Does Air Purifier Really Help?

What is an Air Purifier?

The concept of air purifier is really simple. It removes the pollutants from the air to improve indoor air quality of a room.

Air purifiers use two different techniques of purification. They are active air purification and passive air purification. Active air purifiers release negatively charged ions into the air, causing pollutants to stick to surfaces, while passive air purification units use air filters to remove pollutants.

Active air purifiers are not preferred since they release ions and ozone which are harmful to human health. Passive purifiers are more efficient since all dust and particulate matter is permanently removed from the air and collected in filters.

History of Air purifiers

Let us go back to 1800s. It was a time when industrial revolution heralded more jobs for people and put them into economies. However, it did come with a heavy cost, heavily polluted air. In 1823, John and Charles Dean, created first purification systems for the firefighters to breath cleaner air while they were working inside of burning, smoky structures.

This technology was further improved upon by incorporating a charcoal-based filter design that actually worked even better.

Seventeen years late, John Tyndall took it to another level by creating a personal respirator.The desire to help the firefighters ignited the innovation for purification of air and look where the industry and what the technology is today.

Personal use to Home use:

Seven years before India got its independence, a key advancement in air cleaning technology happened when HEPA (High-efficiency Particulate Air filter) was invented. This was invented during World War II for the soldiers and lab workers who were working to create the first atomic bomb.

A year after India-China war, Manfred and Klaus Hammes from Germany invented first air purification system for home usage.

What is a HEPA filter?

HEPA, defined as High efficiency Particulate Air, filter could filter out many harmful pollutants. A true HEPA can filter PM 2.5 particles with size of 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. Pollutants that cannot be seen with a naked eye such as allergens, bacteria, viruses, germs and micro dust can be successfully captured by HEPA filter.

Do Air Purifiers really help?

1. Allergies? Does it provide any relief?

Air purifiers are effective at trapping pollens. They are even capable of removing mold spores, a certain fungi which are common during spring.

These mold spores can trigger allergies. Air purifiers also trap other allergens and contaminants such as pet dander, dust and dirt.

2. Asthma patients. Do they benefit from using air purifiers?

A big trigger for asthma attacks is the inside air quality of our homes. Common environmental asthma triggers inside your house include dust, pet dander, smoke, mold, pollen from outside.

However, an air purifier can take these triggers out of your home by trapping them in the filters. Air purifier takes in air and traps these small particles and releases the clean air.

3. Pet hair causing trouble?

You may love your pet but your furry friend releases pet dander, hair and other airborne allergens into the air in your home. Air purifiers combat these allergens and trap them before they get settled in your home.

4. Dust is trapped?

The organic and inorganic particles that make up dust inside our homes can be very harmful to your health. Air purifier traps these dust particles thereby providing a clean environment.

Air purifiers indeed remove the harmful particles from indoor spaces. If you are looking to create a safe haven from pollution, dust and allergies then an air purifier will definitely help you.