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Beginners Guide Air Purifier
The air pollution inside a house is more than what it is outside. It is discovered in a study that 586 independent airborne substances exist in around 52 houses in Arizona. From this, you can have an idea that how many air particles are there in other houses all around the world. We spent around 90% of our time inside the house, therefore having an Air Purifier is very beneficial for health.
The lack of ventilation in residential and commercial buildings is one of the main reasons behind the polluted air. There should be at least one ventilation. Those areas which have almost no ventilation are more likely to grab poison like dust. Dust is a particle that is generally found in every house than anywhere else.
Dust may appear like simple irritants. Dust brings bacteria, viruses, and dust mites along with it. And all of these can cause an allergic reaction to those who have reactive airway diseases.
Additionally, dangerous gases are found in every house. These gases are generated from wood, gas stoves, gas space heaters, kerosene, and fireplaces. One can be affected and face serious health issues by frequently inhaling these gases.
How Effective Are Air Purifiers?
An air purifier makes a tantalizing promise: An device that purifies the air in your home by removing all impurities such as odors, smoke, dust, and pet dander. We understand, given that such contaminants can be five times higher in indoor air than in outdoor air. Few models may also be able to target dreadful air that finds its way into your flat or house, especially if you live in a polluted or disaster-prone region.
According to Ryan Roten, D.O., an emergency medicine doctor at Redlands Community Hospital in California, most people shouldn’t be concerned about transient contaminants like smoke or exhaust in the air outside their homes because they dissipate over time.
Dr. Doten, who has been dealing with patients with underlying respiratory illnesses as mass wildfires rage along the West Coast and air quality hits new lows, says that In the short term, people may have asthma-like symptoms, mostly, or symptoms closer to allergies or sinusitis, including stuffy nose and a bit of a cough and if the smoke is thick enough, one can experience headaches from carbon dioxide, and people with respiratory problems such as asthma may experience symptoms.
Air purifiers can help to mitigate the dangers posed by noise and indoor activities. However, not all air purifiers live up to their advertising claims.
What are the functions of air purifiers?
A filter, or many filters, and a fan that draws in and circulates air are the most prevalent elements of an air purifier. Pollutants and adulterations are received as air passes through the filter, and the clean air is forced back into the living room. Filters are typically made of paper, fiber (often fiberglass), or mesh, and they must be replaced regularly to remain effective.
That means you can include maintenance costs and filter replacement costs in addition to the purchase price of an air purifier. Since you should be operating air purifiers near constantly to reap the benefits, operational costs can easily add up to $50 a year. Filter replacements will cost more than $100 per year.
The frequency at which you must change filters depends on the type of purifier and how it is used. Some filters are reusable and washable, but they take a lot of attention and aren’t typically found on the most powerful air purifiers. Reusable filters are effective at eliminating larger particles from the air, such as dust mites and pollen than disposable filters. UV (ultraviolet light) filters are also available, which claim to kill biological impurities such as mold or bacteria. However, many of these filters require higher wattage and longer exposure to be efficient (not to mention, some bacteria are UV-resistant).
Ionizers are used in other air purifiers to help attract contaminants like static electricity — negative ions bind to dust and allergens and cause them to settle out of the air. If you want to purchase an air cleaner with ionizers, be sure it doesn’t emit ozone, a gas made up of three oxygen atoms that are sometimes sold as a way to help break down contaminants. Ozone can irritate the lungs and exacerbate asthma symptoms. Ozone air purifiers are usually labeled as such on the packaging or in the marketing details.
What exactly are air purifiers meant to take out, and do they?
The majority of filters on the market are designed to trap dust and pollen, but they don’t detect gases like VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or radon. This will necessitate the use of an adsorbent, such as activated carbon. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that air purifiers’ ability to filter out gases is minimal and that filters must be replaced periodically for optimum performance, typically every three to six months.
Many air purifiers are effective at removing pollutant particles from the air (dust, smoke, pollen, etc. ), but they are not effective at removing gaseous contaminants such as VOCs or radon from the air, which can accumulate from adhesives, paints, or cleaning products. They are also incapable of capturing allergens found in furniture or flooring.
Furthermore, the efficacy of air purifiers in real-world environments is unlikely to be identical to that of regulated conditions in a lab (which is what those “99 percent effectiveness” statements are all about!). The venue, installation, flow rate, and length of the operation will all differ, as will the space conditions. In addition, there are other factors in your home that can affect the effectiveness, such as ventilation (open or closed windows) and the continual emergence of new particles, so the air may not be as filtered as the statements suggest.
If you’re worried about mold, investing in a dehumidifier or humidifier will help you maintain proper moisture levels in your home and prevent mold growth. Mould cannot be prevented by air purifiers; thus, the source of moisture that allows it to grow must be eliminated.
