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Can Air Purifiers Prevent the Spread of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has taken the nation by storm. Apart from following the recommended government guidelines, we're all striving for more ways to protect our family from the virus. Air purifiers have been a hot topic of debate when it comes to their usefulness for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Understanding How Air Purifiers Work
Air purifiers work to filter the air that is inside of your home. They can be installed as part of your traditional HVAC system or as independent units in rooms throughout your home. An air purifier consists of a filtering system that attracts unwanted pollutants from the air. The air that is circulated into the unit goes through a filter that traps the particles and the cleaned air is then recirculated throughout your home.
How Does COVID-19 Spread?
Before you can identify whether or not an air purifier is going to be an asset for preventing the spread of this virus, you first need to understand how the virus spreads. It's commonly accepted that COVID-19 spreads via droplets that are expelled from the human body. These droplets can leak out when a person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks. While most of these particles are thought to drop to the ground within a six-foot radius of the individual, that's not always the case. Medical experts are now suggesting that smaller particles of the virus may remain in the air for longer.
What Can Air Purifiers Do?
Air purifiers have been suggested to help reduce the spread of this virus. The idea behind their importance is that they can introduce more clean air into a room or space. This helps to dilute the virus-infected air and lowers an individual's risk of inhaling virus-ridden droplets.
As far as filtering goes, it's been suggested that HEPA filters may be able to stop the virus-infected air. While the COVID-19 particles are only .125 microns in diameter, they tend to get bigger when expelled from the body. It's thought the droplets that the virus travels in, such as when you're sneezing or coughing, can be up to 1 micron in diameter. HEPA filters in air purifiers are known to capture particles as small as .3 microns in diameter. This potentially means that HEPA filters can capture droplets that may contain the virus.
Call Us Today
Air purifiers can be a great addition to any home. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, having an air purifier present in your home can be a great way to feel safe and keep the air in your home as safe as possible for your family. If you're thinking about purchasing an air purifier or need help choosing the right one, simply give Ardmore Fresh Air a call today.
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