In recent years, heating and cooling contractors have been increasingly stressing the benefits of home air purifiers. Also known as air scrubbers in some circles, the home air purifier is said to improve indoor air quality considerably. But do they really make a difference?

To answer that question, I am going to discuss what an air purifier does and how it helps homeowners in Utah. I have chosen Utah because it is a state with notoriously poor indoor air quality. HVAC contractors like Salt Lake City’s SameDay support Utah residents with air scrubber installation and service.

Air Purifiers in a Nutshell

An air purifier is a device designed to remove contaminants from indoor air. The home air purifier is a smaller unit purpose-built for residential structures. It is typically installed inside the HVAC system. Commercial-grade air purifiers are much larger units for obvious reasons.

Both residential and commercial-grade purifiers rely on a combination of fans and filters to remove things like dust, smoke, pollen, and pet dander. The most effective units are equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. They can trap 99.9% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Indoor Air Quality in Utah

Utah is well known for the poor quality of its indoor air. The Beehive State has several things working against it in this regard:

• LowHumidity – Utah is an extremely dry state. Low humidity and a lack of precipitation offer plenty of opportunities for airborne particulates to move around unfettered.
• Wildfires– Utah’s climate makes it highly susceptible to wildfires. Wildfires produce smoke, and smoke produces particulates that easily make their way into area homes.
• Inversions– Utah is also susceptible to a phenomenon known as inversion. During the winter months, extremely cold temperatures trap dust, dirt, and other particles close to the earth’s surface, rather than allowing them to escape. They easily make their way into homes.

SameDay says the combination of all three things can make life miserable for Utah residents who suffer from allergies and other respiratory problems. They also say that a home air purifier is a great way to get some relief. Visit Samedayutah.com for more info.

Yes, They Really Do Work

With all that out of the way, let’s get to the main point of this post. Home air purifiers really do make a difference. They work when used according to the manufacturer instructions. And that’s not just me saying it. Study data actually proves it.

Utah’s Intermountain Medical Center conducted a two-year study looking at the effectiveness of HEPA filters as compared to more traditional filtering systems. They monitored the indoor air quality of local homes for 12 weeks. Each of the homes belonged to an Intermountain patient who had voluntarily enrolled in the study.

Here’s what the study revealed about home air purifiers with HEPA filters:

• They reduced particulate matter in the air by 55%
• They allowed only 5% particulate infiltration during winter inversions

Again, a HEPA filter can remove 99.9% of airborne pollutants that make their way into Utah homes. But their abilities don’t start and end with the Beehive State. The filters work equally well wherever they are used.

Definitely Worth the Investment

Study data demonstrates that home air purifiers with HEPA filters are worth the investment. They really do make a difference, especially for people with allergies and respiratory problems.

If you suspect the quality of your indoor air is not all that good, consider installing a home air purifier. It could make all the difference in the world in helping you breathe easier, sleep better, and enjoy better overall health and wellbeing.