Indoor air quality is of utmost importance when it comes to your health. This article describes the most common indoor air pollutants, and how air purifiers work to rid the air of these impurities.
Most people take nine out of every ten breaths indoors. Yet,
historically, indoor air quality hasn’t been given near the attention of outdoor air quality. As more people become aware of the dangers and health risks associated with breathing polluted indoor air, they will also become aware of the many health benefits and advantages of an air purifier.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants
Many are unsure if the air in their home is clean or not. The fact is that common indoor air pollutants (such as mold, pollen, dander, VOC’s or volatile organic compounds, etc.. ) are usually floating around everyone’s house. These pollutants are emitted as you use common household items, and they can compromise your health. Air purifiers are a common defense against these pollutants that are floating around the home unchecked.
How Does An Air Purifier Work?
There is an array of different options, configurations, brands, and purported benefits when it comes to air purifiers. You need to know how each air purifier works to help you pick the right one for your home. Here are some of the most common features and how each works.
Electrostatic Filters- An electrostatic charge causes indoor air particles to become trapped on the collector plates. However, the collector plates must be cleaned often to maintain effectiveness and thoroughly clean the air.
Charged Media Filters – Indoor air particles are given an electrostatic charge by a charged media filter. The particles then enter a traditional filter. These filters come with two common disadvantages. First, they can emit ozone, which compromises air quality. Second, it can be an expensive option, as it must be changed frequently.
Activated Carbon Filters – Volatile organic compounds, vapors, and gaseous substances are removed from indoor air using a carbon chemical reaction. The substances become attached to the carbon and are removed from the air. This filter will also remove odors from the air.
HEPA Air Filters – These are considered the gold standard of air filters. In fact, they are so reliable that they are utilized by hospitals and the United States military. They use a complex layer of fibers to trap around 99.97% of indoor air particulates. The filter works on particulates as small as .03 microns. The HEPA air filter is the best option when it comes to air purifiers.
HEPA Air Purifier Tips
The HEPA purifier should be placed a few feet away any obstruction and wall. There should be one in each room of the home, and each of them should run 24/7. These simple tips will give you the maximum benefit from your HEPA air purifier.
Air Purifiers To Avoid
As you see, HEPA air purifiers are the best on the market. However, there are some air purifiers that are not only useless, but actually can make air quality worse. They may be cheaper, but they are ultimately a waste of money. Ionizing air cleaners and ozone generators are two that should be avoided, as they will make the indoor air quality worse. Ozone is also extremely harmful to your health.
How to Find The Right Air Purifier
In order to be ensured that you pick an air purifier that will actually improve indoor air quality, look for a company, such as IQAir and Austin Air, that offers a broad range of air purifiers for safe and effective air cleaning.
