Air pollution is a serious problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air pollution levels are two to five times higher indoors. In some buildings with a lack of ventilation, indoor air can be 100 times more polluted than the air outside! This is because modern buildings are built with energy efficiency in mind. However, the tight seals that make a home energy-efficient trap contaminants within the well. Moreover, the average American has nine out of ten breaths indoors, so it is imperative to ensure that your indoor air free of allergens and other impurities.
Air purifiers eliminate allergens, toxic chemicals and other hazardous pollutants. This article explains why people use air purifiers, how they work, air purifiers you should avoid, and how to select the best air purifier for your needs.
Common contaminants in indoor air
What is the source of indoor air pollution? In terms of organic pollutants, mold and dust mites are everywhere – and are the two most common causes of year-round allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Pollen is an allergen that generally always finds its way to his house because it is so small and sticky. If you have pets, which will spread to the dander from every corner of your home. Many viruses and bacteria suspended in the air too.
Although allergens are organic compounds (VOCs), because many people experience allergic reactions and other health problems. VOCs include formaldehyde, perfumes, pesticides, solvents and cleaning agents. VOCs can enter the air through chemical off gases from furniture, new carpets, adhesives, plastics and various building materials. Furthermore, many VOCs are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and may also be present in indoor air, as well as toxic heavy metals like lead suspended in the air, mercury vapor and radon.
How air purifiers work
HEPA air purifiers use a HEPA air filter, which was developed by the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1940s as a way to filter radioactive contaminants. HEPA filters set the standard for air cleaners: to be classified as a HEPA filter must capture at least 99.97% of contaminants at 0.3 microns or larger. Top selling air purifiers including HEPA air purifier Austin, available with a HEGA (High Efficiency Gas Adsoprtion) filter with IQAir air purifiers, Aller, Blue, and Honeywell.
Remove filters activated carbon gases, odors, chemicals and toxins. Carbon is “activated” when it comes to oxygen, that opens millions of tiny pores to attract and absorb the chemicals. Impregnated carbon filters have been treated with a chemical, normally either potassium iodide or potassium permanganate, these chemicals, known as chemisorbents, improve the capacity of the carbon filter to trap volatile organic compounds and other gases chemically reactive.
Electrostatic filters use an electrostatic charge to attract and trap pollutants in the collector plates. These filters are ideal for people who do not want to worry about changing HEPA filters, but if the collection plates are not cleaned frequently, which quickly lose their effectiveness. Also, beware that some electrostatic filters emit ozone, which is known to be a potent lung irritant and can be very irritating to some people with asthma or allergies. Friedrich air purifier is by far the best electrostatic air purifier, and the top-ranked air purifier on the above classifications Consumer Reports
Charges of pollutants to a media filter electrostatic charge before collecting them in a traditional filter. Filters are often accused the media very effectively, but like electrostatic filters, quickly lose efficiency and may require frequent and costly filter changes. Some means of filtering air laden units also emit ozone. The advantage of filter media is that they are under quieter and more energy efficient HEPA air purifiers. Blue The charged air purifier is the best filter media, which does not emit ozone.
Where and How to Use an Air Purifier
If you suffer from allergies (especially if you’re allergic to dust mite allergen), then the best place for an air purifier is your bedroom. It is essential to have clean air in your bedroom, and they spend about one third of your life. If you are allergic to animal dander and pets, then you may want to place an air purifier in the room where your pets spend most of their time and keep pets out of your room! Also, you should not put an air purifier in the corner of a room, but must be at least a couple of feet from the walls for maximum airflow.
You should run your air purifier continuously for optimum performance. Most air purifiers with high and low settings. Even if you go on vacation, we recommend that you keep your air purifier working at low. Otherwise, return to a house full of air! If you are concerned about your electric bill, knowing how much energy one uses air purifier before purchasing it. Typical HEPA air purifiers can use anywhere from 50 watts to 200 watts of low discharge. By comparison, a typical lamp uses about 60 watts, while a typical computer uses about 365 watts.
Air purifiers to avoid
Avoid ozone generators and ionizing air filters. Create these air purifiers ions that attract pollutants, however, many of the pollutants released into the air, often times leading to dirty spots on nearby walls. Besides the fact that they do not do a good job of cleaning the air, ozone generators and ionizing cleaners also emit ozone. Ozone, a major component of smog, could potentially lead to a severe asthma attack.
Moreover, David Peden, a researcher at the Center for Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina, has examined how exposure to ozone can exacerbate the allergic response of people who are allergic to dust mites and their results suggest that ozone worsens asthma response. The EPA has warned consumers against using ozone generators, and Consumer Reports recommends that the new Ionic Breeze Quadra, despite the addition of OzoneGuard, a device designed to eliminate some of the dangerous ozone emitted by the Ionic Breeze .
Consumer Reports says: “Our air-cleaning tests show that the Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard does a poor job of removing smoke, dust and pollen particles in the air when new and after 500 hours of continuous use and the Ionic Breeze OzoneGuard still adds ozone in the air. ”
How to Buy the Best Air Conditioning
The air purifier market is vast and full of confusion and, often, the schemes of deceptive advertising. If you are buying an air purifier, you should first consider what type of contaminants you are trying to remove. For example, if you have problems with cigarette smoke, and then you’ll want to make sure your air purifier has the ability to remove gases, volatile organic compounds and other gases. You may also wish to consider the following factors before buying an air purifier: the coverage area (make sure the area given for the air purifier is approximately equal or slightly greater than the area of the room where you intend to use), the qualification of ACH (air changes per hour, this number tells you how frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air in a room), the CADRE (the rate of implementation of Clean Air tells how much air purified and how well it is purified), the price often I have to replace the filters and how much cost, the noise level of the air purifier, energy use, if issued ozone, extra features (such as a indicator light filter change), manufacturer reputation, and warranty.