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The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way we think about transmitting viruses and infectious diseases. Wearing masks, social distancing, and indoor air quality are all issues that we need to consider when trying to stop the spread of this disease.
Air purifiers represent one way to help with COVID-19, whether you’re trying to stop the spread of the disease to other people in your home or trying to improve the breathability of your home’s air.
In today’s blog from Air Authority we answer the question, “Can air purifiers help with COVID-19?”
Related Post: Does Indoor Air Quality Have an Effect on Lung Infections?
In short, yes, air purifiers can help with COVID-19. Scientists believe that smaller virus particles may stay in the air for up to 30 minutes or longer until they’re removed through a ventilation system or captured by an air purifier, according to the Washington Post.
There are many factors to consider when thinking about an air purifier for your home. MD Anderson Cancer Center states having air purification in your home makes sense for people in high-risk categories (elderly or underlying health conditions) or for people routinely exposed to the coronavirus, such as health care workers.
You might also consider an air purifier if you have school-age children who might be exposed to the virus at their schools. Many health experts recommend putting portable air cleaners equipped with HEPA filters in classrooms to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Electronic air cleaners may help prevent the spread of COVID-19, too. They work by trapping air particles on a HEPA filter as air passes through. These devices may trap as much as 99.94 to 99.97% of all particles floating in the air. Air Authority has whole-home electronic air cleaners that attach to your HVAC ductwork and need virtually no maintenance. Portable models in rooms help, too. The key to portable models is that the room where they are should have the door closed as much as possible for better efficiency. This is especially true if someone is sick or is self-quarantining at home.
Air purifiers use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill bacteria and viruses. Rather than trapping them, air purifiers kill them. Air Authority can install a whole-home air purifier, the REME HALO, in your HVAC system. There are portable models, but you’ll need to keep the room’s door shut for maximum effectiveness.
How quickly air purifiers and air cleaners work depends on how often they’re active. You can set time limits for portable models. Whole-home air purifiers and electronic air cleaners remove viruses from the air whenever your HVAC unit is active. In a typical home, it may take two to three hours for the air to be exchanged in your system.
Portable air purifiers and air cleaners may exchange the air in the room every 10 minutes. That’s important when you consider that smaller virus particles may stay in a room for up to 30 minutes. Direct the airflow in the room towards the air purifier or air cleaner. That way, air doesn’t blow directly from one person to another.
Health experts, like those at the Mayo Clinic, also advocate having HEPA filters in your home as much as possible. That means for your HVAC system and portable air cleaners.
Opening your windows and letting in fresh air is another way to clean out your home’s air. Try getting a cross breeze by opening one window in a room and then opening another window in a room on the opposite side of the house, if possible.
Having an air purifier in your home may help against COVID-19, especially if someone in your home is infected or regularly exposed to the virus. Air filtration, cleaning, and purifying can reduce the potential exposure to similar viruses, such as influenza, notes Consumer Reports.
However, you must still take necessary precautions against the coronavirus to prevent the spread of the disease, even if you own an air cleaner or air purifier. We cannot stress this enough.
Always wear a mask in public. Maintain social distancing. Wash your hands frequently. You cannot assume that having house guests over for an extended period of time with an air cleaner or air purifier in your home means your family is protected against the coronavirus. You should still follow guidelines as set forth by health care officials and authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to your family.
Related Post: Top 5 Benefits of Owning a REME HALO Whole Home Air Purifier
Talk to Air Authority about installing a whole-home air purifier or electronic air cleaner in your home. In addition to better indoor air quality, our products might help you and your family prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Contact Air Authority or call (513) 229-0789 for more details.
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