Introduction
There's no denying that air pollution is a real problem in this day and age. Even if you're otherwise healthy, it can cause severe problems for you. For those who are susceptible to respiratory issues, it can be even worse. You'll be looking for ways to protect yourself, and an air purifier can do just that.
Here's what you need to know.
How Poor Air Quality Aggravates Respiratory Issues
Air pollution is one of the biggest dangers known to humankind right now. With the growth of people owning and using cars every day, international travel, and more, the air quality in your area is likely to be poor. Steps are being taken to improve air quality, but for many they feel as though it's too little, too late.
Air pollution leads to contaminants in the air that can make their way into your home, either through open windows and doors or through your HVAC system. These will aggravate certain conditions, making it harder to live a healthy life. For example, for those with allergies, pollutants will aggravate them and make them worse. You'll also want to consider the effect on pollutants on those with COVID-19, or those suffering with the effects of long COVID. When your lungs are struggling with the virus, pollutants will make it harder for you to recover.
It's not just outdoor pollutants that will aggravate conditions, though. Things in your home can actually contribute to poor air quality. For example, if you use certain cleaning products you'll find that they release pollutants into the atmosphere. New furniture can off gas pollutants too, so you'll want to keep an eye out for that. You may even find that using air fresheners and scented candles can aggravate conditions.
There's a lot to think about when it comes to airborne pollutants, but luckily there are things that can help. A HEPA air purifier will go a long way to helping you manage your condition.
How An Air Purifier Works
So how would an air purifier work? When you use one, you'll essentially be 'cleaning' the air around you, making it less likely to trigger respiratory conditions.
An air purifier will draw in air and pass it through a HEPA filter. This filter is fine enough to capture even the smallest particles in the air, and trap them. The cleaned air is then pushed out, so you'll have less pollutants in the air in total.
If you're looking at getting an air purifier, make sure you go for a filter version. There are ozone purifiers on the market, but they won't give you the same results. Even worse, they can actually contribute to respiratory problems, so you'll want to steer clear. Ensure you get a purifier with a HEPA filter, as these will ensure that even the smallest particles get trapped and won't escape.
How To Use An Air Purifier For Respiratory Protection
You've already seen there's lots of reasons why you should go with an air purifier to protect your health. If you use it right, it can make a huge difference.
Here's some tips to help you get the most out of it.
1. Get the right air purifier: As noted above, you'll need to ensure that you're getting the right air purifier for what you need. A HEPA grade filter purifier is what you're looking for. The filter ensures that particles are trapped, and the HEPA grade means it's able to actually catch pollutants. Some other purifiers may have less capable filters. These catch some pollutants but not most of them, so you want to make sure you're getting the best results.
2. Clean or change the filter regularly: This is something that you can't forget to do. The filter in your air purifier will work, but if you're not keeping on top of it then you're not going to get the results you need. The more clogged up it gets, the less it can filter out.
Make sure you check the instructions on your filter, and see how often you need to clean it out. Typically you'll see that this should be every month, or every other month. You may need to either change it or give it a good cleaning depending on the model, so make sure you know which one this is before you buy it.
3. Keep windows and doors closed: You'll want to keep your windows open to let fresh air in, but when using an air purifier you'll actually want to keep them shut. When they're open, they'll be allowing air pollutants in, making your air purifier work harder. If you want to open up windows, you'll need to shut the purifier off until you shut them again.
4. Use HEPA filters in other areas of your home: It's not just your air purifier that will use HEPA grade air filters. You'll also see that your HVAC system will use them, as well as your vacuum cleaner. Ensuring both have HEPA filters will go a long way towards keeping pollutants out of the air, especially if you're using the HVAC system and drawing in air from outside.
5. Leave the air purifier running: Air pollution will be entering your home at all times, even with windows and doors shut. As such, you'll want to keep the air purifier running around the clock. Some people will worry about this, especially as energy bills are going up all the time. However, if you buy a purifier designed for home use, you'll see that they are energy efficient. By using one, you'll be able to keep those pollutants at bay and keep the home air healthier.
Conclusion
You can see just how much an air purifier can help with your respiratory issues when it removes pollutants from the air. Using one in your home and following these tips will help you make your home healthier, and ensure that the air around you is cleaner than it's ever been before.