Air purifier, what benefits does it provide us?

Indoor pollution is more dangerous than we imagine. Pollutants sneak in through the windows or are generated indoors, and with today’s increasingly airtight construction, it becomes even harder to eliminate this pollution inside buildings. It's not enough to just open the windows for a while. Ideally, one should have a mechanical ventilation system to renew and filter the air. But if one doesn't have it, an alternative is to use an air purifier.

This kind of solution is more important in homes affected by high humidity, as well as in those where smoking occurs. People suffering from allergies or respiratory problems should opt for an air purification system, as there are many pollutants that make their way into our homes:

• Dust is one of the biggest enemies of air and is very difficult to eliminate even with good cleaning.
• Pollen from outdoors also negatively affects our indoor air quality.
• The detergents and disinfectants we use in our homes release pollutants.
• Pet hair can also affect air quality.

For this reason, using an air purifier can solve this pollution problem and clean the spaces to allow for better breathing. Furthermore, they are ideal for reducing exposure to allergens. We can mention that they can eliminate the vast majority of air pollution in the room where they are placed.

Their operation is simple. Purifiers have a multi-level filtration system that cleans the air step by step. Dirty air is drawn in by a fan placed in front of an intake grille. The first step is that a primary filter collects the largest particles.

Subsequently, the air passes through other types of carbon filters that reduce bad odors. Then, through more specific filters that trap smaller pollutant particles, such as metallic gases and tobacco smoke. While there are differences among the various types of air purifiers, these types of filters are usually common. However, it is also possible to find other filters, such as ionizers, that ensure greater cleanliness.

The purifier expels the filtered and clean air through a fan located on the other side of the device. This successfully cleans the environment of each room.

Using an air purifier is not as effective as using a dual-flow mechanical ventilation system, since the purifier focuses on the air stored inside the home, while the dual-flow ventilation introduces pre-filtered air from outside. But purifiers are an alternative to consider for cleaning impurities from our homes.

The need for an air purifier

Nowadays, cleaning the air indoors is essential. We spend more time indoors than outdoors, with work that keeps us between walls. Additionally, homes are increasingly comfortable, and most people's time is spent inside houses or other buildings.

Likewise, the air in the home may be more polluted than outside. Not for nothing is it often estimated that the most significant pollution occurs inside the house and not on the street. The use of air conditioning units, household appliances, chemical products, cooking, cleaning… all of this generates pollution at home which, overall, is greater than that which occurs outdoors.

Therefore, using an air purifier has numerous health benefits:

• It is ideal for people who suffer from problems with pollen or other types of allergies. It is worth noting that in Spain, it is estimated that there are eight million people allergic to pollen.
• The use of a purifier can relieve the sensation of dryness in the skin, the burning of the eyes, or even tearing and redness.
• It also prevents upper respiratory problems, congestion and nasal drip, dryness and sore throat, or even sneezing.
• The lungs also benefit since polluted indoor air can cause chest pressure, feelings of suffocation, dry cough, or bronchitis.
• By cleaning the air, we can concentrate better. Productivity increases and relaxation improves. We sleep much better and rest much more.
• The most common illnesses, such as flu or colds, can be easily avoided by breathing quality air.
• Of course, clean air is also air free of bad odors.

While a mechanical ventilation system is the best solution for cleaning the air and enjoying a space free of pollution -it is not bulky and does not take up space-, the option of an air purifier is recommended for those who do not have advanced systems at home.