Maybe some people think that air purifiers are a waste of time and money? But that’s absolutely not the case, especially if you suffer from upper respiratory ailments or if you have children in the family who need clean indoor air. In addition, air purifiers are necessary for those rooms where humidity is high to remove the action of mold. So, if you are still in doubt about whether to buy an air purifier (and it does not matter what company), be sure to read this article to the end. Many of your questions will go away on their own, and you will get the most useful information that will help make a choice in favor of an air cleaner in the room (home or office).
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How do air purifiers work?
If you are in doubt about whether to buy an air purifier or not, there is one short, but very reasonable answer. They are really necessary, because they help to cope with dirt, dust. However, if you decide to save money and take an air purifier that is several times less powerful than the one that will cope with your room, then you should not think that such a device will be a waste of money. There is no need to save money on equipment, especially if the savings are absolutely not justified. If you have purchased an air purifier that fits the size of your room, then you should not worry about its performance and efficiency.
So, basically, air purifiers have fans or blowers that are able to draw air in and then pass it through the air filters that are inside. The filters usually have several layers. Initially the mechanical filter works, which is great for filtering out the biggest particles in the air. After that, when the unit cools down a bit, the remaining air, where the particles are smaller, comes into play. This is where the special fine filters come into play. Experts recommend buying such air purifiers, which have in their composition activated charcoal filters or a unique HEPA filter. By the way, the latter are about 98% capable of removing small particles of dust and dirt down to 0.2 microns.
There are both portable and stationary air purifiers on the market. Portable units are used by a large number of users, and in separate rooms, can be moved from room to room, and used in other rooms as well. Most of the units available use universal centralized HVAC systems. These are usually built into the ductwork initially. As a result, several filters work at once, which are best able to clean the air in your room, give you cleanliness and rid you of dust and bacteria.
Similarities and differences between HEPA and activated carbon filters
So, what are the similarities and differences between the two types of filters? Specifically, HEPA filters are capable of removing any contaminants from the air mass, even those that are no larger than 0.2 microns in size. They are able to filter numerous microorganisms, together with bacteria, mold, dust mites.
Carbon filters are mainly used to combat unpleasant odors, smoke, chemicals from rooms. Such substances have a small size. Due to the fact that activated charcoal has a porous surface, it is able to remove such dirty particles and make the air in your home clean and free of dust.
It is best, or rather ideally, to have both a HEPA filter and activated carbon filters in your air purifier. This way you will be able to improve the suction of dirty air, to achieve better breathing in the room. True, you should not chase the small cost of those devices where both filters are installed. It often happens that manufacturers include fake, counterfeit HEPA filters in their devices. They can remove up to 99% of dirt, unlike the real ones, which can remove 99.8% of germs and bacteria.
How often should I run my air purifier?
Most of the programs that air purifiers use are run for long periods of time. In a small room, it will take several times less time to eliminate dirt and smoke. It’s best to run air purifiers at certain regular intervals so that old pollutants don’t accumulate. To get good results, it’s important to run more than one air purifier at a time (stationary and general).
Advantages of air purifiers
Next we want to talk about the main advantages of air purifiers, which are crucial when choosing a device.
Reduce the risk of allergies and asthma
With the help of an air purifier, it is possible to reduce the amount of pollutants in the room that cause allergies and asthma attacks. These pollutants include mold, pollen, dust, pet hair, etc.
Get rid of unpleasant smells
In case your room has a strong odor from tobacco, there is a feeling of stale air, these cleaning devices will help get rid of the stench.
Protection from airborne germs
When you use air purifiers with a HEPA filter, you can eliminate as few germs as possible, which include bacteria, fungus, and viruses.
Get rid of pet dander
There is a lot of dust flying around in the air. Among it is pet dander, if, of course, you have them. In addition, cleaners can get rid of unpleasant pet odors, boosting both your and your pet’s immunity.
After all, each of the factors presented is a trigger for an allergic reaction, asthma. Believe me, if you have the opportunity to prevent such a problem as upper respiratory diseases, it is better to buy cleansing devices and breathe with full chest.
Solve other problems related to poor air quality
In case you have someone living in your home who does not have problems with allergies or asthma, there are plenty of other health problems that purification devices are designed to solve. In particular, they help eliminate eye discomfort, throat problems, prevent skin diseases from worsening, solve numerous psychological illnesses, etc.
Important factors to consider when buying an air purifier
If you want to be healthy, then be sure to invest in your health, thereby purchasing air purifiers. It is true that when you choose a particular device, always be guided by a number of recommendations:
- Do not buy filters that are capable of producing ozone. It can negatively affect your lungs and throat.
- Give preference to HEPA filters, and also do not buy the classic regular filters. The fact is that HEPA filters are very useful because they can remove the smallest particles of dust and dirt.
- When you buy an air purifier, choose one that will fit the parameters of your home. Too small purifier will not cope with its assigned functions. Consequently, you may find that the device in question is completely ineffective.
Some basic technical terms related to air purifiers
Now let’s talk about the basic terms that are often found on the packaging for home air purification units. Thanks to the knowledge gained, it will be much easier for you to choose a device, to enter into a dialogue with the manager in the store.
What does CADR mean and why is it important?
CADR is the rate at which clean air is delivered. Acts as a critical factor in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the cleaning device.
The value of the index is given, depending on the three types of major pollutants (pollen, smoke and dust). In other words, this index indicates the size of the room for which the air purifier can be used.
The higher the value, the larger the room the air purifier can be installed in.
What does ACH mean and what is the recommended ACH rating?
Represents the air exchange per hour. Also acts as one of the key indicators when choosing a purifier. It shows how the air in the room will be cleaned for one hour.
For office space, bedrooms, recommended figure of 5-6. If you suffer from asthma, this figure should be higher and be about 6-8.
What does CFM mean and how to calculate it?
Represents another useful indicator that is taken into account when purchasing a cleaning device. It indicates the power as well as the filtering capacity of the air purifier. The value indicates how many cubic meters of air will pass through the purifier in a minute. The best efficiency shows the maximum values of this indicator.
Maintenance of the air purifier
Remember that if you use the air purifier regularly, it is recommended to clean it constantly, change the filters, monitor the operation of the main parts. This is the only way to get the quality of the device, not to worry about any problem with its functionality.
In particular, not only charcoal filters are cleaned, but also the HEPA filters. This is necessary for the air purifier to continue to work well.
Related Issues
Although this article answers almost all of the questions of those who want to purchase an air purifier, there are a few more that should not be forgotten.
Are there any side effects of an air purifier?
No, there are no side effects from using the device. On the contrary, you can solve a plethora of problems with your health, which particularly relate to the respiratory organs.
Is it expensive to use an air purifier?
Not expensive if you use quality filters. If you buy inexpensive filters that require regular replacement, then the maintenance costs of the device will be appropriate. In this case, it is better not to be petty and buy an expensive, but high-quality air purifier, rather than constantly paying for filters, replacing them every 3-6 months. This fact is important to pay attention to when you decide to buy an air purifier.
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