Did you know that the most polluted air you will breathe today will likely be inside of your home?  Our homes are filled with air pollutants including smoke, dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander and even VOCs (volatile organic compounds).  There is also the many chemicals that we ourselves introduce into the air each day such as from hair spray, deodorant, perfumes and cleaning chemicals.  Is it any wonder that the incidents of asthma and allergies are on the rise?

One of the best things that you can do to keep your home’s air as clean and contaminant free as possible is to use an air purifier, or even more than one.  A high quality air purifier will capture and trap up to 99% of those indoor air pollutants so that you and your family are not breathing them into your lungs.  There are many types and sizes of air purifiers on the market so you should know more about them in order to purchase the ones that will do the most good.

One thing to look for in a high quality unit is if it has a HEPA filter system.  These filters work by trapping particles larger than .01 micrometers.  To give you some idea of how small those particles would be, a single hair shaft is 40-50 micrometers wide.  That means the HEPA filter is capturing pollutants that you need a microscope to see.  HEPA stands for “high efficiency particulate air” and are made of fibers that are put together randomly into a dense mat.  This filter catches the microscopic particles and traps them within this mat of fibers.

One of the highest brands of air purifiers on the market is the Austin brand.  They have an array of air purifier products for just about any need.  Two of the most popular and effective models in the moderate price range are the Austin Air Healthmate Air Purifier and the Austin Healthmate Jr. Air Purifier.  Depending on where you need them and how much air you will circulate through them, one of those two models would help increase your indoor air quality without having to spend thousands of dollars.

The standard unit is perfect for the average living space as it will be effective on areas of up to 750 square feet.  The smaller, junior model is better for small spaces like a bedroom or bathroom as it works effectively for up to 375 square feet.  Both of these models have true medical grade HEPA filters – the best you can get.  The filters last for up to five years so operating costs are minimal and they feature energy efficient motors which further lower operating costs.

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