If you are one of the lucky few that live in a pristine household that manages to fend off germs, viruses, and dust, you probably don't need a home air purifier. But if your home's air ventilation system does not thoroughly trap and dispose of these contaminants, you may be interested in getting an air purifier for your home. Some folks don't worry about their clean air quality or even their health, for that matter. But if you want to enjoy your time spent at home, and if you want to do everything you can to live to a ripe old age, a home air purifier might be just what you're looking for.
While it can't work miracles, a home air purifier can make your life more comfortable and healthy. If one or more of the groups listed below are represented in your household, give some serious thought to purchasing a home air purifier to clean up your breathing space.
1. Smokers. Is there at least one smoker in your family or household? An air purifier can help to rid each room of second-hand smoke that has been shown to have adverse effects on family members? health. If your smoker agrees to light up in just one room in the house, then you may just need one air purifier. But if he or she smokes throughout the living area, you may want to consider getting several air purifiers to clear each floor of your home of this lethal toxin.
2. Asthmatics. If someone in your family has a serious Asthma condition, it is important to clear the air of perfumes, viruses, fungi, and other particles that can trigger an attack. Talk with the doctor about the most common allergens that aggravate many people's asthma conditions. Find out what an air purifier can do to help an asthmatic person experience fewer and less serious attacks.
3. Chronic ill persons. Does someone in your family suffer from a long-term condition like Fibromyalgia, Cancer, Heart Disease, or Cystic Fibrosis? Anyone with a chronic disease can benefit from breathing purified air. Those with disorders that impair the circulatory or respiratory systems especially need clean breathing air. An air purifier in that person's bedroom or primary living space, or several units throughout your home, can help to promote comfort.
4. Pet owners. Do you have two or more furry animals living in your home? Dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, and even feathery birds, if maintained in quantity, can pollute your indoor air quality, especially if the house is well insulated. Some people are allergic to animal dander or flea sprays, so it is important for them to have clean air access in order to avoid the onset of frequent allergy attacks. Dogs and cats, especially, may leave residual odors in the carpet or flooring that may not readily dissipate. An air purifier will help to eliminate these odors and keep your home smelling fresh.
An air purifier can make your home cleaner and fresher for all residents, so think about getting one to purify your home's indoor air.
It is very important for people who suffer allergies and those with babies or elderly invalids at home to invest in an air purifier. For an air purifier to work well it has to a high clean air delivery rating (CADR). It is expressed in terms of cubic feet per minute; so that a 500 CADR means that the filter can release 500ft3 of clean air per minute.
Air purifiers use different means to clean the air. Some techniques are more effective against some pollutants than others. Here are some of them. Air purifiers commonly use filters to remove particles in the air. A purifier with an HEPA (high efficiency particle air filter) sign means that it can remove even the smallest particles. Be aware that HEPA enabled devices need to remove 99.97 % of particles and nothing less otherwise it may not be an accurate representation of what you are looking for. If the ad says HEPA-like or HEPA-type then it may not be hat you should be buying.
Other filters use carbon. Carbon is highly porous and can absorb chemical in the smallest forms that is why it is good for filtering water. It can be used together with an HEPA filter. Some other filters use ultra violet light. In sterilization, ultra-violet light is used to kill bacteria and can eliminate 99.9 % of bacteria and viruses. Another alternative is to use ultra-violet light bulbs that will also sterilize the air indoors. They need to be replaced yearly.
Ionizers are another breed of air purifiers. They produce ions that attach themselves to air borne particles which are then attracted to an electronically charges collector plate. Ozone is another way to clean the air in homes but can only be used in unoccupied rooms. Ozone is a strong oxidant and can oxidize other chemicals and can remove odour and smoke.
Other concerns for customers of air purifiers are the noise levels and any by-products produced by air purifiers. This noise level can easily be obtained by trying the air purifier in the store or asking customer service. The cost of operating the air purifier will of course be an interest and this relates to the cost of replacing the filters if any are used or the amount of power needed to operate it. For power consumption look for an air purifier with the energy star symbol as this indicates that it is energy efficient so it will use less than other brands that do not carry the sign.
Both Gary Wells & James Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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