Can air purifiers clean the air that reaches your home from the outside?
Non-organic air contaminants, such as the VOCs described earlier, can often come from outside your house. According to Dr. Roten in building fires, there are a variety of situations where significant amounts of smoke inhalation can cause cyanide toxicity. However, this will almost certainly have to be someone who was directly in or near the fire: such people are taken to emergency rooms right away. Dr. Roten elucidates that In general, bystanders aren’t concerned about outside pollution, smoke, or temporary bad air.
However, the right air purifier can handle any environmental air quality issues in your region. Dr. Roten suggests that a HEPA filter-equipped purifier is your best bet, citing nearby wildfires as an example he elucidated that anything that has a true HEPA filter in it is probably sufficient enough to filter out most of the large particles that would be worrying and the majority of the smoky odor will be tackled as well.
What exactly is a HEPA filter and how does it function?
The acronym for High-Efficiency Particulate Air is HEPA. HEPA filters trap particles of different sizes in a multi-layered netting with varying-sized gaps, which is normally made of very fine fiberglass threads (much thinner than a human hair strand!). The filter is made up of a thick sheet of small fibers pleated and sealed in a metal or plastic frame, and it is airtight.
The air purifier’s fan pulls air into the filter, where it captures particulates. Larger particles (those larger than the fibers) are captured by impaction (the particle falls into the fiber), Interception captures mid-sized particles (the particle touches the fiber and is captured), and diffusion captures ultra-fine particles (the particle touches the fiber and is captured) (while zig-zagging the particle will eventually hit and stick to the fiber).
In an air purifier, what do I look for?
- The CADR (Clean-Air Distribution Rate) rating indicates how quickly the purifier removes smoke, dust, and pollen. A CADR of at least 300 is ideal, and a CADR of over 350 is even better.
- For proper effectiveness, a model that is designed to work in the room size is needed. Choose a model that is designed for a larger area than the one you are outfitting it for if you want it to run at a lower, quieter setting.
- The AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) Verified mark ensures the protection, reliability, and performance of a variety of home care appliances, including air purifiers. The standards aim to make the purchasing process easier by creating a common understanding between producers and consumers. Although this certification program is optional, most reputable air purifiers have gone through it, and also include CADR ranking and size guidelines.
- True HEPA filters are efficient at extracting ultrafine particles (think: dust, dander, pollen, mold, and other common allergens in the home). According to industry standards, the system must be able to remove at least 99.97% of particulates larger than 0.3 microns in a lab environment. It’s important to note that, in real-world situations, the effectiveness of these systems will be much smaller, as new pollutants emerge regularly. The terms “HEPA-like” and “HEPA-type” have no industry standard and are often used as marketing ploys to convince consumers to purchase the product.
10 Health benefits of Air Purifier
An Air Purifier reduces allergy triggers and asthma. It also prevents the contamination of deadly substances. It is very important and advisable to install an Air Purifier in any residential and commercial buildings or environment. For example, schools, offices, hospitals, and business places. Given below are the benefits of using an Air Purifier in your workplace or home.
- Air Purifier reduces the chances of Asthma attacks.
Most asthma triggers are found inside the house. That means when you’re home you are at a “High Priority Public Health Risk”. These triggers can include hairsprays, perfumes, cosmetics, paint products, smoke from cooking, household cleaners, air-freshening sprays, carbon monoxide, dirt, dust, and dry skin cells.
Additionally, there could be cockroaches and mold spores in your house or workplace. Both of these can cause asthma attacks. Newly bought carpets can also become a threat because they release fumes.
If we don’t purify the air, then particles of these substances can go inside our body by inhaling and cause wheezing and other asthma symptoms as well.
Most damage to asthma patients is caused by small airborne particles. To stay protected from these damages Air Purifier is needed. It removes microscopic impurities and treats asthma.
Read : Can Smoking Cause Asthama
There are other ways to reduce asthma triggers. For example, having hardwood floors, using hypoallergenic bedding, and dehumidifying the air, which kills dust mites. Indoor air pollution can be reduced by using HEPA Air Filters and increasing airflow. It will reduce the chances of having asthma or triggering an asthma attack.
- Air Purifiers remove allergies caused by dust and Pet Odor.
Inhaling dust, pollen, or pet odor causes some problems. It makes the body produce the allergy antibody called IgE. It causes allergic reactions.
Air Purifier like CritterZone is able to reduce pet odor. And it decreases the chances of getting allergies. But there is a problem with CritterZone, it produces ozone. Which is an allergy annoyance.
However, there are other Air Purifiers available in the market which removes allergens such as pollen, dust mites, tobacco smoke, and dander inside House and workplace without even using ozone.
