When we talk about air purifiers, we think of them as the most effective solution to increase air quality. However, there are people who have doubts concerning its usage.
Some conclude that having an air purifier helps to get rid of all impurities in the air, including odours, smoke, etc. While some others opine that they are of less use, there are a few more who argue that they do not clean the air safely.
Amidst the various opinions, the common question that arises is “Are air purifiers effective?”
With so many myths taking rounds, here we are with this article to debunk those and present you with the facts.
For all those who debate on the effectiveness of air purifiers, continue reading below. This article will surely clear the air for you.
In this write-up, we will discuss whether air purifiers are good and necessary. Before we get started, let us try to know how they work.
Table of Contents
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
The working mechanism of air purifiers is very simple. They consist of single or multiple filters that absorb the air in, purify it and then circulate the purified air. When air passes through the filters, they trap the impurities in the air like dust, smoke, and other air pollutants. They vent out the clean and fresh air back into the room, making it safe to breathe.
The effectiveness of the purifiers is majorly dependent on the type of filters they contain. The most commonly available and used filters are paper, fiber, or mesh. They require regular replacement to ensure their efficient functioning.
However, not all air purifiers are capable of removing all the impurities from the air. Some are proficient at removing either pollen, smoke, or dust. It all depends on the type of filter the air purifier has. Some versions of air purifiers come designed to trap the impurities whenever the air passes through the filters. There are specific air purifier models that do not filter the particles but neutralize them in the air.
There is another type of air purifier, which is the negative ion emitting air purifier. It works by attracting the positive ion particles in the air and neutralizes them. However, the limitation to this version is that it can emit ozone into the air.
Till now, we have discussed how an air purifier works. Let us now see whether these are effective or not.
Are Air Purifiers Effective?
We will find an answer to this question in the information below. Firstly, how do you measure the efficiency of an air purifier? Well, here is the answer. The air purifying unit should clean the air and remove the impurities like dust, pollen, smoke, mould, bacteria, and other allergens from the air effectively. If the device can filter the air more number of times, the cleaner the air becomes. The cleaner the air is, the high is the indoor air quality.
One should always remember that the air purifier will not completely remove the impurities from the air or neutralize them. This is primarily because many particles will sit on the surfaces of your home, like the walls, carpets, furniture, etc.
The ultimate role of an air purifier is to trap the airborne contaminants and pollutants in your home. Let us say your air purifier has a HEPA filter. Such filters are capable of effectively removing and trapping particles in the air that are as small as 0.3 microns. These particles include bacteria, dust, pet dander, etc.
An air purifier having HEPA filters can effectively filter out up to 99.97% of harmful airborne impurities and contaminants. That said, these air purifiers are useful and helpful for people having health issues. The air filtration process in the air purifiers purifies the indoor air, making it more healthy to breathe. They help in efficiently reducing allergy and asthma triggers. You do not have to solely depend on the medication to manage any triggers in your home. Having an air purifier can be a suitable and cost-effective option for the same.
However, there is one thing the user needs to be mindful of. No matter how efficient and effective air purifier you might be using, you need to consider the room size. There are certain specifications for choosing the right and size of the unit for the right size of the room. You need to check for these parameters before selecting one.
What are Air Purifiers Good At?
As discussed earlier, air purifiers are helpful in cleaning and filtering harmful pollutants in the air like allergens, toxins, bacteria, VOCs, mould, and others. It works exactly opposite to the humidifiers and the essential oil diffusers that add particles to the indoor air.
We have enlisted the particles that an air purifier is good at handling:
- Allergens
- Pollen
- Dust
- Smoke
- Odour
- Bacteria
- Mould spores
- Pet Dander
What are Air Purifiers Not Good At?
There is no doubt air purifiers help in cleaning the air of airborne pollutants and impurities. They further improve the quality of indoor air. However, there are certain factors you need to consider, like the size of the unit.
For a large home, a larger system would be a perfect fit. It helps purify the air in the entire home. Else, you may need multiple units for each room to serve the purpose.
Another crucial thing you need to take care of is cleaning your home. You may have the best version of the air purifier at home with a highly superior filtration system. All your efforts would become futile if you are not cleaning your home regularly.
We all know that air purifiers help in removing the particle in the air. However, most of these particles sit on the surfaces in your home, and you need to clean your space regularly.
If you want to prevent the harmful particle from entering your home again, this is what you have to do without fail:
- Clean the soft surfaces like furniture, carpets, rugs daily. If not, you need to vacuum them at least weekly using a HEPA filter vacuum.
- If any of your family members have severe allergies, try replacing carpets with vinyl or hardwood flooring.
- Wash your beddings weekly once in hot water.
- Do you have pets? Make sure you bathe them often. Avoid sleeping with your pets if you are allergic to animal dander.
- Make sure there is adequate humidity in your home to prevent particles like dust mites and mould.
- If you have a habit of smoking, avoid doing it at home. Say no to toxic cleaning products. If you are using harsher chemicals for cleaning, ventilate your home properly by leaving your window open and running the fans.
Are Air Purifiers Necessary?
Not all need air purifiers at home. People who live in an area with high air pollution or low indoor air quality need an air purifier the most. Even others can have it at their homes to get benefitted from it.
Studies show that the air quality indoors will be around five times worse than the outdoors. This is majorly because things like cleaning supplies, paints, building materials, smoke, pets, cooking particles, etc., produce invisible airborne pollutants.
These airborne pollutants cannot escape, as our homes are tightly sealed. As a result, they keep circulating in the house. Living in a space with contaminated air may lead to several respiratory problems and other health issues like headaches, fatigue, etc.
Having an air purifier at home helps in effectively reducing the toxins that you breathe daily. It lowers the number and makes the air healthy and clean. Furthermore, it allows them to stay in the lower levels as long as you keep using an air purifier.
This is how you can get benefitted from an air purifier. You can save your family and yourself from all such health-related issues with that unit.
Conclusion
An air purifier is indeed an effective device that increases the quality of air indoors. This is the most cost-effective way to keep yourself and your family healthy and protect them from respiratory and health issues. On a final note, an air purifier is a wise investment to clean the air inside your home by removing impurities and airborne pollutants. Make sure you own one and do not compromise with the health of your family members.
I hope this article cleared the air for you. Let us know your thoughts and share your experiences in the comments if you feel that this write-up answered all your questions. If you still have any questions or need more information, please feel free to let us know. We will be more than happy to help you.
Do not hesitate to share your feedback with us. If you have any inputs to add or think that we missed out on any points, please let us know in the comments. We would love to hear and learn from you.
Stay healthy and stay safe!!!
