Top Quality Air Purifiers and Healthy Home Solutions that You Can Trust

This spring, the American Lung Association released its 25-year report titled State of the Air 2024 that deals with air quality in the United States.

One of the biggest findings was that the number of days many of us spend being subjected to high levels of air pollution is the highest it’s been in that whole 25 years’ time. Researchers write:

“According to the new report, people in the U.S. experienced the most days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality due to particle pollution in 25 years.”

The study looks at the impact of smog or ozone, as well as particle pollution, finding that 39% of Americans, or around 130,000,000, deal with one or the other of these hazards over a certain threshold. The study examined air pollution over a three-year period, and found some bright spots, as well as challenges.

“We have seen impressive progress in cleaning up air pollution over the last 25 years, thanks in large part to the Clean Air Act. However, when we started this report, our team never imagined that 25 years in the future, more than 130 million people would still be breathing unhealthy air,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, in a press statement. “Climate change is causing more dangerous air pollution. Every day that there are unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution means that someone – a child, grandparent, uncle or mother – struggles to breathe. We must do more to ensure everyone has clean air.”

Short Term and Long Term Exposure

The study measures short term spikes in pollutants differently from year-round exposure.

It finds a lot of both of these problems on the West Coast, particularly in California. By contrast, in a list of some of the cleanest cities overall, the majority are on the East Coast, with outliers like cities in Hawaii off of the west coast, and Nebraska in the Midwest.

Dealing with Particle Pollution

The American Lung Association study specifically mentions PM2.5, a type of particle pollution that’s hazardous to human lungs. We’ve talked about PM2.5 on the blog and looking at different air purifier units that can deal with this contaminant. PM2.5 comes from sources like:

·        Wood or coal burning facilities, either in a home or at power plants

·        Wildfire activity

·        Poorly contained diesel emissions

Many people in areas with high PM2.5 counts or with specific pollution threats are looking for air purifier units to protect their health and clean their indoor air.

Reasons for High Pollutant Levels

One area of the study mentioned in terms of high pollution is the transport of goods and freight systems.

The study found that this has increased over time, possibly adding to pollutants in local areas.

You can see a list of most affected and least affected cities in the study press release that illustrates where these problems are worst.

It’s an informative look at what we deal with across the country in making sure we have healthy air.

The study also cites recent EPA standards that have had a positive effect. Specifically, the Clean Air Act, according to advocates, has helped to improve air quality nationwide. But the new study is a suggestion that it may not have done enough.

Protecting Your Health

One of the best ways to deal with trapped pollutants inside a building is by using an air purifier unit, and by adding sufficient ventilation.

You can get home systems or portable standalone air purifiers that can filter out things like PM2.5 and various hazards. Either of these solutions can be effective, depending on your layout and the particular spaces that you want to improve.

You can also choose from various new technologies like filterless air purifiers, probiotic air purifiers, and other systems that will work on a more comprehensive basis to filter out pollutants. You can get units with medical grade HEPA filters to trap 99.97% of particles down to .3 microns, along with carbon activation for specific particles. You can also use indoor air monitors from companies like uHoo to know more about what’s happening inside of your home or space. 

Check out the blog for more specific recommendations. US Air Purifiers LLC™ can help you to get the machines that you need to protect your indoor air quality. We’ll consult on your space and various other factors that will affect your final choice of systems. Get the right air handling gear in place to have peace of mind about what you breathe in your home every day!

 Personal and Commercial Indoor Air Quality Meters, Monitors and Testing (usairpurifiers.com)

News on recent federal Environmental Protection Agency regulation might be interesting for people who want to try to maintain better indoor air quality in their homes.

Specifically, in February the EPA changed a particular part of its regulations on air quality standards regarding PM2.5.: the EPA is setting a new level for ‘primary health based’ annual PM2.5 at 9.0 µg per cubic meter. That standard was previously set at 12 µg per cubic meter.

The EPA did not change primary and secondary welfare PM 2.5 standards.

Along with this change, the EPA is also improving efforts to educate people about the risks of PM2.5.

What is PM2.5?

PM2.5 is a type of particular contaminant in the air that results from things like wood burning and coal burning.

