The promise of an air purifier is completely enticing, considering how crucial maintaining healthy indoor air quality is. Air purifiers are helpful for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or other related diseases. With their notable functions, one could easily say that an air purifier is a must have for any home. But do air purifiers work? Is it really worth investing in?
In this article, you will learn about the functions of an air purifier, its benefits, and some factors to look for when purchasing one.
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Our pets, perfume, fragrance oils, cooking, aromatic candles—the things that you enjoy at home can contribute to indoor air pollution without you noticing. They release harmful air particles that your body can sometimes miss during filtration. Pollution from pesticides, household cleaners, and synthetic mattresses or furniture can also linger in your home.
An air purifier is a compact air cleaning appliance that filters multiple air pollutants to keep your home a safer place to live. While filtering small air particles, it can also capture bacteria and viruses and remove some odours within your space. And yes, it actually works.
Unlike an air conditioner, an air purifier has a simple mechanism that includes an internal fan that absorbs the air and passes it through its filtration system, which can consist of one or more air filters, depending on the unit. The purified air will then be pushed back into the room.
One notable feature of a high-quality air filter is that it tackles a dangerous pollutant called particulate matter that is easily inhalable and may be too small for the body to filter. This particulate matter may cause serious health issues and is even linked to lung cancer, which is why an air purifier that can combat the particles is preferred by many.
HEPA Filters
The term "HEPA" pertains to High Efficiency Particulate Air filters. This is one of the most popular and trusted air purification systems on the market, capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns, while the naked eye can only see particles larger than 10 microns. They are also effective in removing dust, pollen, bacteria, mould, and indoor allergens lingering in the air.
Ionic Air Filters
An ionic air filter or ioniser releases negative ions and attaches itself to particles like mould, causing them to clump and attach to surfaces. While this process cleans the air, since the particles remain on the surface, they may recirculate once the area is swept or touched.
Activate Carbon Filter
Activated carbon is processed carbon that is porous and absorbent. This efficiently captures pollutants and odours. This filter type does not release the pollutants back into the air, preventing recirculation. However, while activated carbon filters help improve the air quality, they provide lower efficiency in terms of capturing contaminants that are far away from the unit.
UV Air Purifier
Like HEPA filters, UV purifiers absorb the air into the appliance and let it be exposed to a UV lamp to break down the chemical bonds to kill viruses and bacteria. Based on this, UV air purifiers are efficient in terms of targeting active microorganisms that can harm human health.
What to Look for When Shopping for an Air Purifier in Singapore
Size
Just like air conditioners, an air purifier works best when its size fits the size of your room. You can find various air purifier sizes for different room requirements on the market.
Air Purification Needs
Look for an air purifier that is tailored to your specific requirements. Do you have pets? Is your area humid? Some simple questions can help you understand how you can maximise the potential of your air purifier.
CADR
CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Ratings, is the overall cleaning speed for a room. Higher CADR means the air purifier can clean the indoor air faster.
Price
Different air purifiers have different capacities, prices, and maintenance costs. It’s vital to consider these things when buying one for your home.
Ultimately, choose an air purifier with a HEPA filter, which is the gold standard for indoor purifiers. Megafurniture offers certified HEPA air purifiers that actively capture minute elements and keep your indoor air safe and conducive.