Home Interior Design

The article below is from a series of home-related articles on air purification systems …

Indoor air pollution is a problem that is a much more widespread health issue than most people are aware of and it should not be taken casually, since most people spend 90% of their time indoors. In order to improve energy efficiency, homes are tightly sealed against the elements, but this traps contaminants and toxins in the air. The best way to eliminate those pollutants is with air purifiers.

The biggest impact that indoor air pollution has on health is easily observed in the growing number of incidences of asthma and allergies sufferers. Interestingly, this marked increase in respiratory problems is being observed in developed countries around the world. In addition to allergens being trapped in homes by better seals on windows and doors, it is also believed that the chemicals used in our homes for every day cleaning and maintenance are also to blame. These chemicals collect over time, eventually reaching toxic levels when the air in a home is stagnant and not cleaned.

Both home and office environments are ripe for developing significant air quality problems, and for the same reasons. High quality HEPA air purifiers can be used in both homes and offices to reduce the level of particulate contamination in the air, significantly improving air quality. Polluted air that is taken in regularly can cause many respiratory problems, including asthma and has recently been linked to the rising incidence of lung cancer.

Another area where home air cleaners should always be in use, are in hair, beauty and nail salons. Nail salon technicians and cosmetologists are at higher risks of developing breathing problems and lung disease because they are constantly exposed to higher than recommended levels of potent chemicals, such as formaldehyde. This fact alone makes them 1.8 times more likely to end up with lung cancer because of this exposure. Proper air purification in the workplace can help to reduce that risk.

Air purifiers are able to remove allergens and contaminants from the air. They significantly reduce the major contaminants found in home interiors, such as dust, pollen, mold spores, dust mite feces and pet dander, just to name a few. They can also be helpful in eliminating tobacco smoke particles from the air as well. When the level of such pollutants is lowered, so is the risk of triggering allergies, developing asthma or getting cancer.

A side benefit of regular use of air purifiers in the home is that they can also help to reduce the frequency of dusting and vacuuming, since the particles are removed by the air purifier rather than settling on furnishings , the floor and other household surfaces.

There is a wide variety of home air purification units available on the market. Prices range from under $100 for a very basic unit that can effectively clean the air in a small room, to sophisticated home air purification systems that can cost up to thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the home and the level of purification desired.

For the most part, air purifiers are quite energy efficient. This is important since they must be running around the clock to be effective. Another consideration, in addition to the cost of the system and the amount of electricity it uses, is the cost of replacement filters and how frequently they need to be replaced.

For more tips on air purification systems, go here: HEPA Air Purifiers