Buying an Air Purifier? 5 Important Health Rules You Must Check First

The severity of air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas shows no signs of respite; every day is a reminder that you need to take your health into your hands. According to experts, the continuously worsening

pollution has made having an air purifier a necessity. The lack of ventilation in indoor spaces causes the indoor pollution levels to be more than 2.5 times higher than outdoor air. Air purifiers remove airborne particles like dust, pollen, and pet dander, which helps alleviate allergies and symptoms of lung infections, breathlessness, and even asthma. They are also instrumental in reducing unpleasant odours, neutralizing harmful chemicals and VOCs, and trapping airborne pathogens like viruses and bacteria, lowering the risk of illness. Ultimately, air purifiers improve indoor air quality, leading to better sleep, improved focus, and enhanced overall health.

What should you know before buying an air purifier?

However, when you think of buying purifiers to protect yourself and your loved ones from poor indoor air quality, it is always a good idea to invest in a high-performance machine. And so, it is crucial to know the following things that purifiers can do for you:

Air purifiers improve the air quality

The machines are able to filter pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 and improve air quality through a process of drawing in air, passing it through filters to trap particles, and then releasing the cleaned air back into the room. This cycle, which continues, helps reduce indoor pollution levels and can alleviate symptoms associated with allergies and respiratory issues.

Reduce allergic reactions

According to experts, air purifiers can significantly reduce allergic reactions by removing airborne allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander from the air. Devices that have true HEPA filters are super effective, as they trap a high percentage of tiny particles, which leads to reduced symptoms like chronic sneezing, congestion, and itchy and red eyes, apart from letting you breathe freely.

Reduce airborne pathogens like harmful bacteria

Air purifiers reduce airborne pathogens like bacteria and fungi – all of which can lead to diseases in addition to conditions caused by continuous air pollution. The filters of the purifier trap these pathogens as contaminated air is drawn in, preventing them from circulating indoors and making you ill. Technologies like HEPA filters are super effective at capturing bacteria and viruses, and a few models that use UV-C light eliminate them.

Helps with odour elimination

Air purifiers can help eliminate odours as they trap and neutralize odour-causing particles and gases, especially those equipped with an activated carbon filter. They are effective at removing common household smells from cooking, pets, smoke, and garbage, creating a fresher-smelling environment. For the best results, choose an air purifier that uses an activated carbon filter or other technologies like ozone-free bipolar ionization that target gases and volatile organic compounds.

Help you sleep better

Air purifiers can help you sleep better by removing allergens like dust and pollen, thereby improving overall air quality, which leads to longer and more restful sleep. They also reduce snoring by improving air circulation and easing breathing.

5 important checklist ticks

With so many brands of air purifiers available in the market today, you must check a few things to make it easier to decide which is the right buy:

• Provides proper filtration
• Know the room size so that the purifier effectively filters the air
• Activated HEPA filters with replacement
• Low noise levels- below 30 to 35 decibels for its sleep mode
• An automation with a digital PM2.5 or air quality sensor display to clearly indicate the current air quality