Air purifiers may seem like a new-fangled concept, but they have been around for a while. They’re an effective and affordable means of improving indoor air quality. Besides, there are many reasons why you would want to purify the air in your home. Such things as allergens, mold and even wildfire smoke can negatively affect your family’s respiratory health. You can also know about the best air purifiers.
Air purifiers aren’t just for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. You can use them to help keep everyone healthy and safe in your home. So how does an air purifier work? Does it help protect against Covid-19 and wildfire smoke? To answer these questions and more, we’ll explore air purifiers in detail.
How Does An Air Purifier Work?
Air purifiers are perfect for enhancing the air quality in your home. They can eliminate toxins, allergens, and pollutants from the air, sanitize it and make breathing much more comfortable. A good air purifier will have some HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters.
The filters catch and neutralize particles and pollutants as air passes; this happens before it recirculates air in your room. Most filters capture large and coarse molecules like pollen and dust mites. High-efficiency particulate air filters have intricate weaves and fibers to help remove small allergens and pollutants. These particles are almost animal dander size. Some purifiers use light to remove biological impurities like bacteria and mold since they have ultraviolet filters. Purifiers with activated charcoal eliminate smoke particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The best place to use an air purifier is in areas where people spend a lot of time, like bedrooms, living rooms, and offices. You should also use it in rooms with lots of electronics like computers or televisions as these give off fumes that may be harmful if breathed in over long periods.
Can An Air Purifier Protect Against Covid-19?
In the wake of the recent viral outbreak, Covid-19, many people wonder how they can protect themselves from the virus. There are some things that you can do to help keep yourself protected and improve indoor air quality.
One of the most important things you can do is ensure that your home is clean and safe. This includes keeping it free from dust, dirt, and other contaminants that could cause respiratory problems. The best way to keep your home clean is by installing an air purifier with HEPA filters.
Air purifiers can effectively remove the virus if you use them properly. However, they aren’t fool-proof. Air purifiers may not catch all virus particles that pass through your home or office daily. Even if an air purifier captures all of them, some could make it through without being caught.
To avoid Covid-19, you should follow the CDC’s guidelines and rules. Always wear a mask when in public spaces for long periods. This will help prevent you from inhaling any particles that may be present in the air. You should also avoid touching things with your hands while in public places. Doing so increases your risk of spreading viruses through direct contact with germs on surfaces like door handles or railings on escalators and stairwells. Getting an air purifier should be the cherry on top of all these measures.
Can An Air Purifier Protect Against Wildfire Smoke?
According to NASA’s satellite data record, the increase in global fires is due to climate change. Wildfires have always been part of our planet’s history, and there is no doubt about it. However, with increased temperatures, fires have become more frequent and intense, leading to massive destruction. Wildfires produce a lot of smoke that contains fine particulate matter, small enough to be tinier than a human hair diameter or VOCs, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.
The particulates and gasses can be harmful to your health. If you reside in areas affected by wildfires or have friends who are suffering from smoke inhalation from these fires, it’s vital to take precautions. Ensure you stay indoors during this time unless necessary for your safety. Consider closing your windows and doors to avoid breathing in toxic fumes due to indoor air pollution. However, you may still be affected by the smoke.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters will help remove acrid smell and particles. A purifier with an electrostatic precipitator can reduce the concentration of fine matter that enters our homes. If you have allergies or asthma, getting one with a HEPA filtration system is better because these pollutants can trigger reactions from these conditions.
Does A DIY Air Purifier Work?
Generally, you can get many types of air purifiers from the market. However, they can be expensive, and not everyone can afford them. If you cannot afford an air purifier, you can make one yourself at home. You only need a high-quality filter/HEPA and a box fan. You can buy one from any hardware store or online store like Amazon.
You can make two types of purifiers; the first one can use one filter and a fan. This type of DIY air purifier is quite simple. This is because all you need is to put your filter over the box fan and then turn it on with its high-speed setting (full speed). This will blow all dust particles away from your room with strong wind pressure generated by the fan. On the other hand, the second one has a double filter over the fan, which is quite complex. However, the two air purifiers serve the same purpose and work almost as well as the manufactured ones.
Is A DIY Air Purifier Worth It?
A DIY air purifier is worth it if you’re looking to save money and are willing to invest the time necessary to build it yourself. The main benefit of DIY air purifiers is that they’re cheap and easy to make. You can find many designs online that require just a few household items you probably already have or can easily get at the store. Plus, if something breaks or stops working, you can still use it; it’s usually just a matter of replacing one part instead of buying a whole new unit.
