Does an air purifier help against bacteria and viruses?
Most important questions
A number of questions are important to decide whether an air purifier helps against bacteria and viruses:
- How does an air purifier purify the air?
- Which particles can an air purifier remove from the air?
- Does an air purifier purify viruses and bacteria from the air?
- Which air purifier do you need?
So I won't get sick with an air purifier in the house?
With an air purifier in your house, you reduce the presence of viruses and bacteria. Keep in mind that this doesn't prevent getting infected outside the house. It just means that an air purifier in the house is a good start if you want to avoid getting a flu, but personal hygiene outside is even more important. To reduce viruses and bacteria in the house, it's important that you keep windows and doors closed. This way, the air from outside must first pass through the filters before it's free of bacteria and viruses.
How does an air purifier purify the air
Purify air with a filter
With an air purifier, you filter (fine) dust and pollen from the air as well as reduce bacteria and viruses. To filter small particles from the air, an air purifier brings the air in a room via a HEPA filter or a HEPA and carbon filter. Depending on the filters in the air purifier, you filter most particles from the air.
Purify air with an ionizer
Some air purifiers only use ionization. These air purifiers bring a negative charge into the air. These negative particles ensure that contaminants become heavier and end up on the ground or that they're are attracted to the collector like a magnet. You can vacuum the particles with a vacuum after that.
Purify air with a filter and ionizer
In addition to air purifiers with a HEPA filter and ionizers, there are also air purifiers that use filters and ionization. For example, a number of Winix and BlueAir air purifiers use both a HEPA filter and ionization.
Purify bacteria and viruses
Some air purifiers purify particles of 20nm from the air. This is much smaller than a dust particle and can only be seen under a microscope. Larger particles like pollen and pet hairs also easily remain in the filter. Most viruses and bacteria are larger than 20nm, so they stay in the HEPA filter. To purify a particle from the air, the air must pass through the HEPA filter. That's why it's important that an air purifier is powerful enough to get all the air in the room through the filter.
Which air purifier do I need?
When you purchase an air purifier, it's important that you choose an air purifier that's powerful enough for the room you place it in. The air purifiers from our assortment bring all the air in the room through the filter at least twice an hour. So it's important to carefully check whether the air purifier can handle the surface of the room.
Conclusion
An air purifier improves the air quality at home and keeps bacteria and viruses out. But an air purifier can't prevent contamination outside the house. That's why it's important that the air quality in the house is good and free of bacteria and that you pay close attention to your personal hygiene outdoors.
