How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Air purifiers filter the air inside your home, removing allergens, air pollutants, and airborne particles to improve indoor air quality. Toronto homeowners rely on these to keep their families safe from respiratory issues, such as asthma, seasonal allergies, and never-ending coughs. 

If you’re still undecided whether or not to get an air purifier, you’re on the right page. We’ll answer “How do air purifiers work” so you’ll have a full scope on how these devices reduce indoor air pollution. 

What Is an Air Purifier? 

An air purifier is a filtering device that does exactly as its name suggests: purifying air of impurities such as dust mites, pet dander, and toxic chemicals. These substances enter homes via doors, vents, windows, and cooking. They worsen air quality inside your home, causing allergies to act up and creating an uncomfortable indoor environment. 

An air purifier solves this issue by filtering the dirty air and releasing cleaner air into the space, allowing you and your family to breathe comfortably. It comes in different types, including HEPA purifiers, ozone generators, ionic purifiers, and UV purifiers.

Between an air cleaner vs air purifier, both refer to the same thing. These interchangeable terms often come as portable units or whole-house purification systems. However, don’t confuse them with an air filter—a porous component that captures air contaminants. 

What Does an Air Purifier Do? 

Now, how does an air purifier work and what do air purifiers do? These devices siphon air, pass it through filters, capture harmful particles, and release clean air. It does all these through different components with varying functions. Let’s go into more detail.

Fans 

Powerful fans in air cleaners draw and release air indoors. These parts drive polluted air through the various filters inside the housing unit, then blow out purified air afterward. 

Filters  

An air purifier has three air filters: pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The pre-filter catches large particles like dust, insects, and pet hairs to prolong the lifespan of other filters. An activated carbon filter draws volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and manages bad odours, while the HEPA filter gathers bacteria, viruses, and particles lower than 0.3 microns.

UV Light 

UV purifiers come with a UVC light, the last step of the purification process. It kills pathogens by damaging their RNA and DNA, preventing them from lingering and multiplying inside homes.

The Difference Between HVAC vs Air Purifiers 

Both HVAC and air purifiers deal with air inside your home—how do they differ? Let’s explore here.

HVAC systems offer heating, cooling, and ventilation, and maintain comfortable room temperatures all year round. They also have air filters that remove contaminants so the warm or cool air distributed indoors is clean and safe to breathe. However, these filters aren’t on par with air purification systems. 

While air purifiers effectively filter pollutants, they can’t adjust room temperature. That’s why these devices supplement the air filtering capacity of HVAC systems. Having both provides your family with stable cool or heated purified air throughout the seasons for a comfortable indoor experience. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Buying a New Furnace

3 Air Purifier Uses and Benefits  

When pondering the question, “What does an air purifier do?” you can explore the numerous benefits and applications of air purifiers.

     1.  Prevents Respiratory Illnesses 

Air pollution triggers asthma and hay fever, which could become a chronic illness if poor air quality continues. An air purifier can remove dust mites, pet hairs, and other particles to improve indoor air quality. In turn, the clean air alleviates your lungs, prevents symptoms, and allows you to breathe without trouble. 

     2.  Improves Sleep 

If you’ve been having trouble sleeping, your bedroom may have poor air quality. A study shows respondents exposed to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter with a 2.5 or less micrometre diameter are more likely to develop sleep apnea. 

Air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters could help improve sleep quality. These can capture VOCs and small particles, ensuring the air you breathe as you sleep is safe to inhale. 

     3.  Remove Unpleasant Odours Indoors 

Smoking, cleaning products, and paint are common sources of VOCs. These bring bad odours indoors, making the air harder to breathe. Extended exposure to these pollutants may lead to severe health consequences. 

An air purifier can solve this problem with activated carbon filters. This unique filter uses burnt or activated wood, coal, or coconut shells with pores that trap VOCs, resulting in cleaner and fresher air. 

Maximizing the Air Purifier Purpose 

Relying solely on an air purifier isn’t enough; you have to do your part in maintaining good air quality. Below are tips you can do at home:

• Change air purifier filters regularly. 
• Call professionals for routine maintenance of air purifiers.
• Vacuum the floor, carpets, sofas, and curtains to reduce allergens.
• Open the windows for natural air circulation to lessen strain on the air purifier.
• Add plants in common areas in your home, such as the living room and dining area.
• Pair air purifiers with dehumidifiers to reduce moisture indoors and prevent mould formation. 

Breathe Clean Air Now With LG Home Comfort 

Knowing the answer to “What does an air purifier do?” makes one essential for your home. Clean air is a non-negotiable, making air purifiers a staple so you and your family can have a comfortable time indoors. 

LG Home Comfort offers reliable air quality solutions and next-day services. Our licensed technicians have the latest tools to install air purifiers in your home. As the Almost Five-Star Company, we’re experts in putting your needs first and ensuring we meet them however we can. 

Get a free quote for our services today!