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Indoor Air Quality
Why Air Purifiers are Essential Home Appliances
Years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that the pollution levels in indoor air in most homes is 5 higher than than outdoor air pollution. In order to combat the detrimental effects of indoor air pollution, the EPA recommends the use of high-quality air purifiers.
What Does Indoor Air Pollution Imply?
Indoor air pollution comprises the entire biological, physical, and chemical contaminants floating inside homes/ The most common examples of such pollutants include:
- Airborne mold and mildew spores produced by high humidity;
- Chemical fumes emitted by VOC paints, cleaning products and flooring construction materials;
- Common household allergens like pet dander, dust, and pollen;
- Dust emanating from heating and cooling systems;
- Smoke from fires produced by indoor cooking appliances and in some houses, fireplaces;
- Urban pollutants like motor vehicle emissions;
- Asbestos ingredients in home building materials;
- Radioactive gas called Radon that comes from uranium deposits in grounds on which many U. S homes have been built.
While making a home as energy-efficient as possible is a main goal, we tend to overlook the fact that our airtight living spaces trap in indoor air pollutants. The decreased ventilation seals in the harmful particles that actually impact our overall health’ particularly of those who spend most of their time breathing poor quality indoor air.
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
An air purifier works to rid indoor air of the harmful fine particles that contaminate the indoor air we breathe.
The air-purifying machine has powerful fans that suck in air whilst filtering it through a series of filters designed to absorb different types of pollutants. Once the air is clean and filtered, the fans disperse the air back to the environment.
It is important to note that not every air purifier are the same as their level of efficiency depends on the technology supporting the filtration system. Some air purifiers have the ability to catch dust mites, pet dander, and pollen, while some others cannot.
Filters also vary, as some use the Activated Carbon filter which can remove pollutants like natural gasses, unpleasant odors, chemical pollutants, and VOC emissions coming from carpets, furniture and various household cleaning products.
Now if the air purifier utilizes a True HEPA air filter, it can clear 99.97% air pollutants by up to 0.3 microns. As such. A HEPA filter can prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. By the way, the HEPA acronym stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, which is a characteristic of mechanical air filters that clean the indoor atmosphere by forcing particulate matters out and through a fine mesh.
Almost all modern air purifiers include a pre-filter that functions by the the larger particles that could clog the other air filters. In South Korea the most modern air purifiers are quite efficient because they use both Activated Carbon and HEPA as air filters.
As a matter of fact it is common for South Koreans homes to have air purifiers in every living spaces, especially if there are children and elderly people. Readers can find out the best air purifier 가전제품추천 favored by Koreans through consumer websites that recommend the Top 7 selling brands.