Should You Buy an Air Purifier For Wildfire Smoke?

Wildfires have always been an issue in summertime in the United States. This is a hazardous situation, especially on the West Coast. It seems that more fires are wreaking havoc across the landscape. The wildfires in Canada are a perfect example of the effects a wildfire can have, not only on its area directly but on other areas as well.

Much of the East Coast has seen the hazardous smoke effects from these fires, which occurred further north. Air quality has taken a significant hit lately because of these factors, and it has caused problems for many people suffering from respiratory issues.

Air purifiers are made to remove dust, mold, pollen, smoke, and other pollutants from the air. Using a HEPA filter with an air purifier can effectively remove certain harmful particles from the air we breathe. Here, we will discuss how an air filter works and what to look for in the best air purifier.

The best way of achieving air filtration is through a high-efficiency particulate absorber (HEPA) filter. These are mechanical air filters that are pleated and use a circulating fan to pull the bad air from your home and move it through the filter. As the air makes its way through the filter, it extracts particles and pollutants. The air that gets pushed back out is clean and better for your health.

A HEPA filter removes over 99% of dust, contaminants, and any airborne bacteria from the air. HEPA filters are more effective than traditional air filters because of their design. They are intended to trap finer particles than standard filters, which leads to cleaner air.

An air purifier is meant to remove any contaminants from the air around you as it filters the dirty air, which allows purified air to disburse into the atmosphere. When a HEPA filter and carbon filter are both equipped with an air purifier, you see amazing results. These filters combined can combat fine particles in the air along with pollens and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They can also help protect against airborne viruses and bacteria.

Using one of three methods, air purifiers work to remove not only gasses but also particles and pollutants from the air. The three standard methods used to achieve this are filtration, electrostatic precipitation, and ionization. The EPA describes risks associated with certain electrostatic cleaners along with some ionizing air purifiers. California has gone as far as even selling air purifiers such as these that may corrupt the ozone. Experts back the use of filter-based air purifiers over the latter choices. They are deemed healthier and more effective than the other purifier methods.

An air filter will directly benefit anyone with a higher risk of suffering any health effects from wildfire smoke. These people who are at a higher risk of suffering health problems because of  exposure to wildfire smoke include:

Air purifiers are self-contained air filtration machines intended to purify an individual room. Having an air purifier in any room you often occupy is recommended if you suffer from any disease or illness that puts you at risk. Using an air purifier can eliminate wildfire smoke particles from that room.

Air purifiers can be pretty pricey. They range from less than $100 to a few grand each. This fluctuation in price is determined by how many cubic feet of air the device can purify effectively. The EPA suggests you purchase an air cleaner based on how big of a room you need to filter. Look for the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of a portable air cleaner. This measures how quickly clean air is put back into the room.

Air purifiers are rated on an efficiency scale like HVAC filters are. The lowest rating on this efficiency scale is one, and the highest is 20. HEPA filters are rated somewhere between 17 and 20. It would be best to look for a filter with a rating of at least 13 when any respiratory concerns are involved, such as wildfire smoke particles.

If you or a loved one is suffering from lingering wildfire smoke, do not wait until it is too late to act. By the time you decide to make a change, it may be too late. Visit Fliterking to find the best air purifiers for wildfire smoke.