When investing in an air purifier for the home, choose wisely, writes Meera Murugesan
AIR purifiers have become an integral part of some homes as more people grapple with poor indoor air quality and its effects.
However, it's important to understand how air purifiers work and why some models may be better than others.
Perfect Lifes Sdn Bhd founder Dean Liew provide some answers.
What is the function of an air purifier?
An air purifier is used to remove contaminants suspended in the air for better indoor air quality.
Are all air purifiers the same?
Apart from the main function which is to clean and purify the air, not all air purifiers are the same.
Depending on the filters that are present in the machine, some air purifiers may be better at blocking contaminants compared to others.
There are several types of filters typically present in an air purification system, each with different functions.
The pre-filter acts as a first line of defence and traps the larger dust particles and contaminants in the air. It's the most basic form of a filter for air purifiers. The Hepa (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is currently one of the most popular filters present in air purifiers.
A good Hepa filter will be able to trap at least 99.97 per cent of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
The carbon filter neutralises and eliminates bad odour in the air. All these filters, when used together, will make for a good air purification system with the ability to block out bacteria, dust, pollen and bad smells, making them effective to purify and cleanse indoor air.
Can air purifiers block viruses?
Due to the extremely small size of viruses, even the most powerful air purifiers will struggle to remove them from the air.
Even if the air purifier manages to capture viruses, they will likely survive for quite some time.
Are air purifiers really necessary in a Malaysian setting?
Air purifiers are necessary no matter where you live. The air that we breathe in is filled with contaminants and fine dust particles, dead skin cells, pollen, allergens and smoke particles, among other pollutants.
How often should one switch on the air purifier?
Air purifiers should be constantly running in order for you to reap the benefits. Some people only use them on special occasions or during a certain season, for example, during the haze season.
I understand as air purifiers are an expensive purchase but this is not the right approach.
We live in a humid country. Furthermore, air purifiers are machines and they are designed to be kept running to be able to reach their full potential. If you don't use them, they will break down.
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