’re helpful if you don’t want to deal with filters.
You might see some lists recommending ozone generators. However, homeowners should likely avoid investing in these machines. Too much exposure to ozone can affect your health negatively. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has found no evidence that safe ozone levels can fight off bacteria and odors. Skip these air purifiers and look for something safer and proven to work.
Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) air purifiers are another option you may come across. They claim to use UV light and a photocatalyst like titanium dioxide to break down pollutants. The process is supposed to neutralize VOCs, bacteria and mold spores.
However, like ozone generators, there’s some debate around their effectiveness and safety. Research has shown that purifiers using oxidation are ineffective at tackling VOCs and may actually produce them themselves. Instead, look to cleaners with physical and UV-C filters to improve your IAQ.
Overall, you’ll want to invest in a system that will meet your IAQ goals and align with your budget. Here are some air purifier key features that will affect your decision:
Room size will affect your decision. While there are several features to consider, room size plays an important role in efficiency. If a purifier is too small for the room, it won’t remove pollutants effectively. An oversized unit will use more energy than needed.
Most air purifiers are rated for a specific room size. Check your room’s square footage and match it to the air cleaner you want. Each air purifier will have its square footage rating in its description, making it simple to find a matching model.
The CADR is also affected by room size. You can use the two-thirds rule to find the right CADR rating — the CADR rating should be at least two-thirds of the room’s square footage to achieve the best results. The bigger and more open-concept the room, the higher the CADR rating should be.
Once you know what to look for in an air purifier, it’s time to break down household needs. Not everyone wants the same thing from an air cleaner. Some households have more respiratory sensitivities, while others are just looking for better-smelling air. You should identify your most important IAQ needs so you can start addressing them.
Here are some tips for buying an air purifier based on your lifestyle:
What are the pain pollutants you’re trying to eliminate? Allergens, odors and microorganisms are the three main categories households often deal with. If you’re concerned about dust mites, pollen or pet dander, look at HEPA filters to stop these from floating around. Homes dealing with VOCs and cooking smells need solutions with activated carbon filters to absorb these gases. Finally, choose UV-C to kill germs.
Some households have more health concerns than others. If anyone inside has asthma or chemical sensitivities, you’ll want to get a model that makes it easier for them to breathe at home. Individuals with respiratory issues can benefit from air purifiers that eliminate fine particulates and asthma triggers, like HEPA filters. If you’re sensitive to chemicals, you need a strong activated carbon filter to pull out those harmful VOCs.
Not all homes have the same air quality. Even if your home is free from VOCs and pet dander, your location could increase indoor pollutant levels. People living in cities or urban spaces often face higher pollution levels due to population density. These households need air purifiers capable of more heavy-duty filtration. Try to invest in higher-CADR rating models that tackle particulates and traffic-related pollutants.
In humid climates like Florida, you should look for air cleaners with dehumidifying functions. These can support better air quality while drying out the air and preventing mold. Controlling humidity makes breathing easier and protects furniture from water-related damage.
Your lifestyle also contributes to IAQ. Do you have any pets? Does anyone in your house smoke inside? Do you cook often? All of these aspects can affect the solution you need.
Pet owners, especially dog and cat households, should look for purifiers that capture pet hair, dander and animal odors. HEPA filters are great for grabbing dander. If someone in your household smokes, you need an activated carbon filter to eliminate odors and smoke particles. Homeowners who often cook with strong-smelling ingredients need solutions that tackle grease and odors.
The more particles and odors released inside, the stronger the air purifier should be.
Finding the right air purifier can be a time-consuming process on your own. At Strada Air Conditioning & Heating, we understand the importance of fresh, clean air. Florida’s unique climate means battling humidity and particulates almost year-round. Reduce the effects of mold and allergens on your IAQ with our advanced home solutions.
We offer everything from home filtration systems to UV air purifiers and beyond. Our team provides high-quality products that make better air quality a breeze. We even offer residential air conditioning and heating services for homeowners looking to improve their home comfort. With expert installation and maintenance services, you can trust Strada Air Conditioning and Heating to keep your home healthy year-round.
Explore our location-based IAQ specials to unlock new savings. Schedule your appointment today!
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers. At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed. In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
