What Is An Air Purifier And Why You Should Have One

Considering that the average American spends more than 80% of their time indoors, ensuring that indoor air quality is maintained should be every homeowner’s top priority. According to EPA, indoor air pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoors. In rare circumstances, they are as high as 100 times higher than outdoor air. For that reason, having an air filter in your home can help you and your family breathe clean air, free from indoor air pollutants. 

But what’s an air purifier, and why should you really have one?

What Is an Air Purifier? 

An air purifier also referred to as an air cleaner, is a home appliance that helps filter indoor air to remove pollutants and improve air quality. Air purifiers come in different types, with varying performances and technical features. The effectiveness of the air purifier you buy usually depends on how you use the device and the brand you buy. If you consider purchasing an air purifier, you may want to consider checking out this list of 10 great air purifiers in the market in 2021.

Why You Should Have an Air Purifier

While having clean indoor air should be a priority for every homeowner, having an air purifier may not be necessary for everyone.

Here are some circumstances under which you may need an air purifier for your home.

• You Have Respiratory Problems

People with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues may notice a reduction in their symptoms when using an air purifier. For the best results at reducing respiratory problems, ensure that you invest in an air filter that uses a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. These air filters are designed to catch 99.7% of all particles that are 0.3 micrometers or more. They are effective at eliminating some of the most common irritants, such as pollen and dust particles.

• You Have Pets

Dogs shed fur, skin, and dander, which end up compromising your home’s indoor air quality and can be a big problem for people with respiratory issues. Although some pets are considered hypoallergenic and suitable for people with allergies, there isn’t such a thing as 100% allergy-free pets. Even dogs that do not shed fur will shed skin and dander, which affects your home’s indoor air quality.  High-quality air filters are fitted with pre-filters that help catch big air-borne particles like pet hair before reaching the HEPA filters and eliminate skin and pet dander from your home. 

• You Live with A Smoker

According to the EPA, secondhand smoke contains more than 7000 harmful chemicals that can linger in your home’s air space for hours. These toxic chemicals have the potential of causing diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, more severe and frequent asthma attacks, and sudden infant death syndrome in children. While an air purifier cannot guarantee 100% elimination of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, air filters with HEPA and activated carbon filters can significantly help reduce the particulate matter in the smoke and cigarette odor. 

• You Live in A Dusty Neighborhood

If you live in a dusty neighborhood, such as next to a busy street or construction sites, the probability of outdoor dust and other pollutants finding their way inside your home is very high. Dust particles, in particular, can become a severe irritant and can trigger allergic reactions. Having an air purifier can ensure that you eliminate up to 99.7% of the dust particles that make their way into your house, ensuring that your indoor air quality is upheld.

Putting It All Together

Air purifiers may be a necessary addition in some circumstances, but not everyone may need to have one depending on their location or health condition. However, if any of the above-mentioned circumstances apply to you, it would be worth getting one.