How Air Purifiers Benefit Your Health

Indoor Air Is More Unhealthy Than 30 years Ago

It has been estimated that the air inside of the average American home is at least five times more polluted than the air outdoors. This statistic is very troubling because we spend so much time indoors. These harmful impurities can have a serious impact on our health. Fortunately, consumers are now looking for ways to improve the quality of their indoor air. For millions of people, air purifiers have become a popular method of eliminating harmful airborne contaminants thereby improving the quality of air in their homes.

Air Purifiers Are Proven To Help Allergies and Asthma

A quality air purifier works by directing air through a filter. Air purifying mechanisms trap harmful airborne pollutants and prevent them from circulating through the room. The clean air sent back into the room is up to 97% contaminant free. The result is cleaner, fresher, and healthier indoor air. There are many health benefits to having an air purifier in your home or office. When harmful contaminants are removed from the indoor air, there is a decrease in such health conditions as headaches, congested air passages, asthma attacks, allergic reactions such as red watery eyes, and sinus congestion.

Air Purifiers May Also Help With Sleep Disorders

A quality air purifier will improve the quality of sleep. Negative Ions were researched extensively in Russia and France and found to effect REM sleep, brain chemistry, and even energy levels. My own personal experience is that the negative ions in my air purifier helps me sleep better and awake more refreshed.

If you have children, it is important that they breathe clean indoor air because they can develop health problems that can last a lifetime, plus it may help with brain development. It is even beneficial for pets. As well, by using air purifiers, you will reduce the amount of dust that gathers on the furniture. This makes cleaning the home much easier and faster.

Buyer Beware: Air Purifiers Quality Counts

The ultimate health benefit of using air purifiers is the ability to breathe better without inhaling the harmful airborne particles that cause illness. There are many different types of air purifiers on the market so it important to do your research to make sure that you are getting a quality air purifier that actually removes about 97% of the airborne contaminants (this means making sure you start with a HEPA type of air purifier). As well, it is important to be aware that some cheap air purifiers are not as efficient or effective.

How To Use An Air Purifier

To get the most out of air purifiers is to put one in the rooms that you spend the most time in, which is usually the bedroom, followed by the living room or home office. Today’s families are more prone to suffer from allergies, bronchial conditions, asthma, and other respiratory related conditions because of pollution. However a big cause of the increase in respiratory problems is also the indoor air we breathe. Today’s synthetic materials, floor glues, chemicals, and plastics are all problematic. Installing air purifiers will allow you to block harmful airborne contaminants that will drastically reduce respiratory illnesses and make you and your family much healthier and happier.

Whole House Air Purifiers vs. Room Air Purifiers

Problems With Whole House Air Purifiers

Whole House Air Purifiers are are installed in the home’s ventilation system. Installation of the air purifier is done by connecting the system to the home’s heating and cooling system. These purifiers work by cleansing the indoor air that includes removing harmful airborne contaminants.

However several problems exist with whole house air purifiers:

#1 Poor Air Flow: Heating and Air Conditioning Ducts are generally designed to move hot and cold air into the room, not to circulate air in and out of the room. The proof is that you find dust in the rooms of your house, even though you already have a filter on your heating/cooling system.

#2 Lack of Sufficient Fan Power: Heating and A/C Ducts can direct cleaner air into the room but do not have sufficient draw of air to recirculate dirty air.

#3 Lack of Cleaning Ability: Even with a better HEPA filter, UV or Ozone unit in your heating ducts the circulation within the room will not be strong enough to extract dust or bacteria within the room. (However the heating ducts themselves will be cleaner and more sterile as they move air into the room)

#4 Higher Energy Costs: You would need a fan blower motor about 5 times the strength of the typical air duct system to clean each room as efficiently as a small unit. This motor would use a lot of energy, and increase heating and cooling bills. Also the air ducts would have to be modified to circulate air better than the typical duct system designed in your home.

