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

As schools begin to reopen across the country, parents, teachers, administrators and school nurses are all working as hard as possible to keep students safe in the classroom. While personal protective equipment, masks and regular screenings are well-known tools to keep students from spreading COVID19, air purification technology also has a role to play.  Air purifiers for schools should not be overlooked as part of a safe reopening, as they may be able to help reduce the chances of transmission between students in the classroom.   Recently, we were directed to a set of guidelines released by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for safe school reopenings. In this article, we'll summarize some of those guidelines so that school officials and teachers can better understand the air purification technology they will need in the classroom this coming year.  

Air Purifiers for Classrooms

  One of the most straightforward recommendations from ASHRAE is the introduction of a combination HEPA and UV air purifier into each classroom. The society recommends selecting a unit that can perform a minimum of two air changes per hour in the given space. Because HEPA filters can trap virus-sized particles and ultraviolet light can render viruses inert, this combination creates a dual system for reducing the level of the virus in classroom air.   Although the guideline of two air changes per hour is the minimum, we have also seen guidance that recommends 3-4 ACH. Ultimately, if possible, it is generally best to shoot for a higher number of air changes per hour. The more air changes your air purifier can perform per hour, the more quickly and effectively it will remove viruses and other contaminants from the air.  

Air Filtration for School Nurse's Office

  Needless to say, the requirements for student medical facilities are higher than those for the general classroom setting. When treated as an isolation room, ASHRAE recommends that student medical facilities utilize a completely dedicated HVAC filtering system that can perform 6-10 air changes per hour. With this higher rate of air exchange, the system can more effectively capture viruses and keep their from building up in the air.  

Selecting Air Purifiers for Schools

  If your school does not already have proper air purifiers for its classrooms selected, now is the time to consider getting them. Because each school will have different layouts and classroom sizes, we recommend contacting us directly to help you select the right air purifiers for your classrooms.   For more information on how proper use of air filtration and HVAC systems can help your school keep students safer in the 2020-21 school year, we strongly recommend reading through the ASHRAE guidelines in their entirety (linked again here for your convenience). Using these guidelines, you can take extra steps to keep students, teachers, parents and family member safe while providing in-person learning this school year.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we've received several questions about the use of HEPA filters to capture virus-sized particles. In fact, one of our very earliest blog posts on the subject described the use of HEPA air purifiers by Canadian health officials at a quarantine and treatment site. Now, we're able to shed even more light on this subject, thanks to a report from NASA that concluded that HEPA filters can capture ultra-fine and nanoparticles.  

Why the Confusion Over HEPA Capabilities?

  Before we jump into the report, let's look at why this is such an open question in the first place. The confusion over what particles a HEPA filter can trap stems from the technical definition of what a HEPA filter is. To be rated as HEPA, a filter must capture at least. 99.97 percent of all particles that are greater than 0.3 microns in diameter. Given that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is only about 0.1 micron across, many people believe that a HEPA filter isn't capable of capturing the virus.   That view, however, leaves out a phenomenon that takes place in air filters called diffusion. In diffusion, incredibly tiny particles become caught against filter fibers as a result of their largely random motion. This phenomenon allows filters to capture particles smaller than the holes in their filter media.  

Does the NASA Report Support Using HEPA to Capture Virus-sized Particles?

  Now, let's get on to that report from NASA we mentioned earlier. In a 2016 test of HEPA and compacted granular air filters, the space agency confirmed that both were capable of capturing nanoparticles, defined as particles as small as 0.01 microns. This critical piece of evidence, combined with other existing literature, strongly suggests that a standard HEPA air filter can capture particles even smaller than the size of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.   The report also found that ultrafine particle capture was somewhat enhanced when a HEPA filter was combined with a compacted granular filter, such as a bed of activated carbon. As a result, using an air purifier that features both HEPA and carbon filtration will likely give you the best chance of capturing virus-sized particles, although the HEPA filter on its own was found to be reasonably effective.   Have other questions about how air purifiers can help to keep your home and family safe by providing improved air quality? We're here to help! Feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to provide you with answers and product recommendations to meet your needs!

When you're getting ready to buy an air purifier, there are several different factors you need to keep in mind. While some of these are common knowledge, like deciding on the type of filter or figuring out the size of your space, there are also some less-common tips that all air purifier buyers need to know. Here are five of the most important things to keep in mind when you buy your next air purifier. Be sure to read all the way to the end, because most people don't know about #5.  

