Air Purifier Benefits
As pollution levels continue to increase, quality indoor air is becoming more and more of a luxury instead of a common necessity. Allergies and breathing disorders are more common, as are the medications to treat them. As a result, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate the sources of indoor air pollution. An air purifier cleans indoor air and eliminates particles and gases that contaminate the air and harm people. An air purifier also reduces allergens and can ultimately improve the well-being of homeowners.
The most common indoor air pollutant is mold, which often resides in damp basements, closets, bathrooms, air conditioners, and other humid areas. Other common pollutants are pollen and pet dander. Air purifiers cleanse the air of such contaminants by several different methods, described below:
HEPA Filters
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters pass indoor air through a filter that extracts allergens from the air. The purifier then releases the clean air back into the room. HEPA filters are typically 99.97 percent effective at removing particles from the air. This removal efficiency is sufficient for eliminating most molds, pollens, and pet dander from the air.
Ionizing Air Purifiers
Some air purifiers use an electrostatic process that charges the air and deposits allergens on an electrostatic filter. These air purifiers then pass the air through a charcoal filter to remove other impurities and release the clean air back into the room. This type of filter is often known as an ionizing air purifier and helps additional allergens settle more quickly. While charcoal filters require replacement occasionally, some types of HEPA filters that work in conjunction with the charcoal filters simply require vacuuming or washing in soapy water to cleanse the impurities.
Whole-house Filtration Systems
Air purifiers ultimately serve the same purpose of removing allergens and pollutants from one’s home, but can differ greatly in size and the amount of air they are designed to filter. Whole-house filtration systems can be installed in the interior central air conditioning unit and act as an air purifier for one’s entire home. These systems are excellent for families with pets or who suffer from severe allergies since they remove allergens from the air in every room. However, single-room purifiers are much more common than whole-house filtration systems, as they are often more energy-efficient and economical.
Air purifiers are as diverse in features as they are in shapes, sizes, and cost. An air purifier offers many benefits, including improving one’s allergies, removing impurities and unhealthy pollutants from indoor air, and ultimately improving one’s health and well-being. While an air purifier is not a magic solution that will eliminate all indoor pollution, it can greatly reduce certain air contaminants that contribute to poor air quality.