Home Air Filtration

The air we breath in, is increasingly getting polluted. This is because, the activities that cause pollution are usually needed for comfort, for productivity or for survival. In most cases those activities are cheap and easy, or simply fun to carry out. As such, people do not make the effort to get rid of those activities. It is because of the necessary nature of these activities, that, the preventive efforts of government and state agencies usually prove ineffective. If you live in a densely populated area, the issue of air pollution becomes a matter you have to take into your own hands, if you want to breath clean air. This will require the use of a home air filtration/purification device.

They are used to improve air quality by removing dirt particles, soot, bacteria and viruses from the air. Most run quietly, unless the air is heavily polluted, or the filter is dirty and needs to be cleaned. There are many efficient, cost effective models on the market. You’ll benefit the most from home air purifiers if you have a ventilation system installed in a house that doesn’t rely heavily on open doors and windows.

What is Home Air Filtration?

Unwanted and/or harmful materials can pollute the air in your home. This makes the air unhealthy to breath. Air pollution indoors is among the top five environmental health risks. Usually, the ideal approach to addressing this risk, is to reduce or altogether remove the source of pollutants. You then ventilate your home with clean air from outside. Depending on the place your home is located or the season, the air outside may not be useful for ventilating your home. If this is the case, you may have to use an air cleaning device in your home to remove pollutants from the air.

Some air cleaning devices (aka air filters) are meant to be incorporated into a building’s central heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to clean the air in the whole house. You can also clean air in specific areas of the house and in single rooms using portable air cleaners.

NB:

Home air filtration is the process of removing unwanted, irritating or harmful substances from the air in your home using an air cleaning device.

What are the benefits of home air filtration?

Using air filtration at home helps to reduce particles of dust, smoke, allergens, bacteria, unpleasant odor and pet dander in the air. This helps to improve the quality of air and promote healthy living.

What are the types of home air filtration devices?

There are many types of air cleaning devices on the market. They are normally categorized, based on how they work, into particle removal or gas removal air cleaning devices.

Particle removal air cleaners are further divided into mechanical air filters and electronic air filters. By trapping particles on filter media, mechanical air filters remove them from the air. On the other hand, electronic air filters electronically charge air that passes through them and then traps the charged particles on oppositely charged plates called collectors.

Gas removal air cleaners use absorbent material to remove irritant or harmful gases and odors from the air. They are usually effective for removing certain type of gases, but not others.

NB:

This page relies heavily on information present in EPA article EPA 402-F-08-004, may 2008. Refer to this article for additional information on Home Air Filters.

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