Are Air Purifiers Harmful?

If you are thinking of purchasing a highly-recommended air purifier, there is one question you may be asking yourself. Are air purifiers harmful? Read on for some answers and data points.

What Do Air Purifiers Do?

Before you understand the potential risks of an air purifier, it is important to learn how they work and what they do. Air purifiers operate by sucking air from the room into the unit itself, where this air is run through a series of filters or related filtration techniques. Purified air is then gently released back into the living area. On its face, the way an air purifier works cannot be harmful, right? Well, there are some conflicting theories, and air purifiers really help sometimes. For example, If you work in a place that is exposed to volatile organic compounds either from paints or cleaning agents, you might need an air purifier to eliminate these harmful compounds from your air.

Are Air Purifiers Harmful?

When an air purifier is marked as harmful or dangerous, it is typically for several very specific reasons, some of which will be detailed below. But first, there are certain things on these devices that you should monitor. For instance, you should know what a red light means on an air purifier, and what can happen when the air filter is too dirty. And, importantly, should an air purifier run all the time or only when you’re at home?

Ozone Creation

There has been a whole lot of fretting over an air purifier’s propensity to create unnecessary ozone particles during use. While yes, there is a type of air purifier that uses ozone generation as its primary method to destroy polluted air particles, this practice is relatively uncommon. If you are fearful of excess ozone being released into your living space, simply avoid air purifiers that use ozone generation as a primary method of purifying. Standard air purifiers, such as those equipped with a HEPA filter, produce a minuscule amount of ozone that is in line with any other household appliance. In other words, you will be safe.

Polluted Air Due to Dirty Filters

There has also been some worry over dirty or clogged filters adding to a room’s air pollution instead of purifying it. This is actually true, as air is pulled into a purifier with a clogged filter will not be cleaned and may actually pick up some of the dirty particles that have been attached to the filter. However, there is an easy fix. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the proper cleaning and maintenance of air filters.

In general, you should remove and dispose of a HEPA filter every six months to a year. Be sure to replace it with a compatible model. As for reusable filters, such as electrostatic air filters, you should perform the cleaning process once every month. This will ensure no pollutants are being added to your room.

You should also take interest in what air purifier will take out some radon. Radon is a common air pollutant that is a leading cause of lung cancer. That said, having an air purifier that can clean N95 particles can also eliminate exposure to other pollutants that may cause cancer.

F.A.Q.