Should You Run a Room Air Purifier or Ceiling Fan to Improve IAQ?
There is an increasing concern over indoor and outdoor air pollution. Recent studies have shown that indoor air could be five times more polluted than outdoor air. That’s because indoor air doesn’t circulate as much as outdoor air, creating room for airborne pollutants to thrive inside the house.
However, an air purifier or ceiling fan can refresh stale air, preventing health concerns caused by indoor air pollution. While ceiling fans can help circulate indoor air, quality air purifiers can eliminate many indoor air pollutants and protect your family from neurological problems and respiratory infections. Here is why you should run an air purifier to improve your indoor air quality.
Relieve Asthma Symptoms
Recent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 1 in 12 people have asthma. Pollutants that cause breathing difficulty include dust mites, pet dander, and dander. Fortunately, most household purifiers come equipped with HEPA filters designed to filter all these pollutants to keep your indoor air clean and healthy. These filters contain multi-layered meshes, which are thinner than hair strands to help prevent pet dander, dust mites, and pollens from floating in your home environment. Some air purifiers contain pre-filters that help trap large particles.
Neutralize Unpleasant Odor
Breakdown of formaldehyde, benzene, and gasoline at room temperature can cause an off-gassing odor inside your home. Most of these chemicals polluting indoor air are found in air fresheners, upholstered furniture, and aerosol sprays, and their odors can affect cognitive functions and cause breathlessness and nausea. However, air purifiers with HEPA filters are designed to trap gases and particles to reduce indoor air pollution. With a quality air purifier, you don’t have to worry about cooking oil odor or smoke when your guests come over to your place. Air purifiers can absorb all the foul smells, keeping your indoor air clean and fresh.
Eliminate Hazardous Particles
You may be exposed to hazardous asbestos particles if you live or work in an old building. With age, asbestos roofing materials spread hazardous particles in the ambient air. Breathing in asbestos particles can cause lung diseases and result in tissue scarring. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, and swelling in the face or neck. Exposure to asbestos particles can also increase lung cancer risk. But you can protect yourself from these harmful particles by installing a HEPA purifier in your home or workplace.
Get Rid of Harmful Radon
The breakdown of radioactive elements in building materials can produce radon gas, an odorless and colorless gas emitted from granite, soil, and rocks. The gas usually leaks into your indoor air through cracks on the plasterwork, walls, and floors. It can damage the lung cell linings and cause cancer. Research indicates there could be thousands of deaths related to lung cancer caused by radon gas emissions each year. However, the use of air purifiers can help reduce the risk of radon gas pollution. Purifiers with activated carbon and HEPA filters can help trap the radon gas and protect building occupants from its harmful effects.
