Numerous studies have linked poor air quality to increases in illnesses, allergies, lowered attention span and behavior problems. Pollutants and allergens in our environment are a major concern and though we have made great strides at improving air quality, we still have a long way to go.
Sometimes mother nature is the culprit with increased pollen during the spring that can aggravate allergies and mold spores in the air during wetter seasons.
Car fumes, pesticides, insecticides and industrial pollutants all can be culprits to decreased air quality and you don’t even need to live close to an agricultural or industrial area to be exposed to these pollutants.
Air quality in the home can also be impacted by cigarette smoke, new carpet, paint and other products that come into our homes. Some people have tried using the filters for their central air and heating systems to filter out these pollutants, but these filters are not designed to actually remove the particulates and gasses that can affect your home air quality.
In some cases these filters can considerably decrease your central air systems efficiency, significantly increasing your energy bills and shortening the life of your system, while not actually getting rid of the problem.
The best way to reduce pollutants and allergens including particulate matter which can be the most detrimental to your health is with a true HEPA filter. HEPA filters will remove 99.97% of particulates that are 3 microns or larger.
Using activated carbon filters will also remove many of the gasses that can impact air quality. As an added bonus activated carbon will remove odors keeping your home smelling fresh and clean even if you have pets.
Air purifiers are designed specifically to give you clean air in your home and many units will combine both HEPA and activated carbon filters to get rid of the pollutants and allergens that are most likely to impact your health. These units are efficient and cost effective and are proven to improve air quality in the home.
In addition to removing pollutants and allergens some air purifying units have added technologies to reduce and remove bacteria and viruses helping to ensure the air in your home is healthy and clean. There are units prices for every budget and sized for any room with technologies that will meet every households needs. This guide on choosing the best home air purifier will help you to understand the different technologies and help you select the air purifying units that will best meet your household’s needs.