Another great benefit of DIY air purifiers is that they’re customizable to fit your needs. If you have allergies or asthma, want an extra boost from the filter, or want something more robust for pet dander or smoke particles, add more charcoal to the filter. Alternatively, you can place more layers of gauze over it.
What Are The Benefits Of An Air Purifier?
The benefits of having an air purifier include:
Neutralize Bad Odor
One of the primary uses of an air purifier is to neutralize awful odors in a room or building. You will often notice that certain smells linger around in your home or office and won’t go away no matter what you do. These smells could result from food leftovers sitting around for too long. In addition, pets who don’t always use their litter box or even tobacco smoke from someone who smokes inside the house or office building could also cause unsavory odors. An air purifier can help prevent these unwanted smells, so they don’t affect anyone living in the space anymore.
Lower Airborne Diseases
Airborne diseases such as colds and flu are transmitted through tiny droplets of moisture in the air, which come from coughing or sneezing. These droplets settle on surfaces like furniture, carpets, and walls, where they remain until washed off by water or cleaned with a damp cloth. An air filter will remove these droplets from your home, so you don’t get sick.
Reduce Dust Build Up
Dust particles can collect over time on furniture, carpets, and floors if you don’t clean them often enough. This makes your home look dirty and less appealing to visitors if they see dust everywhere in your home. An air purifier can help reduce the build-up by removing dust particles from the air every time it runs. This keeps your home looking clean all year long without manually cleaning it.
Low Risk of Getting Viruses
An air purifier will lower your exposure to viruses and bacteria in the air by removing them before you breathe them in. For example, someone with a cold or flu virus can spread it through their coughs or sneezes. If someone else breathes in that person’s germs after being expelled into the air, they’ll likely get sick. This can happen within a few days or weeks if they haven’t had any vaccinations against those particular viruses.
Eliminates Mold
If you have mold growing in your home or office building, it’s time to think about getting an air purifier. This type of equipment will allow you to remove mold spores from the air before they have a chance to grow on surfaces or in carpeting. Not only does this keep your home or office clean and healthy, but it also prevents further spreading mold spores into other areas of the building that may not be as easily accessible as others.
Improves Sleep
Dust mites are one of the most common allergens in homes and can cause allergic reactions in people susceptible to them. The mites thrive in warm environments like heated homes where there is plenty of food for them, such as skin scales shed by humans at night while sleeping. The feces that dust mites leave behind are also a significant trigger for allergic reactions from dust mite allergies. A good quality HEPA filter will trap these allergens in your home so they cannot get into the air you breathe at night while sleeping. This can help improve your sleep quality and reduce your need for medication due to less frequent exposure.
Filter Toxic Chemicals
Toxic chemicals are everywhere, from car exhaust to cigarette smoke to fumes from cleaning products. However, they don’t just disappear when you open a window or turn on an air conditioner. They can build up inside your home over time. This makes it harder for you to breathe comfortably without buying expensive filters for your furnace or air conditioner unit. An air purifier works like an indoor vacuum cleaner that traps particles as they float inside your space.
What To Look For In Air Purifiers?
Air purifiers are a great way to freshen the air in your home. However, there are many different types of devices on the market, and not all air purifiers are the same. Each of them has its pros and cons. To help you choose the right one for your needs, here are essential things to look for when shopping for an air purifier:
CADR Rating
A clean air delivery rate (CADR) measures how well an air purifier can clean indoor air. The higher the CADR rating, the better the filter will remove particles from the air. Some filters have multiple levels of filtration that will remove different-sized particles from the air. Each stage removes particles of different sizes and has its corresponding CADR rating. For example, if an air filter has three sets of filtration, it might have three CADR ratings: 80 for stage one, 50 for stage two, and 30 for stage three.
Air Filter Type
Different filters have different capabilities; some can trap microscopic particles while others are more suited to larger particles such as dust mites or pet dander. If you have asthma or allergies, it’s best to look for a filter capable of trapping smaller particles such as pollen and mold spores. On the contrary, if you’d like something that can remove pet dander, look for one with HEPA filters.
HEPA filters remove 99.97% of the airborne particles 0.3 microns or larger from the air passing through them. This includes dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, among other things. Other options include electrostatic filters, which remove particles by attracting them to charged plates. Carbon filters absorb odors while ionizers produce ions to neutralize molecules in the air.
