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Air Cleaners Overview

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In the United States the average person spends as much as 90% of their time indoors. According to the EPA, indoor air can be as much as two to ten times more polluted than the air outdoors. Indoor air pollutants pose health threats to homeowners. In fact, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, air pollution is associated with 50,000 premature deaths and more than $40 billion dollars are spent in health related costs. The air in our homes can contain different organic contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, and spores. These contaminants contribute to allergies, asthma, colds, viruses, headaches and sinus problems. These are just a few of the more common reactions.

The main reasons for this poor air quality in our homes is use of synthetic building materials, poor design, poor maintenance of our homes and its heating and air conditioning systems, and our home furnishings. Homes today are being built more airtight which contributes to poor air quality because the pollutants formed indoors have no way to escape. On the other hand, homes that have leaks allow air pollutants from the outside into the inside.

There are currently various techniques used to accomplish indoor air purification. Air cleaning alone cannot adequately remove all of the pollutants typically found in our indoor air. There is some controversy over whether air cleaners can reduce the allergic reactions created by particles such as pollen, house dust allergens, some molds, and animal dander found on the surfaces in the home rather than in the air. An air cleaner cannot remove them unless they are disturbed and put back into the air.

Many factors need to be considered in determining whether the use of an air cleaner is appropriate in your home. You will also need to decide on the type of air cleaner that is most advantageous for your home. To do this you must consider the initial costs, maintenance costs and frequency, power requirements, level and sources of pollution, your room size, and the efficiency of the unit.

Next Page: Sources of Air Pollutants in Homes

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