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The Benefits of an Air Purifier

5 min read

By Chris Brown

Medically Reviewed by Patty Weasler, RN

Big, small, designer, or industrial, it seems like the whole world is reading up on the pros and cons of investing in an air purifier. To be honest, we can’t really think of any cons to these incredible devices.

Equipped with a paper air filter, a fan that sucks air, and an electric motor that keeps things in motion, air purifiers sanitize the air by removing impurities and pollutants. It sounds simple, but cleaning up the air that you breathe can be incredibly beneficial to the overall well-being of you and your family. So, how beneficial are they? Let’s take a look at the overwhelming benefits of air purifiers.

Reduces Dust

Dust never sleeps. It builds and builds until you inevitably have had enough, and burn your entire Sunday running around dusting your entire home. Though it is true that dust is everywhere, the buildup of dust isn’t altogether inevitable.

Now an air purifier can’t eliminate dust entirely, but it can reduce its accumulation in your home by filtering airborne particles out of the air before they settle on your household surfaces.

Helps Asthma

Asthma, a chronic lung condition that’s prevalent in over 25-million Americans, causes the airways of a sufferer’s lungs to narrow and swell when triggered. Chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing are commonplace. Though there is no cure, there are effective treatments and proven strategies to help manage symptoms.

Purchasing an air purifier is one known strategy. By filtering out the air that you breathe in your home or workplace, air purifiers can reduce your exposure to potential environmental triggers like smoke, dust, and pet dander.

Eliminates Odors

Kitchen odors, pet smells, or stinky apartment floor-mates can be uncomfortable. Thankfully there are air purifiers on the market that can address the nasty aromas circulating in your home.

It’s important to keep in mind that, when it comes to reducing funky odors, not all air purifiers are created equally. If filtering out odors is a big selling feature for you, make sure to purchase one that is equipped with a filter capable of filtering out undesirable scents.

Perfect for Pet Owners

Air purifiers are a pet owner’s second-best friend. Let’s face it, as fun and rewarding as they can be, pets can wreak havoc on your home’s air quality. Pet dander, pet hair, and unwanted odors are part and parcel of owning a fur baby.

Investing in a high-quality air purifier for your home is an absolute must for pet owners. Unless of course, you prefer to spend more time dusting, vacuuming, and sneezing. We didn’t think so!

Traps Bacteria and Viruses

Bacteria and viruses can both be spread through airborne transmission. If you have a lot of guests over, or if you share a workspace with a lot of coworkers, investing in an appropriately sized air purifier is essential to the health and safety of you and those around you.

Germs can stay suspended in the air for hours, making stagnant air a real risk for those expected to inhale it. Sure, improving ventilation by opening windows helps, and turning on a ceiling fan helps, but the best way to protect yourself from airborne viruses and bacteria is by using and properly maintaining an air purifier.

Removes Radon

Radon, a colorless and odorless radioactive gas, is created through the natural breakdown of elements like radium, uranium, and thorium. These elements exist in the crust of the Earth itself, and their existence leads to the release of harmful radon gas.

Radon can make its way into your home through cracks in the basement of your home and yes, it is highly toxic. All the more reason to invest in an air purifier with a carbon filter capable of filtering out this harmful gas.

Removes Smoke

Carbon-filtered air purifiers can also help rid your home of harmful smoke. Smoking indoors is not advisable, but if it does occur, you should seriously consider upping your air filtration game.

Even if you don’t smoke, simply overcooking a frozen pizza can create enough smoke to irritate the lungs and a smell that can last for days. That is unless you get an air purifier.

Eliminates Asbestos Particles

The use of asbestos has been outlawed in much of the modern world by now. And rightfully so! The silicate mineral is intrinsically linked to millions of cancer fatalities around the world. Though it may no longer be actively used in the construction of new homes, some older homes may still have some hiding in the walls.

Protecting your family from the hidden dangers of shedding asbestos should be a top priority, and can be accomplished with a HEPA-filter-equipped air purifier.

May Increase Life Expectancy

Local pollution levels effectively lower the life expectancy of all those born in high-pollution areas. The life expectancy for individuals living in Egypt, for example, is 1.9-years less on average as a direct result of the polluted air that they breathe.

If you live in a densely populated, pollution-rich area, an air purifier may actually increase your life expectancy. Food for thought for those of us living in big cities without the necessary protection.

Helps Allergies

One of the largest selling features, and benefits, of purchasing an air purifier is the effect that it can have on allergy symptoms. After all, many allergies are triggered by airborne particles, so it makes a lot of sense that filtering those particles out would reduce the occurrence and severity of symptoms.

Not all air purifiers are created equally though. To understand which filtration system will work best for your particular situation, you’ll need to shop around. For allergies, it’s generally best to purchase a purifier that uses a HEPA filter. For more information, refer to this helpful guide to effortlessly cater your purifier purchase to your allergy needs.

Other Ways to Improve Air Quality

Air purifiers are a great tool for improving the air quality of your home or workspace, but they aren’t the only ones available to you. And they are far from infallible. No, if you really want to clean up the air you breathe, you’ll need to take other steps.

Additional steps that you can take to improve the quality of the air you breathe include vacuuming weekly, growing indoor plants, running a dehumidifier, opening windows, and relying on your kitchen’s exhaust fan to clear out any smoke created when cooking.

Do You Need One?

It’s hard to read through this entire article and not understand how important air purifiers truly are. They can protect you from dangerous elemental gases, they help absorb foul odors, aid allergies, and asthma, and they may even increase your life expectancy.

Better yet, at-home air purifiers are incredibly affordable! So, to answer the question above, yes you definitely need one. Don’t take our word for it though. Continue your search and see if you can find a real, significant reason not to get one for your family home.

BSN, CCRN

Patty is a freelance health writer and nurse (BSN, CCRN). She has worked as a critical care nurse for over 10 years and loves educating people about their health. When she's not working, Patty enjoys any outdoor activity that she can do with her husband and three kids.

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