Energy Consumption
Energy consumption is another critical factor when shopping for an air purifier. Some models use more energy than others, but they all use some amount of electricity regardless of price point or brand name. If you want something that won’t cost too much to run on your electric bill every month, look at how many watts each unit uses before purchasing it. A lower wattage rating can mean significant savings over time, especially if you need multiple units in your home or office.
Noise Level
The first thing you’ll notice about an air cleaner is its noise level. Most air cleaners have some noise, but some are louder than others. The noise level of air purifiers is measured in decibels (dB). The lower the dB rating, the quieter it will be. However, not all manufacturers report their decibel levels on their packaging or websites. If an air cleaner is too loud for you, try another model or contact the manufacturer to see if a quieter version is available. You’ll want to ensure that your device doesn’t disturb others in your home if it’s in a living space where people spend time together.
Maintenance Cost
Most air purifiers require regular maintenance to keep them running correctly, typically once every few months. Some models have special filters you need to replace every year or two. Others use disposable filters you can toss out when they get soiled or clogged up with dust or pet hair. It’s vital to consider how much maintenance your new device will require before making a purchase decision. Most manufacturers offer replacement parts such as filters, power cords, and others for sale through their websites or authorized dealers at reasonable prices.
Warranty and Certification
A good warranty on the product lets you know that the manufacturer stands behind their product. Moreover, they are willing to provide support if something goes wrong with your air filter. A warranty also gives you confidence that you’re getting a high-quality product that will last for years without having issues. Some brands offer lifetime warranties on certain parts of their products, like the motor. If anything goes wrong, the firm will cover it, assuming you purchased it from an authorized seller or directly from the manufacturer.
It’s also essential to check what certifications come with your machine before deciding which model to buy. This can include certifications from third-party testing organizations such as UL and AHAM, among others.
Smart Features
If you want a device that automatically adjusts its settings based on what’s going on in your home, look for a model with smart features. These devices can adjust their settings based on the time of day or even what room they’re in. For example, some models can turn off when no one is around and turn back on when someone approaches them again. Some models also have sensors that can detect smoke or carbon monoxide and change their settings accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Purifiers
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Do air purifiers actually work?
Yes! Air purifiers do work, and they can do a lot of good. You’ve probably heard people say that air purifiers don’t make a difference in the quality of your indoor air. However, the truth is, it all depends on your home and what kind of purifier you use.
If you have allergies or asthma and live in an older home with lots of dust mites, mold, or pet dander, air purifiers will make a difference in how well you feel during the day. Even if you don’t have any health issues related to indoor air quality, there are still reasons to consider getting an air purifier for your home.
The most common type of particulate is dust, which can be caused by drywall construction or dryer lint. Odors are caused by mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke, mildew, or other odor sources. Air purifiers work by passing air through a filter or series of filters that remove the particles and odors from your air.
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Can I leave the air purifier on while sleeping?
The answer is yes; you can sleep with an air purifier on. However, there are some things to think about before you do. You should remember that there are many different types of air purifiers on the market, and not all are designed for sleep. Some have settings that allow them to run quietly at night so you can sleep in peace. Others are designed to run all night long and wake you up in the morning with clean air.
If you have asthma or allergies and find that your symptoms are worse when you go to bed, it may be beneficial to use an air purifier while sleeping. This will help eliminate your bedroom’s allergens and prevent dust and other irritants from building up inside your home. If you don’t suffer from breathing problems, then it might be best not to use an air purifier while sleeping since it can produce noise disturbing your rest.
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Which features of an air purifier should I avoid?
You should avoid ozone production and UV light sterilization features. Ozone is a colorless gas that can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat and cause respiratory problems. Some portable air purifiers produce ozone as a byproduct of their operation, but most don’t. Avoiding air purifiers with the feature is best for those with asthma or other respiratory issues.
Ultraviolet light helps kill airborne microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. However, it also damages furniture and other surfaces in your home when used too close or too much time each day. You shouldn’t leave these lights on for more than 15 minutes at a time because they could destroy your furniture.
Conclusion: How To Use Air Purifiers?
The overarching answer to what an air purifier does is that it cleans the air. However, air purifiers can do much more than clean the air of particles. As we’ve seen, they can also clean the air of odors, smoke, germs, and bacteria. As long as you choose a unit that fits your needs, you’ll realize an air purifier is an excellent investment for any homeowner.