Things To Know Before Buying An Air Purifier

What is the effect of the air purifier?

HEPA (High Efficiency particle Arrestance) air purifiers, in general, have been very effective in reducing particle pollution in your home.Air purifiers capture particles of air that are normally invisible to the naked eye by wrapping small particles in a dense layer of fine fibers.

Simply put, they breathe in polluted air, capture particulates, and blow out clean air.

To be HEPA certified, air filters must remove 99.97% of particles exactly 0.3 micron in diameter - a size that is particularly difficult to filter mechanically.Some of the models tested removed almost all the particles, as small as 0.01 micron, a thirtieth of the HEPA standard.

Again, while the long-term effects of short-term exposure to smoke may be low, any kind of particle pollution still affects our health and is more concentrated indoors - meaning that almost everyone benefits from cleaner air.

Most of us spend a lot of time indoors, and indoor air pollution is worse than outdoor air pollution.It comes down to what we have in our homes: pets, carpets, dust-absorbing furniture.Many homes are not well ventilated either.

Especially if you're older or have asthma or other respiratory problems, you may want to consider using an air purifier.

For families in smog-prone areas, including those close to areas affected by wildfires, we recommend turning up the air purifier for an hour, then setting it to medium or low, to minimize the amount of smoke in your home.

How to choose an air purifier

When choosing an air purifier, make sure it is indeed HEPA certified.It's often listed as a "true hepa filter."You'll also want a machine with a tight seal around the filter.If the seal is not good, the air will flow along the edge, and if it allows the dirty air to diffuse around the edge, you won't get the full effect.

Some models may list a CADR(clean air delivery rate) rating.It measures the amount of air flowing through the device and tells you how efficient the model is based on the size of the room.Heffernan recommends a CADR rating of at least 200 or higher for tobacco smoke (dust and pollen are also rated).That means the device pumps the equivalent of 200 cubic feet of pure air into a smoky room every minute.

These models, typically recommended for small rooms of about 300 square feet, circulate air at a rate of four to five times an hour to ensure pollutants are quickly filtered.That's not to say a 200-calorie model won't work in a larger room, but it will work more slowly.

If you're looking for a more cost-effective solution, you can also upgrade your existing HVAC system to improve air quality.

Hvac systems are equipped with basic filters that capture larger particles, such as pet hair.You can upgrade your filter to capture smaller particles, as indicated by the filter's MERV rating, or the minimum efficiency report value.This indicator shows how effectively the filter will reduce the number of particles passing through it.

The higher the number, the better the rating.According to the epa, "a MERV filter between 7 and 13 May be almost as effective at controlling indoor particulate matter in most of the air as a real hepa filter."There are also "full house" purifiers that provide true hepa filters in hvac systems, but these are expensive and may require upgrades to your home's air processor.

When older hvac systems are clogged with trapped particles, these devices limit airflow, putting them under pressure.It is generally recommended to replace the filters every three months, but when particulate pollution is high, such as during wildfires, the filter clogs for less than half as long.

How to maintain your air purifier

Maintenance of your air purifier should be minimal.Most hepa filters are designed to run continuously for a year, although many manufacturers recommend checking them every six months.If you have a fair amount of dirt on your filter, or if you just want peace of mind, replace it.

In addition to cleaning your air, if you live in an area adjacent to smoking, or if you're concerned about pollution, there are a few extra precautions.

Much of the advice is common sense: close your Windows and avoid spending too much time outdoors to keep particulate matter out of your home.

I also recommend simple tasks like washing sheets and pillowcases.You don't want to spend eight to 10 hours in a smoke-filled bed sheet.If you plan on vacuuming, keep in mind that vacuuming also triggers dust and smoke, so mopping the floor may be a better idea.

Finally, if you're wearing a paper mask, or you want one so you can go outside to the smoking area, remember that most masks have a limited effect.To provide adequate smoke particle protection, you will need a mask rated N95 or P100 by the national institute of occupational safety and health.These ratings indicate that masks or respirators can block 95 to 99.9 percent of particles 0.3 microns or larger.

So if you want to wear a mask outdoors, you need a certified mask.A piece of paper doesn't do any harm, but it shouldn't give you a false sense of security.