Can air purifiers work against Covid19? Find out it here.
The Corona Virus 2019 had everyone feeling worried; anxious that you might have brought it at home. One of the debatable precautionary measures at home is using an air purifier. Several suggest that air purifiers can kill the virus, but is it true?
What is an air purifier?An air purifier is an air-cleaning device that removes impurities in the air within a room to improve the quality of air indoors. The air cleaner is often marketed to individuals with allergies, asthmatics, and more.
But how does an air purifier works against Corona Virus?Coronavirus is a contagious infection from SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus). It is transmitted through the following scenarios:
a. Respiratory droplets from breathing, coughing, talking, sneezing, and more at a short-range.
b. Contact by touching the object that the infected person had touched and then the nose, mouth, or eyes.
c. Aerosol (airborne transmission) happens when an infected individual exhales, producing small respiratory droplets, and leaving the virus in the air.
Air purifiers are not engineered to kill 100 percent of the virus present in the air but can help reduce it, especially when airing out the room is not an option.
The HEPA filters on air purifiers can capture 99.97 percent of particles at 0.3 microns in diameter. Although the virus is at 0.125, according to the experts, the HEPA filters can easily capture the coronavirus. However, the coronavirus particles must physically travel to the filter. For this reason, when you buy an air purifier, you should choose one that can consistently draw in enough air – the faster the air cycle through the filter, the better chances it has of catching and filtering virus particles. At Air Cleansed, there are several great reviews of the best air purifiers in the market today.
Also, when choosing the right purifier, you should check the CADR or the Clean Air Delivery Rate; this will reflect how fast the air purifier can produce a volume of clean air in cubic feet per minute. Most manufacturers present three classifications of CADR ratings – smoke, pollen, and dust. The smallest size of the virus can be classified as the size of smoke, while the larger droplets are closer to the size of the smallest pollen.
Note:
Air purifiers can capture the virus present in the air; however, they cannot capture the virus all the time. For this reason, it is always advisable to always wear a mask regularly when going outside of your home. And practice regular hand-washing or regular use of alcohol when outside. Also, observe social-distancing.
Air purifiers can help remove the viruses present in the air but cannot stop the virus from being transmitted through other modes of transmission, such as the short-range transmission of respiratory droplets and contact.
Bottom line
Air purifiers are a great addition to home these days. However, it is not the first line of defense against viruses. Regular hand-washing, wearing a mask, observing social-distancing, and improving health are the best ways to fight against the virus, as well as getting vaccinated.