Can Air Purification Protect Me from COVID-19?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 90% of their lives indoors breathing air that can be 2 to 5 times worse than the air outside!

COVID-19 has taken more of a backseat in the news cycle as of late, however, we need to ensure that we’re taking the proper steps to protect our homes and our families from the disease. Naturally, many people are wondering if air purification can defend against the coronavirus.

Here’s what we know:

What Do Air Purifiers Do?

There are a few different types of technology that are available under the broader term of “air purifiers”.

Air filters help clean the air in your home by passing air through a filter within your HVAC system to collect particles such as pollen, tobacco smoke, pet dander, and more.

Ionizers and ozone generators produce ions or ozone which transfer their charges to the neutral particles in your air. Once the particles in your air have a charge, they stick to surfaces in your home rather than floating through your air.

Electrostatic filters work very similarly to ionizers and ozone generators: they charge the particles and then collect and trap the particles within the machine. The filters inside are reusable; simply wash them every month or so.

UV lights work within your HVAC system to purify the air in your home of microbes and some viruses.

Can Air Purification Protect Me from COVID-19?

While scientists are still learning about COVID-19, what we do know is that it is a respiratory virus that is mostly transmitted from person-to-person contact through particles expelled from breathing, coughing, and sneezing (this is why masks are important for protecting yourself and others).

As of right now, there is no scientific evidence that air purification can prevent the spread of COVID-19 any more than the preventative measures laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. However, air purification can help create cleaner air in your home–making it easier for those who do have respiratory ailments or illness to breathe.

Indoor air quality is a problem in most homes, and yet it’s an issue that few people are aware of. Dirty air filters are only part of the issue; over time, contaminants of all types will find their way in and reduce your indoor air quality even further. At Grapids Home Services, Inc., we offer a broad range of air purification solutions, including state-of-the-art technology. Contact our team at (616)-453-1099 to schedule an appointment.