Air Purifier Against Wildfire Smoke: Is It Effective?
As global warming continues to take its toll on the environment, wildfires and other natural calamities become more frequent. In the United States alone, the West Coast has experienced massive wildfire this year, forcing thousands of people out in the street.
The conflagration caused alarming smoke mass which drastically affected the air quality index (AQI). When the smoke entered the houses, the residents reported health effects such as difficulty in breathing, eye irritation, allergy, and other health conditions. In short, wildfire smoke affected their quality of life. Closing doors and windows provided some relief, but it was not enough. They tried other ways to make their homes more comfortable.
Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Health
The microscopic particles that go with smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to various health problems, including respiratory and chronic heart disease. On rare occasions, there are reported incidents of premature deaths caused by exposure to pollution.
Some groups are more prone to smoke pollution than others. The most vulnerable groups include:
- Persons with existing heart or lung disease, including heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and asthma;
- Senior citizens;
- Children, including teenagers;
- Persons with diabetes;
- Pregnant women.
Itchy and teary eyes, a runny nose, cough, sneezing, and difficulty in breathing are some of the symptoms that the high concentration of smoke is affecting your health. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, protect yourself from the smoke. Talk to your doctor online (avoid going outside) as soon as you can.
Is Air Purifier Effective Against Smoke?
One potential solution to air pollution caused by wildfire is the use of an air purifier. Google Trends shows that air purifiers have had more searches this year than in the past years. This trend will most likely continue next year as the machine is gaining popularity. But is it really effective against smoke from wildfire?
The short answer is yes, an air purifier can clean the air you breathe.
Wildfire smoke contains hazardous gases and tiny particles such as ashes from burnt vegetation and wildlife. These elements are too small that they can penetrate inside a well-sealed home. This is why even with doors and windows closed, the indoor air quality is still unsafe to breathe. Using an air purifier can reduce the pollutants coming from wildfire smoke that has been trapped inside your home.
How to Choose an Air Purifier
Not all air purifiers can do the job well. Its effectiveness depends on the performance of the air purifier itself and the severity of air pollution. For an air purifier to be considered adequate, it must trap 99% of particles that measure 0.3 microns and above. This is only possible if the air purifier uses high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) for its filtration system.
Aside from the filter, another factor to consider when choosing an air purifier is how it circulates the air. It’s always advisable to select an air cleaner that can purify most of the room’s air.
Search for a cleaner with the most effective air projection system. This technology allows the machine to suck dirty air into the purifier and pushes clean air into the room. Without this feature, the device may only purify the air within the small portion of the room.
Other tips when buying an air purifier includes:
- Do your research. Check the best performing air purifier for wildfire smoke on cleanup.expert.
- Tolerable noise level. If the smoke is too dense, you might need to run the cleaner for 24 hours. It’s more convenient if the purifier works silently at night time to avoid disrupting your sleep.
- Size. The rule of thumb is small purifiers work for small rooms and big purifiers for large rooms.
- Proper placement. Think of the place where you will put the purifier. The best spot is inside the room where you spend most of your time. However, most devices are light enough to be carried from one room to another. Also, put the cleaner closer to you. For instance, you can set the purifier closer to your bed during night time so that you can breathe more fresh air.
- Use it right away. Once you get home, plug it in and let it run on high mode for at least an hour. This step is ideal for cleaning the air quickly by passing it through the filters multiple times. Then, you can switch it to normal mode to maintain air quality. You can also put the device in high mode after cleaning your room to remove the tiny particles in the air that you may have stirred.
- Change filters. Even if there is no wildfire in your area, it’s recommended that you change the filters at least once a year. You can save more if the piece you chose comes with free filters or can accommodate DIY filter.
An air purifier is not a substitute for cleaning your house and keeping the exits closed at all times during wildfire.
There are other safety measures to observe when there is a wildfire near your area. Always pay attention to the air quality reports being released by the government. If the smoke already reaches a hazardous level, using an air purifier may not be enough. You need to leave the area and move somewhere else until the bushfire subsides.