1. Do I really need an air purifier in my home?
It depends on several factors, including your own comfort level and what the indoor air quality is in your home. There are several factors to take into consideration, however.
First and foremost, many health organizations agree that indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality. In fact, for many people, indoor allergens and irritants such as dust, smoke and pet dander may be two to five times as bad in their homes as outdoors!
There are several indications that you may benefit from an air purifier in your home. Reasons to get an air purifier include:
2. Do all air purifiers clean the same kinds of pollutants from the air?
No. Although all air cleaners clean certain particulates from the air, there are differences in what and how they clean. Some remove dust and particulates such as pet dander and smoke very effectively, while others will actually eliminate bacteria, viruses and molds and mildew. But very few will do all of these things, so be sure to read the article Understanding Air Purifiers for a more detailed outline of what each type can and can't do to improve the air quality in your home.
3. How do I know what size air purifier to get for my home?
Actually, most air purifiers are designed for individual room use rather than for the whole home. Unless you have an air purifier or air filtration system that has been installed on your heating or air conditioning unit, you should get separate units for each room or living space.
The reason you need separate units for each room is because effectiveness is affected by air flow, and walls mean no air circulation. Each room will need its own unit.
To determine what size you need, look for the CADR number. This number indicates the Clean Air Delivery Rate, which should always equal at least 2/3 the total square footage of the room you will be using the air purifier in. For example, a 10' X 12' room has 120' square feet, and needs a purifier with a CADR number of at least 80.
4. What is Ozone and is it safe for indoors?
Ozone is a tasteless, colorless gas made up of three oxygen atoms. It can be found in the upper atmosphere and is naturally produced by thunderstorms during electric discharge.
It is perfectly safe indoors if kept at acceptable levels (between .02 and .05 parts per million), just like many other type of naturally occurring gasses that aren't harmful to us at certain levels. Ozone air purifiers have been developed to produce the correct amount of ozone to purify the air without reaching harmful levels.
5. How often will I need to change or clean the filter in my air purifier?
It depends on several factors, including how large the room is and what type and size of air purifier you have. Some will need to be changed or cleaned monthly, others more often.
It is very important to check your filter regularly and follow the recommended schedule the manufacturer suggests, since the efficiency of the air purifier relies on proper maintenance.
6. What exactly is a Micron?
A micron is a measurement of the size of a particulate in the air. One micron is 1/25,400 inch (roughly 100 times smaller than a single strand of hair). Obviously, a micron is far too small to be seen. For the purpose of choosing an air purifier, most types are considered very efficient if they can filter airborne pollutants to .3 microns.
7. How much should I pay for an air purifier?
It's very hard to determine what you should spend on an air purifier, because price doesn't always guarantee quality. Doubtless you should be willing to spend enough to get a high-quality product, but protect your investment by making sure your air purifier comes with a warranty.
When buying an air purifier, also take into account the cost of any replacement filters and the electricity to run the unit.
8. Will an air purifier be noisy?
An air purifier with a fan in it will have some noise. HEPA filters, for instance, have fans to pull the air through the filter itself, although improved casings and quieter fans have been developed for noise reduction.
Ionic and ozone units don't usually have a fan because they use an electrostatic charge or ozone, so they are completely silent. If they combine their technology with a filtration system or a fan to boost air circulation over the plates, their will be some sound, but this will be minimal and these fans may be shut off when you wish.
In general, the noise level of even an air purifier with a fan is low enough that it isn't intrusive.
9. What rooms should I put an air purifier in?
The rooms you use the most are the most important rooms for air purifier use. Your living area, such as a family room or den, should have an air cleaner, especially if you have allergies or pets that are in the room regularly, or if anyone in the household smokes.
Bedrooms are also a good idea, since allergies and irritants can disturb our sleep. Clean, fresh air has been proven to produce more restful sleep and reduce night breathing problems while sleeping such as stuffiness, post-nasal drip and night coughing.
Finally, consider getting an air purifier in the bathroom, where odors, mold and mildew are prone to linger. An air cleaner in here can not only make it fresher and more pleasant, but reduce the amount of mold and mildew in the air so that your bathroom will be less of a breeding ground for germs.
10. Where in each room should my air purifier be located?
For any air purifier, it is most important to locate it near the most activity or traffic flow so that there is plenty of air circulation around the air filter. This will increase the air exchange rate and make the air cleaning more efficient.
