Do you want to improve your indoor air quality?
Are you wondering if an air purifier is what you need?
It’s always best to try to get at the source of your indoor air problems and change what you can. But if you’ve tried everything else and you’re still having issues, a good-quality air purifier could be the solution. Here are fourteen reasons that you might need an air purifier in your home.
1. You or someone in your household has allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems.
Many different types of particles floating in the air of your home can trigger allergy and asthma reactions. Dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and chemical fumes can set off breathing problems, sneezing, watery eyes, and coughing. A good quality true HEPA air purifier can remove most of those particles from the air so you can breathe easier.
2. You have a smoker in your household.
If you don’t want smoking fumes in your house, you have two choices. You can banish the smoker from the back porch. Or you can run an air purifier in the room where the smoker is. The right model will eliminate the pollutants and absorb the odors from cigar, cigarette, and pipe smoke. For smoking odors, you’ll want an air purifier with an activated carbon filter.
3. You have a pet.
Dogs, cats, birds, and other pets can cause allergic reactions and make it harder to keep your house clean. Using an air purifier that’s good for pets can cut down the amount of dander, hair, and feathers floating around in the air. It can also help prevent odors. Because as much as we love our pets, we know sometimes they can be kind of stinky and make our homes smell not so great!
4. You live in an apartment or dorm.
Sometimes the problem isn’t you; it’s the neighbors. It’s nearly impossible to keep odors from invading your space when you’re living on top of each other. If your neighbors are making your air unbearable, try using an air purifier. It won’t stop the lady next door from frying fish or the guy down the hall from smoking cigars, but it’ll keep those “aromas” from taking over your home.
5. You have mold or mildew issues in your house.
Mold doesn’t just smell bad. It can be a health hazard, especially if you have a respiratory condition or a compromised immune system. First, you need to locate the source of the mold and try to get rid of it. Sometimes that’s not enough, or it’s a problem that reoccurs because of your climate If that’s the case, you should consider an air purifier. It can clean mold spores out of the air and help you breathe easier.
6. You have grass, trees, and flowers in your yard.
Ah, yes – pollen! Lots and lots of people have seasonal allergies and are constantly battling pollen. Even if you keep your windows closed, pollen from the plants outside can creep into your house and make you miserable. You and your pets bring it inside, and you let it in every time you open the door. A HEPA air purifier can clean the pollen out of your indoor air and make a huge difference in how you feel. Be sure to keep one running in your bedroom (with the door closed) so you can breathe freely and get a good night’s rest.
7. You use a fireplace or woodstove.
Everybody knows that wood smoke irritates your eyes and respiratory system. That’s why we have chimneys! But it’s hard to keep smoke particles from fireplaces and wood stoves out of the indoor air. And that’s not healthy, especially for children and the elderly, or people with asthma or other respiratory problems. Of course, first of all, you need to make sure that your stove or fireplace is vented properly. Then you might consider a high-quality HEPA air purifier to trap the combustion particles that escape into your home’s air.
8. You create cooking odors.
Cooking odors have a way of hanging around long after the meal is eaten and the dishes are cleaned up and put away. And they have a knack for concentrating and lingering right where you don’t want them – like in your bedroom. Using a range hood over your stove can be a big help – especially if it’s vented to the outside. But it doesn’t get rid of all the smells. Or maybe you’re in a rental that doesn’t have a range hood or one that doesn’t work well. An air purifier can work wonders to keep those strong smells at bay. Be sure to look for one that has an activated carbon filter, because that’s the best kind for absorbing odors.
9. You have a lot of dust in your house.
If you have a dust problem, the solution could be as simple as replacing the filters in your heating and air conditioning system. Or maybe you need to get a professional in for an air duct cleaning. There can be other sources of dust in your house, though – dust mites, pet dander, and pollen, to name a few. Maybe you’ve done your cleaning and eliminated the cause of the dust as much as you can, but you still need help. Once again, a HEPA air purifier could be what you need to eliminate those fine particles from the air. You’ll have cleaner air to breathe, and you probably won’t have to dust as often.
10. You work with art and craft materials.
Paints, enamels, mineral spirits, glues, and other craft supplies give off toxic fumes that can do a lot of damage. Many have ingredients that are known carcinogens. Of course, you should use those products in well-ventilated areas. But for an extra measure of safety, the right kind of air purifier can help clean those toxins out of the air.
11. You’re moving into a brand new house or apartment building.
If you’ve ever moved into new construction, you know it can give off some mighty powerful fumes. All that new carpeting, wood products, paint, glue, varnish, and plastic is a recipe for respiratory disaster. It can irritate your lungs, make your eyes smart, or give you a headache. Eventually, the toxins will dissipate, but in the meantime, you suffer. So do yourself a favor and arm yourself with an air purifier that’s made for eliminating VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and odors. You’ll definitely want to have one in the bedroom at night and in other rooms where you spend the most time.
12. You’re doing home renovations.
Just like new construction, home improvements can create an unhealthy atmosphere in your home. Paint and construction materials often give off toxic gases, and there’s always a ton of dust when you’re remodeling. You don’t want to subject yourself and your family to that stuff. So consider using an air purifier to reduce the fumes and dust until you’re done with your project.
13. You live in a forest fire risk zone.
Forest fires not only destroy wildlife and vegetation. The smoke they produce can cause major health problems for people who live nearby. “For the most part, wildfire smoke is a mixture of carbon monoxide, volatile organic carbon, and particles that include alkaline ash, black carbon, and organic carbon, which usually contains polyaromatic hydrocarbon, a known cancer-causing agent.” It’s best to leave the area and stay somewhere else until the danger is past. But that’s not always possible. If you’re not going to leave, sealing up your house is a must. But it’s nearly impossible to keep outside air from leaking in. Running HEPA air purifiers in the house can help get rid of the pollutants that make their way inside. You’ll want one for each bedroom and other rooms where people spend a lot of time. It can get expensive if you need to buy several units. Fortunately, there are budget-friendly air purifiers designed to cover smaller areas.
14. You have modern conveniences in your home.
The sad truth is that many of the products we have in our homes are sources of indoor air pollution. Cleaning products, plastics, fabrics, furniture, mattresses, and electronics – to name just a few – all give off toxic gases. And unless you keep your windows open all the time, those gases hang around in the air where you spend a good chunk of your day.
You could give it all up and go live in the wilderness. Or you could keep your stuff and get an air purifier so you can breathe clean air in your own home. I’m guessing the second choice is more to your liking.
So, there you have it.
Did one or more of these reasons for getting an air purifier for your home?
I hope this article will help you to decide whether you need an air purifier for your home or not.