This can come from natural processes like wildfires, from industrial facilities or from other sources like a simple campfire or bonfire.

PM2.5 exposure is known to carry certain health risks, and can lead to people developing long-term conditions in response to overexposure. It’s particularly bad for people with allergies, asthma, compromised immune systems or various respiratory conditions, like COPD.

What does it mean for business?

What the new EPA rule means for business is that they may face additional challenges or limits in permitting processes.

Industrial operations require certain kinds of oversight, and companies that violate EPA standards may be fined.

A resource from August Mack Environmental shows that some of the most common types of violations have to do with recordkeeping – where businesses don’t keep adequate records of permit and operations activity. Others have to do with installing new equipment without a permit, or failing to maintain systems in a way that limits emissions. At the end of the day, all of these have to do with emissions, but some violations are more document-based, while others actually raise emissions levels.

Ways to Combat Poor Air Quality

So in an industrial context, most of the ways that the government wants business to control air quality is through limiting emissions, and keeping good records of how those emissions are limited.

It’s different when you’re trying to protect a family or household in a residential setting. Homeowners and family members don’t have to wade through paperwork or adhere to various record-keeping standards that are common in the industrial world.

What often ends up happening is that residential uses involve mitigating what has already been emitted somewhere else.

You might have an impact from regional wildfires, or chemicals from industrial processes that somehow make their way inside the home. You might have industrial pollution that impacts your local area (maybe tied back to certain operations or even violations) in ways that lower your home’s indoor air quality.

So one of the most common solutions, and an effective one, is indoor air purifier units. These machines take in air on a continual basis and run it through filtration systems (or other processes) that will remove harmful contaminants from the air. In other words, because you’re so often dealing with emissions that occurred offsite, the strategy is to scrub that particulate out of the air, and make it healthier for everyone to breathe. You can also use modern air monitors to check on the quality of your air, and understand how it’s being impacted by contaminants like PM2.5. 

We can help you to design a plan for your home or space, with the right air handling units and equipment to keep your air clean and breathable. Ask us about sizing, placement, and new technologies like filterless air purification that can help you to choose the systems and units that are right for you. At US Air Purifiers LLC™ we are used to going the extra mile to help you get just what you want – so that you can be confident in your purchase.

In decorating and improving your home, you may be wondering how to improve your indoor air quality, and make your living space healthier.

There are several different ways to do that, and one has to do with the natural value of plant life.

Biologists and botanists know this, but some of the rest of us might need a reminder: some common houseplants will typically help you cycle the air in your living space, and clean it of certain chemicals.

First of all, all plants ingest carbon dioxide, making tree planting and other greenery one of the biggest weapons against climate change.

But that's not all that houseplants do, either!

Many of them can actually remove or break up toxic compounds like formaldehyde, which is used in a lot of building materials and consumer products. Other potentially harmful elements include things like benzene and trichloroethylene.

Experts often recommend plants with large leaves, or vining plants that have a lot of surface area, as effective cleansers.

10 House Plants for Cleansing the Air

Here's a short list of some of the most popular houseplants to keep your indoor air cleaner and improve your quality of life in your home:

Aloe Vera

This plant doesn't need a lot of water, but it does thrive in the sun. You can also use it for skin care! You’ll see it, for example, in burn salves and sunscreens. It’s a favorite, for sure.

Ferns

Ferns don't need as much sun, and they have quite a bit of frond surface, which makes them good air filtration components. They’re also familiar to anyone ho likes to hike in the woods.

Rubber tree

The rubber tree or ficus burgundy has large glossy leaves that help it to improve the air quality inside your home. It’s a good looking addition to your interior, too!

Snake Plant

This plant needs very little water and light. It's an extremely low-maintenance houseplant, and it also has quite a lot of air scrubbing value. Add this to your list!

English Ivy

This is one of those trailing plants that's ultimately effective in helping to improve your air quality. It also grows quickly and easily, so make sure you have enough space for it. Other kinds of ivy may be useful, too.

Philodendrin

These vining plans also help to improve your air quality, and look good with their heart-shaped leaves. Horticulture nerds may also know that this plant is easy to develop from stem cuttings.