With a HEPA filter, it is best to locate it near an open area to ensure air movement all around. For an ozone air purifier, you should try to locate unit higher rather than lower, since ozone molecules are heavier than oxygen and will tend to drift downward. The same logic applies to ionic air purifiers, which release charged particles into the air.
If your air purifier unit is relatively portable and you have someone in the room who is a heavy smoker, move the air purifier a bit closer to him or her if this is practical (and if it won't mortally offend them!). You may also want, on occasion, to move the air purifier to a specific room when you have a particular odor to get rid of (you burned dinner, etc.).
About the Author
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer. Right now she knows a little bit about almost everything and a lot about electrical air purifiers, ozone air purifiers, and whole house air purifiers. She is a reformed ex-smoker and regularly offends people by sending them outside to smoke.
Understanding a few essential color concepts will help you design... Read More
An easy way to instantly improve your bathroom's image is... Read More
The words "spring cleaning" can make the neatest person cringe.... Read More
Interior design for bargain hunters is the new fashionable item... Read More
Whether you live in your cabin year round or it's... Read More
Give your home a luxurious feel with a beautiful laundry... Read More
1. Shutters have proper louver tensionThe shutters louvers should be... Read More
Stress is all around us, from the office to the... Read More
Laminate flooring is perfect for people who want to install... Read More
The use of Bricks or Pavers to create a walkway... Read More
For those who may be thinking of building a new... Read More
You have just installed hardwood flooring in your home. Now... Read More
Sofa slipcovers are designed to be easy to fit over... Read More
Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by... Read More
You can't opt out of the process altogether, though, because... Read More
Securing your property is one of the growing domestic issues... Read More
Installing Drywall, or hanging drywall as the professionals usually refer... Read More
Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice... Read More
1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the... Read More
Picnic tables are the perfect solution for an afternoon or... Read More
The installation of a toilet is a relatively easy job... Read More
Bathroom vanity cabinets are an essential component of any bathroom... Read More
Houseplants can be soothing because of their visual impact. Besides... Read More
The price of a barrel of oil has never been... Read More
I recently had a customer ask for my advise about... Read More
If you have a heating or cooling systems that uses... Read More
This article is intended for the DIY (Do It Yourself)... Read More
Cheap interior design ideas come in many forms these days.... Read More
Chenille has been used for bedspreads since Catherine Evans revived... Read More
Prior to hanging sheetrock to ceiling joists it is important... Read More
A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More
Start out by measuring and cutting all your stock according... Read More
This time of year often sees an explosion in new... Read More
It can be difficult to choose from among the countless... Read More
Pergo flooring was invented more than 75 years ago, and... Read More
When we left off last week, we had removed the... Read More
Welcome to my essential tips for replacemnent windows and double... Read More
My Grandmother used to say to me "Nothing cheap is... Read More
It's refreshing to note that gone are the days that... Read More
Buying a carport to protect your investment can be a... Read More
Nearly every log home is a custom design, whether you... Read More
Circuit Breakers are devices that stop the electrical current of... Read More
The door is the focal point of the home which... Read More
It's that time of year where rats and mice are... Read More
If you are putting in a new patio on a... Read More
When you think about an above ground pool do you... Read More
You spend a lot of your life in your bed... Read More
The California asphalt paving industry is ever-changing and in order... Read More
A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More
Since the introduction of laminate flooring into the US in... Read More
It turns out your mother was right after all --... Read More
Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of qualityHardwood floors have... Read More
It started with my need for a new mixer. OK.... Read More
Purchasing a home spa is a great expense; which can... Read More
A sauna has been used throughout history in every part... Read More
It's finally spring! Time to move out the patio furniture... Read More
The allure of carpet lays not only its soft and... Read More
What is behind the popularity of roller blinds. Is it... Read More
Trying to decide which home improvement project to tackle next?... Read More
Thread count is the most widely referred to term when... Read More
Want to improve the look of your property? Want to... Read More
Let's suppose you still have those old aluminum single pane... Read More
Your mailbox is not simply a receptacle for your mail;... Read More
When it comes to cooling our homes and businesses, the... Read More
Remember the old Calgon commercial-"Take me away Calgon!" There's only... Read More
1) Red Oak is not the only choiceIf you want... Read More
Home Improvement |