Polluted air can damage one’s health, and your home is not exempted when it comes to producing unhealthy air. Indoor pollutants include molds, dust, animal fur, cigarette smoke, chemical compounds, bacteria, viruses and combustion products. Thank God there is a solution! Air purifiers have become a valuable appliance.
My kids and I suffer from allergies and we are very sensitive to dust, dander and mold. Using an air purifier in our home has helped us tremendously. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air, especially at home, where people spend most of their time. Because of the rampant pollution and airborne diseases, innovators have finally created air purifiers for home. They are lifesavers for me. When we used to live in Hong Kong, outdoor air pollution was so bad that almost everyone owned an air purifier in each room. When we get home from long weekends or out of town trips, we switch it on immediately and the air sensor reads dirty! leaving it on ensures that my air at home gets purified.
An air purifier is designed to get rid of air pollutants and allergens. It works by automatically cleaning the circulating air inside the house.
How Do They Work?
Air purifiers eliminate airborne pollutants like pollen, dander, and dust mites. The high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have fans that draw the air and trap particles. The fans do not use ozone, an inorganic molecule that is particularly harmful to the lungs. A study revealed that HEPA filters could eradicate impurities to about 99.9%.
On the other hand, some air purifiers have built-in electronic technology that changes the release system of the air. Instead of pulling it in, purifiers reversely charge the elements back to the room where they settle on floors, walls, and furniture. However, this process requires additional efforts, like vacuuming, to prevent them from being re-circulated into the air.
What to Look for in an Air Purifier?
When you come home after work, your home should welcome you with a clean atmosphere. Therefore, every house should have an installed air purifier.
Consider these features to help you decide on what air purifier for your home you should purchase.
- An air purifier must have at least four times air change per hour (ACH) rate. ACH is the number of times that the purifier can accommodate the air volume in its treatment mechanism.
- To achieve that ACH rate, the purifier should have a sufficient room size that can hold the amount of air filtered. You can verify it by looking at the package, which usually indicates the label “Size 4 ACH.”
- The purifier must be made of polyester as its base material because it has fibers that can collect more significant and visible particles like hair and animal fur.
- The purifier should have a wired frame instead of plastic or aluminum. This design can give an additional element that forces the particles to stick together and go through the filter.
- The air purifier should be easy to install.
Advantages of Using Air Purifiers
Overall, air purifiers can significantly reduce indoor air pollution. However, aside from this generic function, the purifiers have additional benefits as well.
- Releases pleasant household odors and removes pungent odors from onions, rotten vegetables, and spicy foods.
- Reduces dust and animal dander
- Controls the growth of unwanted indoor elements like mold, bacteria, and pollen
- Reduces the risks of respiratory problems by eliminating smoke particles and unhealthy vapors
- Separates pollutants and dust from air ventilation systems
Thanks to the technological advancements, various devices and appliances are now readily available in the market to help us live a more comfortable and healthy life. An air purifier is just one manifestation of this innovation, which we should all invest in and use.
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