Peace Lily

Here's one with some sentimental value – the peace lily is a classic that thrives in partial sunlight and humidity, but keep it out of reach of your pets both dogs and cats, as it may be hazardous to them.

Gerber Daisy

This great-looking plant also does its work to remove formaldehyde and other chemicals from your indoor air.

Devil’s Ivy

The devil’s ivy is a hearty plant that doesn't need much light. It's also an effective air cleaner.

Get Better Indoor Air

So if you have all of these houseplants around, is your work done?

Not necessarily. While plants are great natural cleansers, they don't have the raw power of a commercial air purifier.

Many would recommend using both approaches to really get the most out of your home or living space.

In other words, the natural plants do their thing, and a functional air purifier machine hums along in unison, bringing a lot more power to the equation. With a HEPA filter and activating carbon, these machines can really take a lot of microbial particles out of your air, and make your home a safe place to be in and breathe in.

Look for models like the Airpura R700-W (a whole home unit) or similar designs with the HEPA filter that traps specific types of particulate, and the activated carbon that uses small pores to filter out contaminants. Get the cleaning power that you need to make your home a safe and nice place! And don’t forget the houseplants – because they help your area look good, too.

A lot of people love their pets.

Our furry companions are part of our lives, and for better or worse, they live in our spaces with us. Unless for some reason, they're not allowed to…

Lenders have a tricky decision to make. Do they rent to pet owners, many of whom are responsible tenants? Do they allow this kind of wear and tear on the units?

We know that humans thrive in connection with their animal companions. We have the health data to support that. So it's hard to make a blanket exclusion for pets.

But there are problems with the process of renting to pet owners.

Essentially, it's hard to keep that pet’s residual presence from impacting the unit after a pet owner has left and somebody else wants to move in. You just have a lot of cleanup to do, and beyond that, there are some related issues that might require other remediation, which we’ll go into.

Cats and Their Imprint on Rentals

Some landlords can tell you stories about people flushing kitty litter down the toilet, and ruining the plumbing, or hardwood floors scratched and ruined for thousands of dollars of damage.

Those are worst-case scenarios, but even if that doesn't happen, there's a natural process that makes it tricky to rent a unit after a cat has been there for any length of time.

Essentially, cat hair and dander is a little like cigarette smoke – it tends to infiltrate the building and get embedded in building materials like carpet, wood floors, etc.

And of course, the cat’s urine, if not easily contained in the litter box, can be a problem, too.

But either way, a cat’s hair and dander has an odor that tends to stick in the unit after the cat and its owner have left.

If you’ve ever entered one of these units after it has been shut up for a while, you’ll know how it is. You get that whiff of cat, or if you’re allergic, your eyes may start stinging, or you may feel a little tickle in your throat. Even if the pet owners or someone else has thoroughly cleaned, this might not really be avoidable!

Solutions to Cat Rentals

So what do you do if you have a unit where a cat has produced a distinct odor, and you can smell it when you walk in?

One good solution is installing an air purifier inside of the home.

Air purifiers cycle through the indoor air, and remove harmful or annoying elements that reduce indoor air quality.

This is excellent for people with asthma or allergies, or anyone else trying to deal with the impact of items like cat dander and even urine.

The air purifier scrubs the air and cleans it inside of the building.

Best Air Purifiers for Pet Owners

The best types of air purifiers for cat odor have a HEPA filter with activated carbon. What is activated carbon? This is made when inert carbon is carbonized, and oxygenized. Then, small pores allow for air to cycle through, with the removal of various types of particulate. It’s a unique way to clean air, and a natural component of many of these high-end air purifier models.

With that in mind, there are some specific models that work well with the types of particles that carry cat odor. These include the Airpura V700, which also has a quiet 7-series motor and is estimated to trap 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. If your focus in on odor, there’s also the Airpura C700DLX, a similarly capable unit, or, for another brand, try the BetterAir BA-2080. With one of these modern air purifier units humming along in your indoor space, you’ll be well set up to handle the contaminants that produce odor and drive allergic reactions.