1. Coverage Is Based on Standard 8-foot Ceilings

  When you're looking at air purifier specifications, you'll usually see a square footage rating. While this rating can definitely be helpful, it's important to understand that it's calculated for a space with 8-foot ceilings. Because air purifiers circulate air in three dimensions rather than two, you actually need to know the cubic footage of air a given unit can handle. To get the cubic footage, simply multiply the square footage rating by 8. If you have ceilings that are less or more than 8 feet high, you can then use this cubic foot rating to figure out the coverage in your home based on your ceiling heights.  

2. Coverage Also Assumes One Air Change Per Hour

  Another thing that's important to know about the coverage rating is that it assumes one air change per hour (ACH), unless otherwise specified. Depending on your situation and what you're using the purifier for, you may want more than one air change each hour. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, it was recommended that offices have air circulated 4-6 times each hour. In other words, it's usually best not to buy a unit with a capacity that's at the limit of the space you want to cover.  

3. Most Air Purifiers Are a Bit Loud to Run on High at All Times

  Another factor you'll want to take into account when figuring up the number of air changes per hour you want is that you probably won't run your air purifier on high at all times. Most traditional HEPA and carbon-filtered purifiers are just a bit too noisy for this, though of course the context in which you're using it will determine what the acceptable noise level is. As a rule of thumb, we usually encourage customers to use the medium setting ratings when deciding what unit they need, since this is the setting most users end up settling on.  

4. The Ratings Aren't Everything

  We completely understand that it's easy to get caught up in CFM, ACH and other ratings when you're buying an air purifier. However, it's also important to remember that these numbers only represent what's going on in the purifier itself. Differences in the layout of your room, air flow, the types of contaminants you're targeting and other factors will also play a part. So, be sure to combine the information you get from the ratings with a bit of logic and common sense when deciding on the right purifier for your home.  

5. There's No Universal Standard for Air Purifier Ratings

  With some products, there's a universal standard for how ratings are measured and delivered. Air purifiers, however, aren't one of these products. Instead, different manufacturers report their ratings differently, meaning you have to read the ratings carefully and be sure you know what they mean. The cubic feet per minute of air that an air purifier can move is one of the ratings you'll need to be careful with. Some manufacturers report the volume of air that the fan motor itself can move, while others report the delivered CFM using the filter. The delivered CFM can be thought of as the "real" CFM of a given machine, since using the filter creates resistance to air flow and reduces the ideal air flow the fan could hypothetically achieve on its own.   We understand that navigating the ratings and specifications on air purifiers can be a bit tricky. That's why we're here to help! Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have, and we'll be happy to provide you with answers and personalized product recommendations based on your unique needs.    

As the school year gets closer and closer, parents of both younger children and college students are increasingly looking for ways to keep their kids safe when in-person learning returns in the fall. While testing, social distancing and mask use will be the main tools colleges and universities use to keep COVID-19 from spreading on campus, we've received questions about using air purifiers for dorm rooms to provide extra protection. Here's what you need to know about using air purifiers to reduce the chances of COVID-19 transmission in a dorm setting and which units we recommend.  

Why Use an Air Purifier in a Dorm Setting?

  COVID-19 has fundamentally changed how colleges and universities will operate in the 2020-21 school year. The question of reopening at all has become controversial, with some arguing that the risks are too high for classes to be held safely.   At most colleges, dorm rooms are relatively small, indoor spaces that are shared between students. These are precisely the sorts of conditions under which transmission of COVID-19 is believed to be most likely. As a result, it's important to take steps to reduce the load of the virus in the air.  

What Type of Air Purifier Should You Be Using?

  If you've visited our blog before, you may be familiar with our existing post about dorm room air purifiers, which was written long before the COVID-19 pandemic. In that post, we looked at small, silent air purifiers that would allow students to study in total peace without taking up any more room than necessary.   Today, the situation is different. We recommend using high-quality HEPA air purifiers, as HEPA filters can capture many virus-sized particles through a diffusion phenomenon. Some of the units we recommend also include UV germicidal lamps, which leverage UV-C radiation to kill bacteria, viruses and other biological contaminants.   We also recommend choosing an air purifier with a high air flow capacity. With greater air flow, an air purifier will be able to circulate the air in a given space more frequently, reducing the chances that viruses will remain suspended in the air. For students who don't mind some background noise, a unit with a 360-degree air intake is preferred.  

