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If you’ve always wondered exactly how an air purifier works and if you should consider one for your home, you’re not alone.
Research shows that with an increase in airborne illnesses, paired with an increase of rising health consciousness, people are looking to air purifiers as a key to minimizing various related health issues.
We’re here to show you why the increasing demand for air purifiers is well founded, exactly how they work, as well as what to look out for in air purifying products.
Read on to get all the air purifier answers you’ve been looking for in this in-depth review…
What’s an Air Purifier?
An air purifier is a device that cleans and improves indoor air quality.
They are considered most beneficial to people who are sensitive to certain allergies, pet owners, people with asthma, and smokers or those exposed to second-hand smoke.
Ultimately
Air purifiers refine the quality of air indoors, eliminating various pollutants and producing better breathing and sleep quality.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Air purifiers work by sanitizing, eliminating, or neutralizing pollutants in the air.
Let’s dig a little deeper
Standard devices contain a filter (or many filters) and a fan. Using the internal fan, air gets pulled into the purifier and passed through the filter that lines the device. The filter traps air pollutants and the fan pushes clean air back into the atmosphere.
This process perpetuates clean air circulation.
There are varying air purifiers that work differently and have differing filtration systems.
Most are used to work against allergens, but some others may better manage odors.
Common Types of Air Purifiers
The common types of air purifiers are HEPA, Activated Carbon, and Ultraviolet (UV) light filter purifiers.
Let’s look at these in more detail.
HEPA Filter
Most air purifiers use the HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.
Pollutants such as dust and pollen are larger than 0.3 microns in size, and HEPA filters extract at least 99.7% of airborne pollutants that are that size or bigger.
This type of purifier is the most extensively researched.
Activated Carbon
Air purifiers with activated carbon filters often successfully trap foul smells.
Unlike the HEPA filter devices, they can’t trap viruses and other bacteria.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light
Air purifiers with UV rays are used to kill airborne pathogens.
Often, the UV-light devices are used alongside HEPA systems and are rarely standalone.
Are Air Purifiers Effective?
Yes, air purifiers are effective, but they’re most effective when used correctly and in a way that increases their efficacy.
Here’s why:
To maximize an air purifier’s effectiveness, 3 major things should be observed.
One device should be used per room to better manage air circulation.
Each of these purifiers should be placed freely near a closed window or a doorway. Desks and tables also work.
Ensure the air in your house is as clean as it can be.
Vacuum and sweep, bath pets regularly, wash bedding often, and avoid smoking inside the house.
Change your air purifier filter at least every 1-2 months.
Air purifiers are incredibly efficient at filtering certain pathogens.
Let’s take a look at these below.
Allergens
Allergens are matter that can cause an allergic reaction.
The most common of these are house dust, pollen, and pet dander – all of which air purifiers can effectively filter out.
Mold
Mold spores are another common type of pollutant that can prove dangerous for people with asthma or other respiratory issues.
HEPA filter air purifiers can do wonders in helping to filter out mold spores.
Smoke
Smoke can refer to landscape, cooking, and second-hand smoke.
HEPA filter purifiers may be successful in trapping and reducing smoke, but aren’t as much in trapping their odors or air nicotine.
Ventilation through open windows should be prioritized when it comes to indoor smoking or, instead, not smoking indoors at all.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Indoor Toxins
VOCs and indoor toxins come from everyday household items such as cleaning products, personal care products, and building materials.
These particles become pathogens that live in the air, and they can become harmful to you.
Although their ability is limited, activated carbon filter purifiers can manage filtering out these pathogens.
COVID-19
Air purifiers aren’t enough to get rid of COVID-19 completely, but they certainly help.
Air purifiers assist in the reduction of contaminated droplets in the air.
They are considered an invaluable addition to the homes of people with respiratory diseases and those who are immunocompromised.
General COVID-19 prevention practices are still encouraged.
Learn more in my in-depth article: Air Purifiers Prevention Against COVID-19
What Are the Benefits of an Air Purifier?
The benefits of an air purifier include easing allergic reactions, improving sleep, relieving asthma flare-ups, and reducing the chances of airborne illnesses.
Learn more in my in-depth article: 10 Health Benefits of Air Purifiers
What Will Air Purifiers Not Work For?
Air purifiers won’t work for pollutants that aren’t meant to be filtered with their unique filtration system.
On the other hand, it’s important to note that some air purifiers can’t always improve your health.
A less common type of air purifier, known as an ozone generator, uses the ozone purifying gas to clear pollutants.
This kind of purifier produces large amounts of this gas, and the gas is projected into the space in order to clean the air.
But here’s the problem:
While it may work to sanitize polluted air, ozone gas can be counterproductive, causing damage to your respiratory system, and potentially inflicting long-term internal damage.
Ozone purifiers are quite controversial and even banned in some areas, so rather opt for a safer, more common household purifier touched on in the earlier part of this article to avoid potential health complications.
Common Questions
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Why You Can Trust ByPurify
ByPurify has done all the heavy lifting so that you don’t have to.
We’ve done the research required to help you understand how air purifiers work and what they can do for you.
We’ve also assessed and reviewed the best air purifiers the market provides and compared several aspects such as aesthetic, filter type, noise levels, and value for money.
Now you can not only make your own informed choice of which air purifier best suits you, but have a full understanding of their inner workings and benefits, too!
In Conclusion
Air purifiers work to sanitize indoor air, and research shows they do an efficient job of that.
However, it’s important to remember to maximize the benefits of your air purifier. Air purifiers work best in combination with routine care for your home, as well as the device itself.
It’s also important to note that air purifiers don’t work as a replacement for any medications you may take for your allergens or illnesses, but as an additional tool to ease and manage symptoms.