So the problem with cat rentals is, usually, solvable! But that is by no means the only value of an air purifier, or the extent of what it can do in your home. The same HEPA and activated carbon technology can be effective in dealing with the effects of smoke, construction debris, or other kinds of microscopic bits that can clutter up your indoor air. Take a look at the many models in our inventory to find the one that’s right for your space.

It’s a good idea to limit your exposure to formaldehyde in your indoor air. So what’s the problem with formaldehyde?

Well, long-term significant exposure can have a carcinogenic effect. Formaldehyde is also bad for people with certain respiratory conditions, and it doesn’t smell good, to most people.

Some think of formaldehyde as a chemical you use in a school’s science department, but it’s actually in quite a few building materials and consumer products, too. There can be quite a bit of formaldehyde, for example, in new laminate flooring or wall cladding, or in new furniture, for example.

With that in mind, there are a number of ways that people get exposed to harmful levels of formaldehyde in their homes.

High Formaldehyde Levels in New Building

It can be enticing to think of moving into your dream house, a brand new building, custom built for you in a fancy subdivision. But inside, that home can be off-gassing formaldehyde from flooring, walls, you name it.

That’s one of the down sides to building new – all of the newly manufactured materials can harbor, not just formaldehyde, but other contaminants, too.

Excessive Formaldehyde in New Flooring

Other major exposure sometimes happens when people put new flooring into a room or part of a home.

When you’re installing new laminate or manufactured wood products, it’s important to look at the VOC rating of the chosen products, to see what levels of formaldehyde and other chemicals are included. Getting a cleaner product will be better for your long-term health, and the health of your family.

Formaldehyde Fumes: New Furniture and Other Consumer Products

Another source of formaldehyde in the air comes from new furniture pieces which can “off-gas” this and other chemicals over time. Newly manufactured sofas, loveseats, etc. will often have a “new furniture smell” that can actually represent chemicals being released into the air. The problem may be worse if the furniture was tightly wrapped in plastic for shipping and only became exposed to the air inside of a home.

In general, many of these new products, not just furniture, but anything from fitness gear to throw pillows, can have elements called VOCs, that get released into the indoor air, as explained in this Treehugger article:

“VOCs are essentially chemical compounds—many of them human-made—with high vapor pressure and low water solubility, so they’re often used as industrial solvents for products like paint, office equipment, building materials, and furnishings,” writes Katherine Gallagher. “The smell could be coming from your upholstery being treated with flame retardants, chemicals to protect the fabric, or the varnish from your wooden furniture. These solvents range from trichloroethylene and fuel oxygenates to chloroform and formaldehyde.”

So part of the problem is that formaldehyde is being used as a solvent in manufacturing. It can also be used as a disinfectant, but due to its health risks and its flammable properties, it’s not common in cleaner products. The main sources are items like furniture and manufactured wood products.

Ways to Mitigate the Effects of Formaldehyde in the Home

How do you keep formaldehyde in the home down to safer levels?

A lot of this kind of planning boils down to a few simple things that promote better airflow and indoor air quality.

Ventilation

Better ventilation means that you’re breathing less of formaldehyde and other scary stuff over time. It’s tempting to have houses sealed up tight for more efficient heating and cooling, but that leads to worse indoor air quality in many cases.

Whether it's fans or other kinds of ventilation, this can be helpful in limiting your exposure to formaldehyde and other chemicals.

Off-Site Off-Gassing

As mentioned, the off-gassing process is where you get exposed to a lot of these harmful chemicals. With that in mind, if you let new products off-gas off-site or somewhere out in the open, they're bringing less of this chemical mixture into your indoor air environment.

Air Purifiers

You can also use a range of modern air purifiers to actually cycle the air and clean it inside your home.

With the right size and power, you're effectively scrubbing your indoor air of harmful items like formaldehyde.

Some models have a better capacity to handle things like formaldehyde.

The Airpura F700 may be a good choice if you also want particulate filtration, otherwise, for VOCs, the F700dlx is good. The Allerair Pro 5 Vocarb HD Model is also a top performer, and the Austin Air Healthmate Plus is another good option.

Don’t let formaldehyde and VOCs impact your health! Take a look and see what you can do to improve air quality in your home.