How to Tell if you Should Install an Air Cleaner in your Home – What to Look for

Some individuals are much more sensitive to pollutants than are others. The extent to which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, i.e. the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals involved. Continuous exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and can aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. Research into the health effects of air pollution is ongoing.

A lot of things add to indoor air pollution. Pollen, pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, tobacco, cooking smoke particles, and other indoor pollutants all pose risks to allergy and asthma sufferers. There are three basic ways to get better quality of indoor air: controlling the source of the irritants and pollutants, ventilating the home, and filtering the air. Air filters can get rid of most contaminants in the home and office, such as pollen, pet dander, dust and mold spores, but the majority of air cleaners are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.

Most air cleaners sold today use High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) technology, such as the Duracraft HEPA filter, and these filters are made of a paper-thin maze of fibers. Another type of filter is the activated carbon filter, which adsorbs (not absorbs) chemicals from the airflow. Electronic or electrostatic air cleaners are often used in industrial or commercial buildings like restaurants and bars.

For guidance, go through Consumer Reports. You may learn to steer clear of ozone-generating air filters in the course of your research. These machines may in fact raise indoor ozone to levels above federal health limits, though their makers maintain that they clean the air of pollutants and bacteria.

A whole house air filter is one powerful air filter installed in your ventilation system. Why would you use a whole house air filter? It may be more practical to have one home air filter instead of several portable air purifiers scattered all over the house, especially if you want to clean air of a relatively large area of your home or office. A central air cleaner is also helpful if you live in an area with significant outdoor pollution, or if you are sensitive to any outdoor pollutants near your home.

Consumers are influenced by a number of factors when choosing air purifiers, including visual appeal, noise level, and frequency of filter replacement. The American Lung Association concludes that it is best to choose an air purifier with the best efficiency rate over the longest period of time. Before you buy an air purifier, review these tips.