For those of us that want to have the air we breathe in our homes be as clean as possible, air purifiers are an appealing solution. Most of the new ‘green’ buildings that are going up have very sophisticated air exchange systems but it’s easy to retrofit your current home too! Air purifiers can help alleviate some air quality problems, such as dust, pollen, allergens and mold spores. While there are limits to their effectiveness they can certainly improve your air quality. They do not remove VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) but you can control that with the paints and varnishes you use. Air purifiers can not remove combustion gases from the air, and are ineffective at eliminating all of the toxins in tobacco smoke.
If you decide to buy an air purifier, you can choose either a whole-house or room unit. Consumer Reports recommends whole-house purifiers if you have forced-air heating or cooling systems: systems that use recirculated air rather than air pulled in from the outside. Otherwise, room air purifiers work almost as well. The best measure of air-purifier effectiveness is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) certification system established by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. The higher the number, the better the cleaning rate. Consumer Reports considers ratings above 350 excellent and those below 100 poor.
If that seemed a bit dry, maybe some information on humidifiers will help. Humidifiers increase humidity levels in your home, helping eliminate the dry air that can irritate the passages in the nose and throat and exacerbate dry skin. If you live in a house a humidifier/dehumidifier can be attached to your heating and cooling systems. Just remember to drain and clean your humidifier frequently to avoid the growth of bacteria. Consumer Reports has a handy humidifier rating section. Among other things, they recommend that you choose a model with a humidistat, which shuts the humidifier off when the set level is reached, so the humidity level doesn't get too high. Remember, moist air is good; a moist house is not!
If you decide to buy an air purifier, you can choose either a whole-house or room unit. Consumer Reports recommends whole-house purifiers if you have forced-air heating or cooling systems: systems that use recirculated air rather than air pulled in from the outside. Otherwise, room air purifiers work almost as well. The best measure of air-purifier effectiveness is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) certification system established by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. The higher the number, the better the cleaning rate. Consumer Reports considers ratings above 350 excellent and those below 100 poor.
If that seemed a bit dry, maybe some information on humidifiers will help. Humidifiers increase humidity levels in your home, helping eliminate the dry air that can irritate the passages in the nose and throat and exacerbate dry skin. If you live in a house a humidifier/dehumidifier can be attached to your heating and cooling systems. Just remember to drain and clean your humidifier frequently to avoid the growth of bacteria. Consumer Reports has a handy humidifier rating section. Among other things, they recommend that you choose a model with a humidistat, which shuts the humidifier off when the set level is reached, so the humidity level doesn't get too high. Remember, moist air is good; a moist house is not!
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