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The threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus is real. Most people are doing everything in their power to avoid getting sick and to stop the spread of the virus. It is important to understand the facts about COVID-19 so that you don't believe the scams promising to protect you when, in reality, they are doing little or nothing to help you stay healthy.
What Is the COVID-19 Coronavirus?
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A coronavirus is a family of viruses commonly found throughout the world. Symptoms are usually cold symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that was first identified in humans in 2019. Symptoms for COVID-19 commonly include only typical cold symptoms. There are rare severe cases in people with a weakened immune system that include experiencing breathing difficulties and respiratory infections such as pneumonia. These severe cases can lead to kidney failure and/or death.
The best way to avoid the virus is by washing your hands regularly, covering your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough, and avoiding touching people. These are the best methods to avoid getting sick because, according to the World Health Organization, the virus is spread by a transfer of small liquid droplets emitted from someone who has the virus.
What are the COVID-19 Air Purification Scams?
Some companies are saying that their air purification systems will kill or stop the virus. However, buying an expensive air filtration system or purification system is not going to reduce your chances of getting the virus. When you consider how the virus is transmitted, you must remember that a person must come into contact with the virus in order to become ill. The only time you might breathe in the virus is if someone sneezes or coughs near you and you inhale the tiny liquid droplets from their nose or mouth that contain the virus.
Another issue is that the virus is too small to be removed from the air, even if it did go through an air purifier. In a BuzzFeed News article, Erin Sorrel, from Georgetown's Center for Global Health Science and Security and assistant professor of microbiology, explains that filters measure 0.3 microns while the virus is roughly 0.1 micron.
Keep this in mind:
- The Coronavirus cannot be stopped by standard household systems and filters
- In lite of more people staying at home indoor air quality will diminish especially with a dirty furnace and filter
- More fresh air should be introduced to the home by opening windows and screen doors even occasionally helps in cases of extreme weather
- If someone does suffer from a respiratory illness, less particles in the air will decrease irritation to the lungs
- Switch the furnace fan to on from auto this provides continuous air circulation and filtering
Additional resources on COVID-19 Air Pollution:
- https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-21/coronavirus-air-pollution-health-risk
- https://www.acca.org/news/guest-blog/coronavirus-other-contaminants-indoor-air
Why Do I Need an Air Filtration System?
While an air purifier won't protect you from the new coronavirus, there are still plenty of reasons to have an air purifier within your home.
An air purifier makes the air you breathe inside your home cleaner. It uses internal fans within your home to pull air through a system of filters. These filters remove particles like bacteria, pollen, and dust. Once the particles are removed, the purified air is pushed back into the room. An air filtration system does this several times each hour to ensure the air that you are breathing is as clean as possible.
Removes Odors
One of the benefits of an air purifier is that it will remove unwanted odors from your home. From strong food smells like fish or curries to the occasional burned dish, an air purifier can help remove the unpleasant scents that can hang around your house.
An air purifier can also remove smoke from your house. Whether you have someone in your household who smokes or you love using your fireplace, an air purifier can help keep the smell of smoke out of your house.
Traps Allergens
Another benefit of an air purifier is that it can trap allergens. If you have pets, the air purifier can trap your pet's dander, fur, and odors from the air. The purifier can also trap dust and seasonal allergens to help keep you from being uncomfortable in your home during allergy season.
Stops Germs and Bacteria
While we already know that air purifiers won't stop COVID-19, they are useful for stopping many other airborne germs. Air purifiers can remove up to 99% of airborne bacteria like pollen and mold spores, and 99.7% of airborne germs.
What System Is Right for Me?
There are lots of options when it comes to choosing an air purifier that is right for you. There are four main types of air purifiers that help remove allergens from the air. These include true HEPA/UV-C air purifiers, true HEPA air purifiers, HEPA-type air purifiers, and permanent HEPA-type air purifiers.
True HEPA/UV-C Air Purifiers
These purifiers are the best you can buy. They are more expensive but worth it if you live in high allergen areas or you have especially adverse reactions when allergy season comes along. These purifiers remove pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites, lint, odors, mold, pet dander, and germs from the air by combining HEPA air filters with a germicidal UV light. Make sure you are changing your filter every three months.
True HEPA Air Purifiers
A True HEPA air purifier uses HEPA-rated filters that can be replaced. This type of purifier gives you the minimum protection you want in your home if you have bad allergies. It's not as effective as the True HEPA/UV-C purifier, but it will still remove many of the allergens found in the air. These filters remove pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites, lint, odors, mold, and pet dander from your home. You should replace your filters every three months so that they stay effective.
HEPA-Type and Permanent HEPA-Type Air Purifiers
These air filters are less effective but more economical if you aren't worried about pollen or dust mites in your home. These air purifiers still do a good job of removing smoke, dust, lint, odors, and pet dander. The difference between these two purifiers is that you do not have to change the filters; you just have to clean them occasionally to help them trap all the particles more effectively.
Get a Professional Installer
While an air purifier won't stop the spread of the COVID-19, it is still something you should consider because of the health benefits you'll get from the increased cleanliness of the air that you breathe.
Dahme Mechanical Industries has been around since 1965 providing HVAC services to their customers in a professional manner. We take pride in quality and can perform the services you need to get an HVAC system or air purifier installed.
Have any questions? Contact Dahme Mechanical Industries - we are here for you to help keep you comfortable, whether you are looking for help with your residential or commercial HVAC needs.