What to look for when buying air purifiers for your home - indoor air cleaner

If you have allergies or asthma, or are sensitive to pollution, you may consider buying an air purifier to clean the air at home.
Now, smoke from the destructive fire in Northern California is still burning, affecting people 100 miles away, and even those who don't have specific health issues are thinking about how to improve indoor air quality.
But there are so many types of filtering systems on the market (
Prices range from $100 to nearly $1,000)
It's hard to know where to start.
Take a look at this quick guide to home air purifiers and see which are worth it.
Why is air purifier used?
Indoor air pollution is caused by particulate matter (
Dust, mold, pet dandruff and particles from smoke and stoves)
And gas pollutants (
Car exhaust, smoke and chemical smoke)
And it may be much worse than the pollution outside, just because it has no way to dissipate.
People with asthma or allergies may be particularly sensitive to air quality, use of air purifiers may help, and there are other ways to prevent contamination and allergens.
Purify your home, not just the air.
The air purifier can remove particles from the air;
The problem is that things like dust, pet dandruff don't stay in the air for too long.
Allergens float to the ground, embedded in carpets and soft furniture --
Where the air purifier cannot reach.
The combined method will reduce indoor air pollution and allergens compared to any one method.
Here are some strategies to try: ○ remove walls-to-wall carpeting; go for easy-to-
Clean hard floors and washable carpets.
○ Vacuum and dust removal with ultra-slim cloth on a regular basis.
Smoking is prohibited at home and around.
Do not use the fireplace.
Use exhaust fans on the stove and in the bathroom.
Established noshoes policy.
Related: What to do if you are affected by wildfire smoke and buy a exhaust fan for the bathroom.
According to the wind direction and other atmospheric conditions, the smoke generated by the wildfire may drift 100 miles or further from the source of the flame.
If you are affected by wildfire smoke (
But not in the evacuation zone)
The Centers for Disease Control recommends staying indoors as much as possible, closing windows, doors, and fireplace dampers.
You can also do something: ○ use your central air conditioner
If you have an air conditioning system, but keep the entrance to fresh air closed to prevent smoke from entering.
O clean or replace HVAC filters more frequently as long as you encounter smoke-filled situations.
Reduce activities that cause indoor air pollution, including burning candles and using fireplaces, firewood stoves or gas stoves.
Avoid vacuuming, as this may stir up large particles that have already been precipitated.
If you don't-
Pipeline air filtration system, it may be helpful to use portable air purifier with high power
Air Efficiency of particles (HEPA)
The filter removes some particulate matter from the air.
○ If a medical emergency occurs due to smoking, call 911 or go to the emergency room of the hospital immediately.
How the air purifier works.
There are several different types of air purifiers on the market, not all of which are particularly effective or safe.
It is important to know what you are buying, so read the fine print on the air purifier before purchasing.
The main thing to check is how the purifier cleans the air.
It may use one or more of these methods: ○ High-
Air Efficiency of particles (HEPA)
Filter: this is one of the most common and effective methods.
○ Activated carbon: usually used with HEPA filters or other filters, activated carbon can help reduce pollution by attracting some chemicals combined with the surface of carbon.
○ Ultraviolet sterilization (UVGI)
Cleansers: These cleansers kill viruses, bacteria, allergens, and some mold using UV rays.
UVGI cleaners may not be able to reduce allergy or asthma symptoms, as typical household cleaners have limited effects.
○ Electric Dust Collector: the particles entering the purifier are charged and then trapped on the plate with opposite charge.
These machines produce a small amount of ozone, which is a kind of lung irritation and contaminants themselves, so this purifier may be the best to avoid.
Ozone generators have no effect at all as air purifiers, but in fact they add air purifiers
Irritating ozone to your home, which can be dangerous.
The Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend the purchase of ozone generators.
When to choose a whole
Home air purifier: If you have heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC)
The system in your home, you can choose the whole
Household air purifiers installed in pipe works.
The benefits of a whole
The system of the House is that all the air is cleaned up and there is no bulky electrical appliance to handle. In-
The piping system is expensive and must be professionally installed and maintained.
When to choose a portable room purifier: a room purifier is a good choice for smaller spaces, and multiple devices can be used to clean the air even in larger homes.
They are portable, so they are a great solution for renting r, each priced from $100 to $1,000.
Understand the rating system. For in-
Pipeline air filter to find the lowest efficiency report value (MERV)
Tell them the efficiency of extracting particles from the air.
The range of MERV values ranges from 1 to 20;
Systems rated 7 or higher are about as effective as HEPA filters.
A real mer filter is not usually installed in an HVAC system with a MERV value of 17 to 20.
However, some newer homes may be specially designed
Air duct HEPA filter.
When purchasing a portable air purifier, look for a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
At least 250, but the higher the better.
This is a voluntary system developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
So not all appliances have CADR.
The Energy Star tag on any air purifier shows better energy efficiency, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's more effective --
So also make sure to check the MERV or CADR ratings.
Want to be sure if your air purifier is really working?
Look for the AHAM Verifide mark on your portable air purifier, which indicates that the manufacturer's statement has been independently tested and certified.