INDOOR AIR HAZARD TO YOUR HEALTH?
photo credit: Roger Darrow
Most of us spend majority of the day inside, whether at home or at work, but not many realize that air inside is up to five times more polluted than air outside. Therefore, it creates a potentially hazardous environment for you and your family. Surely, you’ve heard about air purifiers and most probably already possess one or more, but is the one you have purchased really good for your house or work place? Here are a few tips on what to look for in a good portable air purifier:
• Room size—make sure the purifier is suitable for the room you’re going to place it in (too big will increase your energy bill unnecessarily and too small won’t be effective).
• Get the right filter—there are a few types of filters you any want o pay attention to. These are: high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter (have to be replaced over time), electrostatic filter (can be washed but produces ozone as a by-product which can cause respiratory problems if in high quantities), carbon filters (eliminate humidity, reduce odors and filter larger particles) and ionizing filters (purify air by releasing ions).
• Look for Energy Star rating—this is based on CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) which calculates the elimination of dust, pollen and tobacco smoke and corresponds to a number of cubic feet of clean air delivered per minute.
• Ask about maintenance costs—usually involves the cost of filter replacement but some machines may require additional maintenance. You should ask your retailer about the proper procedure.
Now you have the air purifier, and you think “I’m set and don’t have to worry about a thing…” Well, not so fast. Most purifiers don’t eliminate all of the pollutants from the air in your house so proper maintenance will definitely help to make indoor air cleaner and healthier. Here is how:
• ventilate by opening windows and doors and using ceiling fans
• vacuum regularly and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth
• replace cleaning products with eco-friendly ones, change regular paint and sealants to a low VOC versions to limit the exposure to chemical indoor pollutants
• if you or your family member has asthma or allergies, replace the carpet with other types of flooring (tiles, wood etc) and an area rug, which should be washed regularly
• wash bedding and curtains in hot water to eliminate dust mites
• keep your appliances in good condition (especially the ones running on gas, such as water heaters, stoves, fireplaces) to reduce the exposure to carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides
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[...] http://ecogreentips.com/tips/indoor-air-hazard-to-you-health/…; carbon filters (eliminate humidity, reduce odors and filter larger particles) and ionizing filters (purify air by releasing ions). • Look for Energy Star rating—this is based on CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) which calculates the … [...]