If you use your air purifier frequently without proper maintenance, expect it to cause problems. A poorly maintained air purifier will have dirty or clogged filters, motors that won't work properly, and other problems that will affect its overall operation. Experts agree that ozone is harmful to health. Certain regulatory bodies have taken steps in this regard and, in fact, air purifiers that generate ozone are banned in some places.
Indeed, these products generate significant amounts of ozone that, if inhaled, can cause long-term damage to olfactory cells and lungs. Even more worrisome is that symptoms can disappear after repeated chronic exposure, leaving people unaware of the damage they are causing to their respiratory systems. However, even small amounts of ozone can be harmful. A Canadian study found that measurable bronchial reactivity can occur with ozone concentrations as low as.
Even when not directly inhaled, ozone can be harmful. For example, ozone can react to common household cleaning products, such as terpenes, which are more commonly known in pine and citrus fragrances. In the presence of ozone, terpenes form formaldehyde, a group 1 human carcinogen. Ozone can even cause rubber and plastic to deteriorate prematurely in quantities as low as 0.35 parts per million.
Imagine what it does to our bodies. Ozone should be avoided, even in small quantities, and the air purifiers that generate it should not be used. Cleaning chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide disinfect well, but can irritate the respiratory tract. Try to use them only when you need to disinfect and kill bacteria, and use one cleaner at a time (this prevents chemicals from mixing in the air, which can increase toxicity).
Open the windows in the room you are going to clean and remove them when you're done so you don't inhale vapors while the air clears. Also try to avoid cleansers scented with lemon or pine; the volatile organic compounds in these scents are especially reactive with other scents chemicals in the air. For general cleaning, consider using a natural product, something made at home with vinegar or old water and soap. Running an air purifier 24 hours a day also ensures that the air is always clean and fresh, instead of relying on an occasional purification session.
In addition to improving air quality, leaving the air purifier on all the time can also reduce the cost of maintaining air quality. There are also a few types of these, including HVAC filters, portable air purifiers, and roof-mounted air purifiers. At his Dallas home, Ogden-McKee, 39, uses five air purifiers with integrated HEPA (short for high-efficiency particulate air) filters, one in each room, but the kitchen drinks water from a filtered container and fills its glasses with cubes created in an ice machine with a filtration component. Because ionization doesn't filter particles from the air or kill mold or viruses, these viable particles continue to accumulate in the room.
When you think about pollution, outdoor air probably comes to mind, but the quality of the air inside your home is also important. But, on the other hand, if you place a HEPA filter in your air conditioning system, it may be causing problems, as some units have problems due to the increase in pressure that results from pushing air through a denser filter material. To properly maintain your air purifier, it's important to check and clean the filter regularly. An air purifier can help remove contaminants, allergens, and other particles from the air, as well as reduce odors and improve overall indoor air quality.
However, if you don't feel the need to run your air purifier continuously, you can limit its use to when you're at home or when the air quality is particularly poor. Tenants should clarify with the landlord if they are responsible for replacing filters in appliances such as the air conditioner or ice maker.