Due to the alarming news of the recent virus outbreak, air purifiers have become one of the tools used against it. Air purifiers are designed to sanitize and clean indoor air against harmful elements. Nonetheless, while these air cleaners are in homes and commercial settings, do you think you need them in your home gym?
Like any other room, a home gym can accumulate varieties of contaminants. Pollutants such as the toxins emitted from rubber materials can be found in the gym. However, an air purifier is needed to clean the air in this space to exercise safely and comfortably.
These contaminants are harmful enough on their own, but the activity you undertake in your home gym amplifies them. When you conduct an intense workout, you inhale more air, and as a result, more harmful adulterants are inhaled. However, this article is prepared to enlighten you on why you need an air purifier in your home gym.
How Do You Clean The Air In Your Gym?
Some people have trouble breathing during harsh seasons due to allergic reactions. As a result, schemes have been devised to ensure that the air quality in the home gym is as clean and safe as possible.
Thus, the best treatment used in handling air quality at the gym is to get a Blue air model purifier. This purifier is recommended for use based on weather conditions.
Below are procedures on how to use it in summer and winter:
How To Clean Your Home Gym Air During Summer
Air purifiers with dehumidifiers are recommended at first sight of the humidity season. You should ensure your air purifier works non-stop until the humidity season is over.
Furthermore, it would be best to keep the humidity level at less than 50%. This helps to keep mold and mildew at bay, and additionally, it makes workout time in the heat much more enjoyable.
How To Clean Your Home Gym Air During Winter
It tends to get drier when the weather gets colder. However, it’s best to switch a dehumidifier air purifier with a humidifier air purifier to provide moisture to the air. It greatly improves air quality and makes things much more comfortable.
A humidifier will also extend your life and your gym equipment. Furthermore, it will keep your bench from drying out and cracking.
Is A Home Air Purifier Necessary For My Home Gym?
Dust, mold spores, and other common household contaminants are present in your gym just as they are in the rest of your home. Therefore, having a home air purifier in your home gym is necessary. This is because it helps protect you from inhaling toxic elements emitting from rubber materials in your gym.
Our respiratory process increases during workouts, which is why having clean air in your home gym is crucial. Aside from health benefits, an air purifier in your home gym also aids in eliminating odors.
Which Air Purifier Is Best For My Gym
Having the best air purifier in your home gym makes you feel comfortable and enjoy working out. Below are three best air purifiers I recommend for your home gym.
Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier
The Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier has an innovative filtering technology that collects up to 99% of air pollutants. Using a carbon filter, the filtration system attempts to remove airborne irritants and odors. The carbon filter in your home gym works to eliminate unwanted scents.
However, The filter can remove odors from various sources, including VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), gasses, including sweat and body odor. So to get rid of workout scents, you’ll mostly need a carbon filter.
Blueair Classic 605 Air Purifier
The Blueair Classic 605 Air Purifier has three distinct air filtration speeds. Its lower settings have a whisper operation, which is ideal for a good workout when you need the least sound. However, the Air Purifier has HEPA (High Energy Particulate Air) and AHAM (Association of Home Applicant Manufacturer) ratings for ease and quality operation.
Airborne pollutants are all caught by the HEPA filter, catching up to 99.7% of airborne particles and irritants. The AHAM grade is for rooms at least 700 square feet in size. Meanwhile, CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) cleans a larger facility of 500 cubic feet.
Honeywell True Allergen Air Purifier
Extra-large Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Air Purifier is for rooms with a minimum size of 465 square feet. This air purification equipment can capture up to 99.97% of floating air particles as small as 0.3 microns. The Air Purification System removes airborne pollutants using three air cleaning settings and a Turbo Clean option.
The filters help eliminate odors that may develop during your workout and stale air and other pollutants in the air. Depending on the number of particles in the air, the filters may operate up to five times each hour.
The Most Common Causes Of Poor Air Quality In The Gym
Mold, allergies, bacteria, bugs, odors, temperature, and humidity can affect our health performance. Poor air quality, together with heavier-than-normal breathing, is something we should always try to avoid.
We risk more than a musty odor or dust if gyms’ air circulation and air quality are neglected. Being there in the first place, we are jeopardizing the exact health we are attempting to improve. Hence, every gym should have a high-quality air purifier operating all of the time.
Let’s consider some of the most prevalent causes of poor air quality in your garage or basement gym, as well as possible treatments.
Mold
Many of us construct garage and basement gyms in dark, damp, and underutilized parts of our houses. However, mold can grow in such places and is linked to various illnesses.
Mold can cause respiratory problems, allergies, headaches, exhaustion, and many other ailments. This is why your nose is said to be the first line of defense against mold because it is easily detectable with it. Mold is most likely present in your training area if you sense a musty, damp odor.
Carpet and its padding are great places for concealed mold growth. You can check under the carpet if you smell mold but don’t see it. If you discover mold in your garage or basement gym, it’s critical to clean it up and get rid of it thoroughly.
Meanwhile, it depends on the scope of the issue; this may be a do-it-yourself project or require the assistance of a professional. Furthermore, in the humid months after the mold is gone, you’ll need to employ a dehumidifier. Maintaining a humidity level below 50% will go a long way in making your gym more comfortable and preventing mildew and other concerns.
Bugs and Rodents
Learning to co-exist with bugs is an integral part of working out in a basement or garage. Mice and rats, among other vermin, are sadly common. Both convey sickness, and it’s vital to get rid of them before matters get out of hand.
Salmonella can be carried by roaches, while dust mites and cockroaches cause respiratory difficulties. Again, however, this has a lot to do with air quality.
Mice and rats spread disease and might introduce other pests into your home. You can get rid of these pests in several ways. The important thing is that you take action and do it as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, this is another reason to invest in a dehumidifier. Bugs love a humid climate in general (consider the entire state of Florida as an example!). So if you can maintain your gym’s humidity, you’ll do a lot to deter the tiny pests from bothering you.
VOC
The vapors produced by typical household cleaners, paints, lacquers, and other similar fluids are known as VOCs. They’re also to blame for the foul odor that comes from using horse stall mats as flooring and buying cheap bumper and rubber-coated plates. Unfortunately, that odor is not only unpleasant, but it is also harmful to your health.
This is one of the reasons I never recommend using horse stall mats in your gym. When VOCs are emitted in a confined space, they exacerbate the problem. More so, those vapors can be quite hazardous to a human.
They can cause respiratory problems and more significant health issues such as damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. However, the solution is straightforward.
You can try transferring these items to a well-ventilated storage place. Then, remove them entirely from your gym but don’t just shift them to the other side of the garage or basement. Your lungs and overall health will be grateful!
Place the rubber plates and flooring outside in direct sunshine until the VOCs have faded away. Notwithstanding, this could take from several days to a few weeks. However, the effort will benefit both your nose and your health!
It is best to choose rubber flooring designed for indoor usage and get a higher level of rubber plate.