Air purifiers are devices that remove contaminants from the air.
They can be used to clean indoor or outdoor environments, and may also help reduce allergies in people who suffer from them.
There are many different types of air purification systems available on the market today.
Some use a combination of filtration methods such as activated carbon filters, ionizers, ultraviolet light bulbs, ozone generators, and HEPA filters.
We will discuss why we need air purifiers, types of air purifiers, how to choose the right one, popular brands and more in this article.
What all impurities an Air Purifier Removes?
Air Purifiers remove dust and other particles from the air that can cause allergies or asthma attacks in people with respiratory problems.
They also help to reduce indoor pollutants like dust mites, formaldehyde, radon gas, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, viruses, mold spores, fungi, and more.
Good HEPA filters will capture more than 99% of airborne particulates as small as 0.3 microns.
Health Issues Due to Air Pollution
The United Nations recently declared that air pollution poses the largest environmental health risk to our planet.
You may have noticed, air pollution is now often cited as a significant and potentially preventable public health issue.
The situation of air pollution is significantly worse in developing countries like India, we have some of the most air-polluted cities in the world.
Exposure to air pollution can affect both adults and children, resulting in premature death, greater susceptibility to respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia; and harmful neurological effects.
Air pollutants are primarily linked to two adverse health effects – reduced lung function (especially in people with respiratory problems) and increased risk of heart attack or stroke (due to the heightened inflammatory response).
A large amount of air pollution in our cities is caused by engines which burn oil or coal to produce energy.
This produces harmful particles which stay airborne and can be breathed in; leading to illnesses like asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and bronchitis just for starters.
The black smoke forms smog over our homes so even those who have never traveled outside their neighborhoods are at risk of developing these problems because exposure is there.
While you can improve air quality at home with some tips and precautions, but if the pollution is high or If you suffer from any of these disorders then it is highly suggested you explore air purifiers.
How are Air Purifiers Categorized?
There are several considerations for how to categorize air purifiers.
They can be classified by filtration system, or they can be organized specifically for the type of emitters, or by their designation which facilitates deep breathing.
Most air purifiers have more than one mechanism to purifier air and thus multiple methods are part of a single purifier.
These are the main categories of air purifiers available.
HEPA Air Purifier – The most common and in most cases a very effective type of air purifier is the HEPA filter. This is the best choice if you want to remove all types of particles from your home.
It may also help reduce allergens and odors in your home. It is not very effective against particles below 0.3 microns.
UVC Air Purifier – A UV light air purifier uses ultraviolet (UV) rays to kill bacteria and viruses. These rays can be harmful to people with sensitive skin.
Ionizer Air Purifier – An ionizer air purifier works by using negative ions to clean the air. Negative ions are created when oxygen molecules collide with charged particles.
Electrostatic Air Purifier – An electrostatic air purifier creates an electric charge that attracts dust and other particles.
Ozone Generator – Ozone generators use ozone to kill germs and bacteria.
Carbon Dioxide Air Purifier – A carbon dioxide air purifier removes airborne pollutants such as smoke, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander.
Air purifiers should not be confused with air conditioners or dehumidifiers, the main purpose of air conditioners is to cool the room air and dehumidifiers is to decrease humidity.
How to select a good air purifier for the home?
It is not easy to say there is just one best model – because, for every person who loves a purifier, there will be another person who hates it.
However, we do know some of the factors worth taking into account when trying to decide on what model to buy:
Do I have asthma or other respiratory ailments? If yes, make sure that it contains ozone filter and this will make your breathing easier.
Size of my space (small individual rooms vs big open floor plan)? Do I use an air conditioner? How many hours you are in the house per day? What material is furniture made out of and how high is air cleaning, etc.
Always go for air purifiers that satisfy CADR and ACH criteria.
Checking unbiased reviews of air purifiers can greatly help in selecting the right air purifier for your house or car.
What is a Car Air Purifier?
Car air purifiers are designed to remove combustion exhaust odors, chemical gases (such as benzene) and other car pollutants from the vehicle’s passenger space.
A typical intake of polluted air flows through a high-performance filter material like activated charcoal or HEPA filter to produce clean air.
Unlike the purifiers for homes, care air purifiers are very small as they need to cover a small area and clean a smaller volume of air.
Choose an air purifier with higher than required CADR to ensure prompt cleaning of air in the car.
FAQs
Yes, they do, but there are other variables to consider.
For example, if your main issue is smoke and odor, most air purifiers may not work against them. But on the other hand, you are looking t take care of dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold, etc. then air purifiers work amazingly well.
Further, the power of the device is crucial for one before making a decision on whether or not you need one.
If you get a small air purifier for a large area, it may not work as expected, even though it may be the best quality.
CADR and ACH are two important considerations to be taken care of before buying one.
We also suggest considering proximity, considering you may be able to get away with the lower-powered machines in some places than others.
Finally, be sure to take into account how “clean” your air quality naturally is before deciding what you need since there will come a
Odor can because due to various reasons such as VOCs, pet odor etc.
Most air purifiers may have a marginal or no impact on odor removal, though this depends on the type,size and location of the purifier as well.
Certain purifiers like ozone air purifiers, activated carbon filter air purifiers can help with odors.
It all depends on what the air purifier is designed for.
If it’s an air purifier designed to deal with allergens like pollen or dust, the best place to put them is in your bedroom.
This way, when you’re asleep and experiencing less of your respiratory system’s natural defenses against airborne allergens (more mucus flow), they can work even harder to cleanse the environment.
One way to answer the question is by exploring what purifier means.
A purifier is a device that removes air impurities, in particular, toxic substances in order to improve purity.
Thus, an air purifier does not add any oxygen to the air, it just eliminates the harmful substances from it so that it is more breathable.