Cold and flu season is here. You might be wondering whether or not an air purifier can help you stay healthy! When it comes to reducing germs and pathogens, not all air purifiers are built the same.

We’ve talked before about the benefits of using an air purifier. In general, using an air purification system in your home can help with a lot. It can relieve allergy and asthma symptoms, neutralize odors, and help you get a better night’s sleep.

However, if you’re considering an air purifier specifically for cold and flu season, it’s important to know whether or not the unit you’re looking into will actually do what you expect. Read on to learn more about effective air quality control strategies to battle germs and viruses!

Relieve Cold and Flu Symptoms

If you are already sick with a cold or flu, using an air purifier will not eliminate the illness. However, improving the air quality in your home may help reduce the severity of your symptoms. This is especially true if the air quality in your home is poor, and was causing symptoms before you got sick. We talk more below about what kind of air purifiers will help reduce the viruses and bacteria in the air. If you’re looking to relieve your symptoms, there are other important air quality factors to address!

On top of using a purifier, maintain proper humidity levels in your home. This will also help ease your respiratory symptoms. Indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50% are ideal. In the winter time, our homes get dryer as we run the heat, and as outdoor humidity drops. Unfortunately for us, bacteria and viruses thrive in low humidity environments! Bringing your home into the 30-50% range can inactivate up to 70% of the viruses in your home’s air. Keep in mind though, too much humidity can be just as bad as too little humidity. Too much will lead to condensation buildup, which can promote mold and mildew growth. Use a humidifier or a dehumidifier to keep your home into the ideal humidity range.

Reduction in Bacteria and Viruses

While using an air purifier can help reduce the number of airborne microbes, the best way to reduce viruses and germs in your home is a multi-step approach. Remember, not all air purifiers are built the same! UV light technology can help kill off microbes and improve air quality. Media filters can trap larger particles that bacteria and viruses get stuck on. A filtration system that combines multiple purification methods is more effective than any single filtration method alone. Using a multiple technology whole-home purifier such as the REME HALO® or the DUST FREE® air purifier is a fantastic first step to remove microbes from the air and surfaces. These models combine multiple methods, such as UV germicidal technology, ionization, and oxidation to provide superior air quality control.

Bacteria and viruses are extremely small particles, so they often attach themselves to larger particles in the air such as dander or dust. Dust and dander then settles onto the floor or other surfaces, and can get stirred up when you walk by or touch a surface. For this reason, vacuuming and sanitizing surfaces are important steps you should take to reduce viruses and germs around the house. Of course, it’s important to practice regular hand washing and to properly cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent illnesses from spreading!

In Conclusion

So, will an air purifier help you dodge the cold or flu? It’s complicated! Certain kinds of air purifiers, such as ionizers or UV germicidal purifiers, can absolutely reduce the amount of bacteria and germs in the air. Overall, using proper precautions and using multi-step approach on top of a purifier is the best way to keep yourself and your family healthy this cold and flu season!

Texas Ace Heating and HVAC offers whole home air purification services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Give us a call today at 817-240-6701 or contact us online to discuss the right air purification solution for your home!