Air pollution levels are becoming more of a worry both outdoors and indoors. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is five times more contaminated than outside air. However, can air purifiers work in polluted areas?
Yes, but some are more effective than others. A HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestor) filter is the most common type of air purifier used to remove pollutants from traffic. However, there are multiple ‘grades’ of HEPA filters.
Although most can filter out particles as small as 0.3 microns, some HEPA filters can remove particles as small as 0.1 microns. It can further remove far more hazardous pollutants ignored by ordinary filters. In other words, to know more about how effective an air purifier works kindly read through this article.
Will An Air Purifier Help With Pollution?
Air purifiers can help remove allergies, pollutants, and irritants from the air and enhance the air quality in your home or office. Air purifiers frequently utilize a filter, electrostatic technology, or UV(Ultraviolet) light-emitting technology to remove particles from the air.
Will Air Purifiers Work In High Polluted Areas?
Yes, however, an air purifier won’t likely eliminate or neutralize all unpleasant particles in your home. Various particles can accumulate on soft and hard surfaces, such as furniture, bedding, and carpeting.
Will Air Purifiers Work In Low Oxygen Environment?
Air purifiers function best in a closed room setting; some people are concerned that closing windows will deprive us of oxygen. However, experiments in an apartment with seven individuals in a small closed room claim that oxygen levels change by less than 1%.
Therefore, it is safe to use your air purifier in an enclosed space with a low oxygen level compared to the outer environment.
Do Air Purifiers Produce Oxygen?
Air purifiers produce no oxygen, but they purify the air by filtering it through high-quality filters. Unfortunately, most air purifiers can’t bring in fresh air from the outside. As a result, a separate fresh air system is required to ensure adequate interior oxygen.
Can Air Purifiers Make Breathing Worse?
Ozone is a gas produced by a few air purifiers. These kinds of products should be avoided at all costs. This is because ozone can irritate your lungs and exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Is Air Purifier Good For The Lungs?
If you live in an area with a lot of pollution or seasonal wildfires, an air purifier can assist. Room air purifiers may even help folks with COPD who share their house with dogs breathe a little easier. In addition, air purifiers may reduce the number of cytokines, which are cell proteins connected to inflammation.
Merit And Demerit Of An Air Purifier
There are numerous unwelcome particles in the air all around us in our homes. The air we breathe contains several residues and sensitive particles. Unfortunately, not everyone is immune to the approaching toxins, and some people find it difficult to avoid breathing tainted air.
There is a growing demand for a high-quality air purifier with the current pollution situation. As a result, purchasing air purifiers has become commonplace in recent years. An air purifier, more often recognized as a basic apparatus, guarantees pure and natural air.
Benefits Of An Air Purifier
- An Odorless Environment
You can use air purifiers to maintain your home odor-free. However, if you reside in an urban environment, the activities around you may produce unpleasant odors. Therefore, anything disgusting, from dirty socks to a stench or a messy garbage can, is gone when you use an air purifier.
You might also get rid of the kitchen odors that have been lingering for a long time. Even better, when you get home from work, the atmosphere becomes better.
- A Smoke-Free Environment
If you live with a smoker, the small indoor air purifier comes in handy when you want to avoid being impacted by the smoke. If you don’t have a distinct smoke zone in your condo or flat, an air purifier is a godsend. In addition, air purifiers reduce the risk of passive smoking in homes with young children and the elderly.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Disposal
The majority of cancer-causing chemicals are found in unexpected structures that are dispersed unknowingly in the form of vapors all over the place. These fumes could, for example, come from cancer-causing paints and varnishes. These vapors are expelled through the carbon channels activated in air purifiers.
- Air Purifiers Use Less Energy
Air purifiers are a cost-effective method to make your home more ventilated, hotter, and less dependent on other energy sources during winter. An air purifier might help you save money on other energy-intensive utilities. The HEPA channels let them work more quickly and efficiently, which can help you budget for your electricity and utility expenditures.
- Allergenic Microorganisms Are No Longer Found In Your Home
Having puppies and kittens at home is a significant responsibility. With such, you may notice a distinct pet odor in your home. Not to mention the microbes they bring in from outside.
If you have asthma or are allergic to dust, having pets in your home can be a nightmare. You will have no issue cuddling with your all-time favorite buddy if you have an air purifier installed in your home. You also won’t have to use a room freshener to get rid of a stale odor.
Drawback Or Weakness Of An Air Purifier
What appeared to be a viable air-conditioning solution has become an issue for the environment. We also have more concerns about whether air purifiers are a good fit for our homes. Ammonia, Methyl Chloride, Sulfur dioxide, and Chlorofluorocarbons are linked to indoor air purifiers.
Another source of concern for the ozone layer and global warming is this. Other downsides of air purifiers that you should be aware of are listed below.
- Constant Upkeep
Indoor air purifiers require maintenance, which may be quite costly. You must be careful with its maintenance for as long as you have one installed in your home. Its efficiency is primarily dependent on how functional you keep its parts and peripherals.
Considering a replacement would not address your problem; instead, it would increase your costs. Cleaning and replacing filters can be expensive, and it must be done regularly.
- Under Performance
Even though many manufacturers claim that their mechanisms are up to the task, no Air Purifier can perform at 100% efficiency. Some purifiers will only eliminate smoke or odors from your home, but not germs or allergens. Another factor contributing to their low efficiency is the fact that air purifiers are getting older.
Filters lose their efficacy as they age, and as they become clogged with other caught particles, they trap fewer and fewer bacteria. Consider doing your part by changing your filters and keeping your home as clean as possible. It is not a good idea to rely on a machine.
- Emissions Of Ozone
These emissions may be difficult to detect; the more unconditioned a room is, the more emissions are there. As previously said, a mixture of poisonous gasses would be hazardous to your health and those of your animals. Even though many manufacturers claim to supply items with lower ozone levels, this is not always the case.
Even so, many air purifiers produce ozone gas as a byproduct, which is harmful to your health. So your air purifier may appear to be a wonderful match for your needs at first, but it may later become a menace.
Shortness of breath, chest congestion, coughing, and other respiratory illnesses are all effects of ozone pollution on human health.
- A Wide Range Of Molds And Bacteria
What happens if all the germs are gathered in a trap inside HEPA filters and left untreated over time? These filters can become ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and germs.
The clumped microscopic creatures can quickly proliferate, allowing them to re-enter your room. As a result, many folks are unsure whether to use an air filter or go natural.
- Ultraviolet Rays
All particulate matter that goes through a filter is killed by UV radiation. As a result, UV technology is frequently paired with air filters to achieve optimal efficiency and air quality. Humans are also surprised by the facts since the UV-activated filter breaks down oxygen and water molecules into ozone and hydroxyl.
The elements that have been broken down will then react with other contaminants, making them even more dangerous. As a result, UV air purifiers may not be viable for particulate matter. In addition, because of the coverage given by the particles, many UV air purifiers fail out on catching bacteria.