Small Air Purifiers Work Better

On the other hand small single Room Air Purifiers allow for:

#1 Better Air Flow: By creating a circular flow of air in the room they can extract dust more effectively. Air Purifier with HEPA filter units are best for removing and trapping dust.

#2 More Air Moving Power: For clean air the air needs to be circulated efficiently, and in a circular motion, 1-4 times per hour. This can be regulated with single room air purifiers.

#3 Cleaner, Healthier Air: Air Purifiers that sanitize the air via UV light and tio2 must be in close contact with the air to be effective.

#4 More Energy Efficient: Like a zoned heating system you can reduce energy costs by having an air purifier on in the most used rooms, like the bedroom and living room or home office. Brushless Motors, like those found in the 9-technology Alive Air Purifier, use very little energy yet circulate air quietly and efficiently.

The whole house purifier is a great idea, but (unfortunately) because of the problems mentioned above an air purifier in each room is a better choice. More control over the air quality conditions with a small air purifier saves energy bills, and does a better job.

Allergy Guys Response To: “Top 10 Air Purifier Questions”

with Julie Domino

Natural Health Practitioner Mark stopped by to answer our “Top Ten” questions from our “Air Purifier - Allergy Relief Questionaire”:

#10 Which air purifier type is best to relieve allergies?

Mark: It depends on what kind of allergies you have. For example: pollen and pet allergies are best helped by a HEPA air purifier. It is recognized by Doctors as providing the best relief. HEPA removes and holds allergens to .3 microns, or 99.97% of all airborne particles.

#9 What about Mold and Mildew allergies?

Mark: Great question! HEPA, although it removes mold spores, doesn’t kill Mold or Mildew. For that you will want to add UV and Tio2.

#8 How about Cat and Dog allergy relief?

Mark: A HEPA air purifier (for the hair and the dander) and a Pre-filter (a screen-like filter to catch hair, dander, and dust which also saves the life of the HEPA)

#7 How about for an allergy to dust?

Mark: HEPA, to gather dust, and a Pre-filter to capture hair and dust before the HEPA filter to help it last longer.

#6 How about the Oreck Air Purifier?

Mark: The best selling unit does not have HEPA and relies on “electrostatic” or “Truman Cells” as they call it. Same thing. It won’t hold allergens, hair, or dust, or kill mold very well. The static from it might hold a few hairs but to remove pollen you have to catch it. It is not effective in my opinion for allergens.

#5 How often should a person change a HEPA filter in an air purifier?

Mark: It depends on the size of the filter. The average HEPA should last 10-12 months with normal use. The exception is with smoke or alot of dust. (note: Many air purifier companies charge too much for the replacement HEPA after you make the initial purchase of the air purifier itself. So check replacement prices first before buying. A good sized HEPA filter (10x10x2 or larger) shouold be in the $30-50 range.

#4 How long should it take to be effective?

Mark: Assuming that you have the right technology several hours should be enough to notice a difference. This depends on what you are trying to remove of course. Mold or mildew may take 6-7 hours to clear.

#3 How much should a good air purifier cost?

Mark: So many air purifiers are overpriced - making this a good question. To treat a Living room or bedroom I wouldn’t spend more that $3-400 for an air purifier with HEPA, UV and at least 2 more technologies.

#2 Should I run it all the time?

Mark: You can run it all the time - but to save electricity I’d consider air purifiers with allergen and dust sensors. These sensors (Japan) adjust the air purifier to the conditions in the room - saving electricity and guesswork.

#1 Which do you recommend?

Mark: Rather than the typical 2-3 technology air purifier units you find there is a new 9-technology air purifier with HEPA, UV, Tio2, Ion, Carbon, Electrostatic and more. The video below shows it in action:

Mark Richardson is an author, international speaker, and Health Practitioner who researches cutting edge health products.
For healthier, more effective alternatives watch Mark’s Air Purifier VIDEO Reviews at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhfOC5JHE7U Or visit his website at http://www.aliveairpurifier.com