Our Top Recommended Air Purifiers for Dorm Rooms

  Taking the above criteria into account, we've come up with a list of our top recommended dorm room air purifiers for the 2020-21 school year. You'll find our top picks listed below, along with brief descriptions of their advantages:   Amaircare 3000 HEPA: High-quality HEPA filtration with carbon filtering for chemical and VOC protection. Austin Air HealthMate: HEPA and carbon filtration with over 250 CFM airflow capacity and 360-degree intake. Austin Air HealthMate Jr: Similar to the HealthMate, but rated for smaller spaces. HealthMate is ideal for superior protection, but the HealthMate Jr. is suitable if space is at a premium. Airpura I600: 100 square foot HEPA filter material surface area with healthcare-level filtration. UV upgrade available. Field Controls TRIO: Medical-grade air purification with HEPA, carbon and UV filter stages. Slightly noisier, but excellent protection. Airfree Onix 3000: Silent but less powerful. This is a filterless air purifier, meaning students won't have to perform maintenance. BetterAir Biotica 800: This surface cleaner dispenses a high-quality probiotic that can reduce viruses on surfaces, including in hard-to-clean areas. Surface transmission has been identified as a pathway for COVID-19 spread, so extra protection for surfaces in conjunction with air purification help to reduce risks.  

What Else Can You Do to Keep Your Student Safe?

  In addition to sending them off to school with a good air purifier, there are a few other steps you can take to help students get through the school year safely. Sending a good supply of face masks and hand sanitizer is a good idea, since students will likely go through these essentials fairly quickly. If possible, you may want to find an inexpensive car for your student to use, since public transportation may be associated with higher risk of virus transmission.   Have other questions about using air purifiers for dorm rooms in the time of COVID-19? We're here to help! Feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to help you pick out the perfect air purifier for your son or daughter's dorm.      

Over the last few years, we've learned a lot about just how dangerous air pollution can be. From higher risks of numerous cancers to decreased school attendance, air pollution is associated with a range of negative effects that few could have predicted 10 or 20 years ago. One thing that hasn't been quite as clear until now, though, was the cost of air pollution in purely economic terms. Luckily, a new collaborative project between IQAir and Greenpeace shed some light on this important question. Here's what you need to know about the economic impacts of air pollution.    

What Costs Does Air Pollution Impose?

  It's no secret that air pollution leads to a range of negative health outcomes, including in some cases death. Like most health risks, though, low air quality also limits economic productivity, thus imposing a high cost on local, regional and national economies.   In the new project from IQAir and Greenpeace, an attempt was made to quantify these costs in 28 major cities around the world. When put into dollars, the costs that were calculated are nothing short of staggering. In Tokyo, for example, air pollution is believed to have cost about $31 billion dollars worth of productivity in the period from January 1st to June 30th alone. Other cities performed better, but still ranged well into the billions of dollars. Mexico city, for instance, racked up $5.5 billion in air-pollution related losses during the same period.   Excess deaths also contributed to the overall cost of air pollution in these cities. Across the world's five most populous cities, approximately 98,300 people are believed to have died as a direct or indirect result of low air quality between January 1st and June 30th. These numbers clearly show the high cost in terms of both money and human lives that air pollution now regularly imposes on societies all around the world.  

Rethinking How We Combat Air Pollution

  In light of these new statistics, it's worth reconsidering the amount we're all willing to pay to fight air pollution's negative effects. The question is now not whether we can afford to fight air pollution, but whether we can afford not to. This applies to countries, states, cities and even individuals, since the costs of air pollution apply both at large and small scales.  

Using an Air Purifier for Your Personal Protection

  While there are limits to what you can do on your own to fight air pollution on a larger scale, you can at least offer yourself some extra protection at home by using a high-quality air purifier. By using an air purifier that combines HEPA and carbon filtration, you can target both the particulates and the gases that make up common automotive and industrial pollution.   If you're wondering how you can use an air purifier to protect your home from the harmful effects of air pollution, we're here to help! Feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to provide you with personalized product recommendations based on your needs and the size of your home.