Getting an air purifier might be lifesaving literally, in the sense that it helps clean the air from all sorts of hazardous pollutants and keep you in a clean and safe environment. It plays a huge role in improving the air quality in your home or office space.
But if the air purifier does not work properly, it will just add to your extra costs without offering you anything in return. So how to tell if air purifier is working? By reading this article to gain some insights, of course!
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Methods for Testing an Air Purifier
Here are a few tried and tested methods that will help you determine whether your air purifier is actually doing its designated job or not-
a) Check the Airflow
The first thing to do is to check whether there is any air coming out from the purifier. Air purifiers usually work by sucking in the polluted air and then filtering all contaminants and blowing out the clean air. If there is no air coming out even when the purifier is on, it is not working.
Another indication of a faulty air purifier is when it has to put in a lot of work to draw in and blow out air. This is usually understood by the amount of noise it makes. If you find suddenly that your air purifier is making a lot more noise than before, that means it is almost on its way to stop working.
b) Check the Filter
The filter inside the air purifier can get clogged from all the contaminants it helps remove. Therefore, it is very important to check your filter at regular intervals. Some purifiers come with indicators that tell you when the filter needs to be replaced.
Nevertheless, it is prudent to check manually once in a while, even then. If the filer looks dirty with black spots, it is time to replace it.
c) Test the Air Quality
The most reliable method to check if your air purifier actually works is by testing the air quality with the help of an air quality monitor. You need to get a reading first for reference with the purifier off. Then turn the purifier on, keep all windows and doors closed, and all fans turned off.
This way, whatever improvement is found in the air quality will be due to the purifier. Turn the purifier on and see the reading after a few hours. If there is no improvement, that means the purifier is not working.
Things to Notice before Buying Air Purifier
To make sure you do not wind up with an air purifier that does not work properly, you should look at the following few things before buying one –
Size
You should always figure out what amount of space you need for the air purifier to purify. If you are buying one for a large open kitchen and drawing space, then getting a small table version might not be a good idea. On the other hand, a heavy-duty purifier for a small kitchen might just lead to more expense.
CADR Rating
A CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rating typically tells the speed at which it will be able to filter out contaminants and also indicates the amount of space it will be able to provide fresh airflow to. It is wiser to get purifiers with high CADR ratings as they will surely make the designated space a lot safer.
Filter Type
Air purifiers come with different filter types. A lot of purifiers have prefilters too, which work great for removing large particles before the air proceeds to the main filter.
The main filter can be of various types- HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, activated charcoal filters, charged media filters, UV filters, Antibacterial filters, etc. The best among these are HEPA filters.
HEPA filters can remove 99.9% of all pollutants from the air, leaving you free from all worries. The other filters usually work in conjunction with a HEPA one to ensure even better air quality.
ACH Rate
It is also important to gauge an air purifier’s ACH or Air Change per Hour Rate. This indicates how many times the purifier will filter the air of a room in one hour.
Noise
You need to consider the noise an air purifier makes in case that becomes an issue later. Most purifiers have internal fans that are almost silent or only generate a low humming sound. But heavy-duty purifiers can be the opposite, so keep that in mind.
Maintenance
Once you have bought an air filter, you also need to consider the maintenance costs. The filters in a purifier need replacements often, and most filters cannot be washed. So you have to consider the cost of the filters while choosing an air purifier.
Methods of Airflow Servicing
Besides using air purifiers to filter out polluted air, you should also consider methods to get some fresh air flowing in the space around you. Here are a few handy tips-
a) Open Things Up
If you do not have an AC or do not turn it often, the best way to get some airflow is by opening up several doors and windows. Open doors and windows in different rooms ensure cross ventilation, which helps in getting any trapped heat and humidity out. Besides, the outside air is refreshing to the body.
b) Clean Vents
Make sure the vents of your heating or cooling system is clean so that it does not prevent air circulation. Also, it is particularly important to place furniture in a way that does not obstruct the vents.
c) Install Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans are particularly great because they draw air inwards and help to eliminate built-up moisture and humidity in that process. It is recommended to have exhaust fans in the kitchen, especially, along with other rooms that you might find get too humid.
d) Turn On Fans
Turning on fans will definitely get some air circulating. You can get ceiling fans or window fans, whichever works best for you.
e) Check Air Filters
Make sure that air filters used in your heating and cooling systems are clean and not clogged. It is recommended to clean air filters once a month and replace them every few months.
Conclusion
We hope you have learned how to tell if an air purifier is working. Besides testing the purifier for any signs of trouble, get some additional airflow in the house by following our recommended methods.