Residential air purifiers

Americans spend more time in their homes than anywhere else. Air pollution is more concentrated in our homes. Today’s houses keep more of this dirty air inside. This is why (IAQ) indoor air quality is so important.  When you understand common indoor pollutants, you can control them. We want to  you help reduce your health concerns and improve your family’s comfort.

Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks. Usually the best way to address this risk is to control or eliminate the sources of pollutants and ventilate a home with clean outdoor air. Opportunities for ventilation may be limited by weather or by pollution in the outdoor air. Use a residential air purifier to clean the air in your home When it is not feasible to ventilate.

Room air purifiers

If the usual methods of addressing indoor air pollution are insufficient, air-cleaning devices like the LakeAir Maxum and Excel residential air purifiers are good choices. Portable room air cleaners like the Maxum can be used to clean the air in a single room or in specific areas, but they are not intended to filter the air in the whole house.

Whole house air purifiers

Some air purifiers are installed in the duct work of a home’s central heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning. These are known as whole house air purifiers. The LakeAir LAD and M series residential air purifiers are designed as whole house air purifiers. Each purifier type has its own strengths and weaknesses depending on the needed application. The EPA categorizes cleaning devices by the type of pollutants – particulate and gaseous—that they are designed to remove or destroy

Air Particles and Gasses

There are two types of indoor air pollutants; particles and gasses. Particulate matter is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets that get into the air. Some larger particles like dust and smoke can be seen with the naked eye.

Air pollution particles are put into 2 groups, PM10 and PM2.5  PM10 particles are inhalable and are 10 microns and smaller. PM 10 Particles include mold spores, dust mite droppings, pet dander, pollen and dust. PM 2.5 particles are very small and can only be seen with a microscope. PM 2.5 particles include smoke, viruses, sulfur dioxide and soot.

Particles

Particulate matter is removed by mechanical air filter. The two most common types of mechanical air filter are media filters and electrostatic precipitators. The LakeAir Maxum home air purifier for rooms is available in both of these formats. The LAD / M series air purifiers cover these two types of mechanical filters as well.

The LakeAir table top electrostatic and LAD electrostatic residential air purifiers will remove 97% of all air particles to .01 microns. These particles include dust mite droppings, molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen and pet dander. The Maxum is particularly good at removing smoke and soot from the air. The electrostatic cell in the Maxum charges these pollutants and then traps them in a 3468 sq. collecting area

Media filtration is the other option. The Maxum media residential air purifiers and the M series furnace air filter will remove more than 85% of these particles with each pass. These units use a MERV 11 media filter to clean the air. To increase the effectiveness of the LakeAir media filters you can treat the filter with Mold Magnet which will increase its MER V rating by up to 7 levels. LakeAir media air purifiers treated with mold magnet are one of your best choices for cleaning mold, bacteria and viruses from the air.

Gasses

Gaseous pollutants are created in numerous ways. Combustion, like cooking, heating and smoking is the most common source. They are also produced by the off gassing of building materials; plywood, particle board, paneling, paint and wall paper. These gasses are also known as VOCs. VOCs can also be emitted from cleaning products, pesticides, perfumes, scented candles and a host of other household items.

Natural VOCs are some of the most dangerous to your family. Radon is an example of a naturally occurring VOC. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can be found in indoor air. It comes from uranium in natural sources such as rock, soil, ground water, natural gas, and mineral building materials. As uranium breaks down, it releases radon, which attaches to dust particles. Radon may deposit in the lungs and irradiate respiratory tissues. this nasty VOC typically moves through the ground and into a home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air during showering and other household activities. Some building materials can give off radon.

The activated carbon filters in LakeAir residential air purifiers remove many unwanted pollutants from the air in your home. Activated carbon is a sorbent and it actually absorbs the harmful gasses.  Each particle/granule of carbon provides a large surface area/pore structure, allowing contaminants the maximum possible exposure to the active sites within the filter media.

Effects of indoor air pollution

Immediate affects may appear after coming into contact once or repeatedly with a pollutant. You might experience eye, nose and throat irritation. Dizziness and a rundown feeling are common as well. These symptoms can lead to asthma especially in children. Studies have shown that up to 12% of children with asthma developed from exposure to mold or other air pollutants.

Long term effects can show up years after exposure has occurred. Repeated exposure will only make the effects worse. Some of these effects include respiratory disease, heart disease and even cancer. It is wise to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if the symptoms aren’t immediately noticeable. Consider a residential air purifier as one tools in creating better IAQ for your home and family.

LakeAir ~ Clean Air Everywhere

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