Can Air Purifiers Prevent the Spread of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has taken the nation by storm. Besides the CDC guidelines, we're all striving for more ways to protect our family from the virus. Air purifiers have been a hot topic of debate when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Understanding How Air Purifiers Work
Air purifiers work to filter the air that is inside of your home. They can be a part of your traditional HVAC system or as independent units in rooms in your home. An air purifier consists of a filtering system. This system removes unwanted pollutants from the air. The air that circulates into the unit goes through a filter. This filter traps the particles and recirculates the clean air throughout your home.
How Does COVID-19 Spread?
Before deciding if an air purifier prevents the spread of this virus, you need to know how the virus spreads. It's accepted that COVID-19 spreads via droplets expelled from the human body. These droplets can leak out when a person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks. We assume most of these particles drop to the ground within a six-foot radius of the individual. But, that's not always the case. Medical experts now suggest that smaller particles of the virus may remain in the air for longer.
What Can Air Purifiers Do?
Air purifiers help reduce the spread of this virus. The idea behind their importance is that they can introduce more clean air into a room or space. This helps to dilute the virus-infected air. It also lowers an individual's risk of inhaling virus-ridden droplets.
As far as filtering goes, HEPA filters may be able to stop the virus-infected air. The COVID-19 particles are only .125 microns in diameter. But, they tend to get bigger when expelled from the body. It's thought the droplets that the virus travels in, like when you sneeze or cough, can be up to 1 micron in diameter. HEPA filters in air purifiers can capture particles as small as .3 microns in diameter. This means that HEPA filters can capture droplets that may contain the virus.
Call Us Today
Air purifiers can be a great addition to any home. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, having an air purifier present in your home is a must. It can be a great way to feel safe and keep the air in your home as safe as possible for your family. If you want to buy an air purifier or need help choosing the right one, give Ardmore Fresh Air a call today.
