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At first
it may be hard to believe that the air inside our homes is often dirtier
than the air outside. But when you think about all of the pollutants inside
the home, it makes more sense. If the home is damp, then mold and mildew can
form and create air pollution. If you have pets, their dander is in the air.
If someone smokes inside the home, those chemicals are in the air. And with
heating and air conditioning units circulating the air inside the home, all
of those pollutants stay inside the home and build and grow. |
Most healthy people are not bothered by the air inside a typical home. But young
children and the elderly can feel the effects. With the increase in
allergies
and asthma, it is understandable that people are seeking solutions to the dirty
air in their homes. Short of kicking out the smoker and the pets, an air
purifier is often the best choice. There are five main types of air purifiers
and those elements are often combined in one machine.
HEPA air filters are very fine filters that can capture small particles,
including those that trigger allergies. HEPA air purifiers are often found in
hospitals. They are typically durable and built to last several years with
continuous use. The drawbacks are that the HEPA air purifier isn't good for
removing cigarette smoke or other odors. To increase their effectiveness,
manufacturers often combine HEPA filters with carbon filters to create a
powerful combination.
Carbon air purifiers do work well at pulling smoke, odors and chemicals from the
air. The carbon undergoes a reaction when it comes in contact with the
pollution. This reaction causes the smoke or odor to bond to the carbon and
become trapped inside the filter. But the carbon is limited in effectiveness. It
does not work on allergens or bacteria. Therefore it is often used in
conjunction with a HEPA filter which works on allergens and bacteria but not on
smoke and odors.
You may have seen an ultraviolet light air purifier in a hospital or doctor's
office and wondered how a simple light could clean the air. Germs, viruses and
bacteria cannot survive in the presence of ultraviolet light. So as the air
circulates near the light, those elements are destroyed. To increase the range
of effectiveness, ultraviolet air purifiers may also include a HEPA filter to
trap tiny pollutants. Ultraviolet light air purifiers are not good at removing
smoke and odors.
Not all air purifiers are regarded as safe. Ozone air purifiers work well at
removing odors, but they do not work well with allergens. Because they use ozone
gas there is some concern about the safety of these air purifiers. They may
cause damage to the lungs and worsen conditions like asthma.
Similarly ionic air purifiers involve ozone gas. As the machine produces an
electrical charge to attract the pollutants, a byproduct of ozone gas is
released. Like the ozone air purifiers, there is concern about ionic air
purifiers causing harm to the lungs.
Keep these different styles and concerns in mind as you consider an air
purifier. There are no official government regulations for air purifiers, except
for the technology involved in HEPA filters.
by : Frank
Vanderlugt
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ORDER
NOW ,
2009 |
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