Air Purifiers catch Tobacco and Cigarette smoke. It protects you from getting lung diseases. Breathing in tobacco and cigarette smoke causes the growth of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It also causes heart disease. Tobacco and Cigarettes have other side effects too, such as asthma, pneumonia, ear infection, and bronchitis.
Even for non-smokers like children second-hand smoke is as dangerous as smoke. Because children’s respiratory rates are higher than adults and their lungs are still in the developing stage. Meantime, aged people are at a higher risk of getting dementia if they breathe in second-hand smoke.
- Air Purifiers are capable of removing all kinds of smoke by using a HEPA filter and activated carbon.
Particles are removed at 0.3 microns and cigarette smoke can be anywhere from 4 to 0.01 micron by a HEPA Filter. This means that most tobacco and cigarette smoke can be trapped and drawn into an Air Purifier.
Read : Best Air Purifiers For Smoke
Becoming porous at high temperatures makes Activated Carbon attract cigarette smoke. And because of this air pollutants like odors, gases, chemicals, and smoke pass through the activated carbon. Therefore it becomes absorbed in the porous surface.
A Rabbit Air Purifier is best in terms of removing smoke from your house. It comes with both HEPA filters as well as charcoal-based activated carbon filters. Common air pollutants are filtered by charcoal pellets.
- Air Purifiers are good in removing Airborne Asbestos Particles, which reduces the chances of Mesothelioma Development.
Asbestos is a type of mineral that is made with rich and durable fibers. It is heat and chemical resistant too. It was commonly used to make building materials. But now it is proved that asbestos causes mesothelioma. It is deadly cancer that affects the lungs very deeply. It is deadliest amongst other cancers and illnesses.
It is tough to determine if a product is made of asbestos because it is odorless and tasteless. And the symptoms don’t show up very soon, sometimes it takes years to show the symptoms of diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural mesothelioma.
For not having any other choice Products are still being made from asbestos, In spite of threats. So, you may still found asbestos around you. Fireproof and heat-resisting materials are required to make this kind of product. For example pipe insulation, protective clothing, and brake linings.
California and Montana may still have houses with asbestos and these houses were built before the 1980s. Products that carry the minerals comprise drywall, cement, insulation, floor tiles, and ceiling. Although, these products will not be risky until they are being cut or damaged.
Those people who have already worked or those who are currently working with asbestos products are likely to be affected. If anyone comes in contact with these people or with their clothes can also be affected. And this can immediately affect family members.
If you want your house to be free from Asbestos products it is advised to hire an abatement expert. An abatement expert will work as per government regulations and will properly remove the risky elements. While removing asbestos their particles will become airborne.
During this procedure, it is suggested to the workers as well as house owners to Air Purifiers or any Air-Purifying respirators. It will reduce the chances of breathing in the asbestos particles.
- Radon gas, which can cause lung cancer, is eliminated by air purifiers.
Lung cancer may grow as a result of inhaling certain gases. For example, radon gas is created by a natural combination of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It enters through cracks in the floors and walls, building joints or holes around service pipes, electrical wires, and sump pits in houses, workplaces, and schools.
Everyone is at risk of being poisoned by radon gas, but if the levels of radon gas in a building are too high, it may lead to death. In reality, radon gas is responsible for anywhere from 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
Sealing cracks in your floors and walls, raising airflow in your pipes and fans by using sub-slab depressurization, or using air purifiers, which can suck the gas into their units and remove it from your living space are all suggestions for lowering radon levels.
- Outside Fumes and Pollutants are Removed by Air Purifiers in Urban Environments
It was discovered that allergic diseases are more prevalent in areas with modern, urban life, such as areas in developed countries in North America and Europe, as opposed to less developed countries where allergic diseases are uncommon.
Allergy and asthma rates are also higher in cities and along highways. This is due to the presence of contaminants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and diesel exhaust particles in these areas, all of which can be harmful to people with allergies and asthma.
Well-ventilated homes are the best way to battle pollution inside and outside of a home and one of the best ways to ventilate a closed space is to use air purifiers.
- Carbon Dioxide Levels in Your Home are Reduced by Air Purifiers
Our normal carbon cycle involves inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. But, when we are enclosed in a space without the ability to circulate oxygen, such as by having plants or opening windows and doors, carbon dioxide is emitted in large amounts and oxygen is insufficient, which can be detrimental to our bodies because we breathe in the carbon dioxide by accident.
Shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, exhaustion, lack of mental capacity, unconsciousness, nausea, elevated heart rate, and blood pressure, sweating, drowsiness, lung disease may all result from consuming too much carbon dioxide, and in extreme cases, even death can occur.
- A HEPA air purifier can eliminate carbon dioxide in the air, avoiding the negative effects that carbon dioxide inhalation can cause.
Air purifiers reduce the risk of developing leukemia and lymphoma by removing volatile organic compounds (VOC).
