When it comes to protecting yourself and your family from the novel coronavirus, air purifiers can be a great addition to your home. But are they really worth it? The short answer is yes. Studies have shown that air purifiers can have a mild to moderate positive effect on air quality and, in turn, personal health. Air and HVAC filters are designed to filter out pollutants or contaminants from the air passing through them.
The Clean Air Supply Rate (CADR) rating system is used by many manufacturers to evaluate air filter performance. This rating reflects, in cubic feet per minute, the volume of clean air produced by an air cleaner at its highest speed. Using an air purifier at home can be beneficial at any time, as it helps filter out indoor allergens and contaminants, such as fumes from kitchen and cleaning products. With the extraordinary events of the past year, such as widespread wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners and renters are buying air purifiers for the first time.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that while air purifiers can help reduce airborne pollutants indoors, cleaning the air alone is not enough to protect people from exposure to coronavirus. It's important to note that an air purifier should not be used as a substitute for other safety measures like social distancing and wearing a face mask. Do-it-yourself (DIY) air filters have also been questioned as to their effectiveness in reducing virus particles indoors. However, when combined with a manual timer and filter status update lights, this minimalist air purifier can be quite effective in reducing exposure to wildfire smoke inside your home.
When used correctly, air purifiers can help reduce pollutants in the air, including viruses, in the home or in confined spaces. However, on its own, a portable air purifier is not enough to protect people from COVID-19. So are air purifiers worth it? The answer is yes - they work as intended.
