Air Cleaning Devices Reduce Pollution When Ventilation Isn't Feasible
Usually the best way to address this risk is to control or eliminate the sources of pollutants, and to ventilate a home with clean outdoor air. The ventilation method may, however, be limited by weather conditions or undesirable levels of contaminants contained in outdoor air. If these measures are insufficient, an air cleaning device may be useful.
Some air cleaning devices are designed to be installed in the ductwork of a building’s central heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to clean the air in the whole house.
Portable room air cleaners can be used to clean the air in a single room or specific areas, but they are not intended for whole-house filtration.
Pollutants that can affect air quality in a home fall into the following categories:
- Particulate matter includes dust, smoke, pollen, animal dander, tobacco smoke, particles generated from combustion appliances such as cooking stoves, and particles associated with tiny organisms such as dust mites, molds, bacteria, and viruses.
- Gaseous pollutants come from combustion processes. Sources include gas cooking stoves, vehicle exhaust, and tobacco smoke. They also come from building materials, furnishings, and the use of products such as adhesives, paints, varnishes, cleaning products, and pesticides.
RESOURCE: EPA's Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home This document describes performance characteristics associated with several types of air cleaners sold to consumers for home use. It does not discuss the effectiveness of air cleaners installed in the HVAC systems of large buildings, such as apartments, offices, schools, or public buildings.