VOCs are substances that can achieve high vapor pressure at room temperature, causing an unpleasant odor and potentially harming your health by causing cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Paints and other coatings for walls and furnishings, as well as clothes from dry cleaners, air fresheners, aerosol sprays, stored oils, and car parts, contain these chemicals. If you have watery eyes, nausea, and trouble breathing while experiencing a burning or coughing feeling in your mouth, you might have VOC in your house.
Purchasing ‘exterior-grade’ pressed wood products, as well as using air purifiers that can extract vapors from your atmosphere and store them in their own device, can help minimize the amount of VOC you carry into your home.
- Air purifiers destroy mosquitoes and other potentially dangerous insects, preventing Malaria infections.
Purifiers can get rid of pesky and difficult-to-find insects, either of which can spread germs or diseases. This eliminates the need for insecticides, which are effective at killing insects but can release toxins into the atmosphere.
Even if you use insecticides there’s no guarantee that they’ll kill all insects. Mosquitoes, for example, are resistant to certain toxins and are responsible for severe diseases like malaria.
Insecticides, on the other hand, appear to be dangerous and unnecessary, while air purifiers appear to be more beneficial and effective.
- In hospitals and health clinics, air purifiers reduce contamination.
Most hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices are located near freeways or other urban areas where there are a significant amount of polluted particles present in the environment. Some disinfectants that are intended to kill bacteria, leave toxins in the environment.
Since people are in close proximity to those indoor places, airborne viruses, bacteria and indoor contamination in these facilities can be much more harmful than it is elsewhere. These viruses and bacteria will settle in these spaces and infect other patients.
Magazines, office brochures, clipboards, doorknobs, and pens are some examples of objects on which these germs can settle.
Installing an air purifier into clinics and doctors’ offices, where the purifier would be able to eliminate contaminants from the air before the bacteria and germs settle and infect others, is one solution to this problem.
They will also get rid of disinfectant-related toxins, which are potentially just as harmful as the viruses themselves.
Air purifiers can also be used in examination rooms or operating rooms to rid the air of pollutants that might harm the patients, doctors, and nurses. Doctors have also worn HEPA filters, which are a key component of the most powerful air purifiers when treating patients with diseases like tuberculosis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Air Purifiers
Can Air Purifiers be able to prevent Corona Virus?
No, there is no such evidence that claims it prevents Corona Virus. Generally, HEPA Filter catches particles that are as little as 0.3 microns. Where CoronaVirus is smaller. There are some Air Purifiers that come with UV lights that are able to kill smaller pathogens but there is no specific research that claims to destroy the Novel CoronaVirus.
Do Air Purifiers help you to have a better sleep?
Yes, Air Purifiers remove allergens from your indoor environment that helps to have a better sleep. Allergens are known to activate sleep disruptive symptoms, which are found in some people. There is some allergic reaction that causes disturbance in one’s sleep. Such allergic reactions are repeated coughing, sneezing, and difficulty in breathing. Air Purifiers traps pollutants which reduce the chances of allergies. A clean and fresh environment gives you better sleep. A smooth and better sleep helps to improve your mood and cognitive functions.
How much time does an Air Purifier need to clean and filter a room?
Almost all Air Purifiers take around 30 minutes to 2 hours to clean a room. It also depends on how big or small that room is as well as the ACH rating of that Air Purifier. The ACH rating depends on the number of times the entire air volume of air filters a room in an hour. Most of the efficient and capable Air Purifiers filter 4 to 5 times in an hour. It is advised to use the Air Purifier when you are in the room.
Which is the best place to install an Air Purifier?
An Air Purifier can be placed in a living room or in a bedroom. It should be placed somewhere you spend most of your time at home. Air Purifiers are portable devices, so if needed they can be moved from one room to another.
Are there any bad effects of Air Purifiers?
All Air Purifiers do not have bad effects. There are some Ozone Emitting Air Purifiers that can cause some harm to your body. They cause labored breathing, chest pain, and coughing. The respiratory system can be damaged because of a higher level of ozone. Air Purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters are said to be safe for general use.
Do Air Purifiers generally work as they are claimed to do so?
Yes, because a high percentage of the airborne allergens and irritants are captured by Air Purifiers through the filters. Therefore, they refresh the air quality indoors. It provides fresh and clean air. To reduce indoor pollution use of Air Purifiers is a very good solution. There are other ways to keep the indoor environment clean and fresh, such as cleaning the floors, carpets, upholstery, and allowing cross ventilation.
Conclusion
The demand for Air Purifiers is due to a lack of ventilation in the house. Air purifiers decrease the indoor air pollution level but their filters have a threshold. Some filters last for 2 to 3 months while there are other filters that last for longer periods of time. To continue to enjoy the clean and fresh indoor environment the air filter indicator should be checked from time to time and should be changed when needed.