Unveiling the Truth Behind Air Purifiers: Are They a Necessity or Just a Fad?
Every year, North India, especially the NCR and its surrounding areas, face an annual winter onslaught of thick smog, which is caused by bed burning, vehicular emissions and industrial pollution. Year after year, Delhiites and residents of areas like Noida, Gurugram and Haryana are used to experiencing heavy pollution that starts as early as October.
Of particular concern is the noxious nature of this smog; it blocks sunlight, contains various pollutants, such as PM2.5 particles, which belong to the most harmful category of pollutants – organic substances, metals and combustion byproducts – which can penetrate deep into the lungs. This raises the air quality index (AQI) to a “severe” level. Moreover, along with other pollution categories like PM10 and PM1, this is causing a tough time for the residents of these areas.
In fact, right now in Delhi, the severity of the situation has led to the closure of Delhi’s primary and secondary schools – and the extension of the closure until November 10
This is where air purifiers come into play. A few years ago, air purifiers were considered a luxury or niche product, but now they are slowly becoming more common, yet they are still one of the less desirable home appliances. The question remains: how do they work, are they effective, and can buying one solve these pollution problems? We aim to answer these questions here.
Delhi Pollution: How Air Purifiers Work?
First, it’s important to understand that air purifiers are not miracle devices; they need constant use to show results and promote a healthier lifestyle. Using an air purifier for just one hour a day is not enough. If you are in the room, the air purifier should be active.
Different air purifiers from different brands use different filtration processes – some are more advanced, while others offer basic functionality at a lower cost. The process is usually simple: a fan draws air from the environment, passes it through several filters to collect impurities, and then circulates the cleaned air back into the room.
The cleaning capabilities of an air purifier vary depending on the number and type of filters it uses. Some can only target PM10 particles, while others can filter the smaller PM2.5 particles. Additionally, some cleaners have features such as UV cleaning that can eliminate bacteria and mold.
Air purifiers: are they effective?
In short, yes, air purifiers are quite effective in preventing you from inhaling harmful pollutants and reducing the amount of dust in your environment. For this reason, people with allergies may have fewer symptoms in daily encounters. Additionally, air purifiers can help pet owners manage pet dander – especially in cats and dogs.
However, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the air purifier, it is useful to supplement it with indoor plants, proper ventilation and a clean environment where the interior is not contaminated by pollutants.
Contrary to popular belief, turning off the air purifier after a few hours of use is not enough. If new air is constantly entering your room through openings such as doors and windows, it is important to understand that this new air may contain contaminants. Thus, turning off the air purifier would allow these pollutants to reenter the room. To maintain optimal air quality in your immediate environment, it is very important to keep the purifier running most of the time.
In addition, it is important to consider the size of the area that the air purifier can clean effectively. If your purifier is 500 square feet, it will not be effective in a 1000 square foot area. Therefore, buy air purifiers based on the area they cover and consider using multiple purifiers in different rooms that are far apart and isolated from each other.
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