How do you choose an air quality meter and an air purifier?
Dust, pollen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), viruses ... Unfortunately, the list of pollutants that affect the quality of indoor air is long, in the office and at home. One solution for cleaning up living spaces: measure and purify the air! Which meter to choose? Which air purifier? A quick overview to help you make the right choice :)
Summary
1
Why consider air quality important
2
Air quality meters
3
Air purifiers
1 - Why consider air quality important
We spend a lot of time in confined spaces. However, indoor air is often much more polluted than outdoor air, in reality 6 to 10 times more polluted! Sometimes odorless, colourless, in small quantities but nevertheless very present, the pollutants of our interior are numerous. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the most common pollutants:
Biological Pollutants
- Airborne particles (hair, pollen and other allergens, etc.)
- Viruses, bacteria and fungi
Chemical Pollutants
- Chemical cleaners and solvents (bleach, ammonia, descaler, glue, solvent, lubricant, paint, etc.)
- Volatile Organic Compounds, known as VOCs (deodorant, spray, home fragrance, incense, candle, hairspray, etc.).
- Tobacco smoke, exhaust fumes
- Substances emitted by construction and renovation materials (floor and wall coverings, glass wool, surface treatment of furniture, etc.)
Physical Pollutants
- House dust mite
- Natural or synthetic fibers
CO2 and Coronavirus
When we speak or breathe, we give off carbon dioxide (CO2). When we carry a virus, infected particles accumulate in the air. So mathematically speaking, the higher the CO2 concentration in a room, the greater the risk of contamination. This clearly underlines the importance of measuring the quality of the air in order to act accordingly: ventilation of the room or installation of an air purifier.
2 - Air quality meters
In the office and at home, the air you breathe can have a direct impact on your health. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, allergies, dermatological diseases... The risks of poor indoor air quality are very real, so they must be remedied! But how do you know if the air is showing signs of pollution? Air quality meters are a great help here.
How does it work ?
Air quality meters are equipped with sensors that detect and analyze the various pollutants in the indoor air. They work continuously and display data all day long.
What do they measure?
They measure what is invisible and imperceptible to the naked eye, including the main pollutants responsible for poor air quality. Depending on the model, in addition to temperature and humidity, they can detect:
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- fine particles (pollen, smoke, dust, etc.)
- formaldehyde (highly present in adhesives, ceilings, furniture and paint)
- benzene (petroleum, gasoline, exhaust gases, etc.)
Once you've analyzed and detected pollutants, it's time to take action! But first, a rule of thumb: ventilate your living areas for at least 10 minutes every morning and night, regardless of the weather outside. Refreshing the air is key to cleaning rooms. You can also use more "natural" household products or equip your space with plants such as azaleas, fig trees, dragon trees ...
But sometimes all this is not enough. Air purifiers are a good addition: they filter the air by removing pollutants (in addition to bad odors!). Each air purifier has its own performance and technical characteristics. There are different types of air purifiers:
The air purifier with filters
It is the most widely used air purifier. It consists of three superimposed filters:
- a pre-filter: blocks visible particles (pollen, hair, hair, etc.) larger than one micron. It limits the clogging of other filters.
- an activated carbon filter: captures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and neutralizes odors.
- a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air): captures particles with a diameter of 0.3 micrometers.
Advantage :
the efficiency of the HEPA filter Disadvantage :
regular maintenance of foreseeable filters / has no effect on chemical contaminants (for example, household detergents)
The ultraviolet air purifier
These UV air purifiers use special lamps (UV-C and UV-V) that produce the same wavelengths as the sun. They also bring the same natural purification process to homes and buildings. Advantage :
Destroys microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and oxidizes odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Disadvantage :
Never open the device while it is running, it could cause serious injury to eyes and skin
The ionizer air purifier
The air purifier with ionizer produces an electrical reaction by creating negative ions. The latter charge the suspended particles negatively (neutrally or positively charged), which then become too heavy and are inevitably attracted to the ground. Advantage :
improved well-being Disadvantage :
does not destroy the particles, so you have to suck them up afterwards
The combustion air purifier
The air purifier destroys harmful particles (mold, pollen, bacteria, etc.) through combustion. The polluted air enters the device and heats it to 200°C, after which the purified air enters the room once it has cooled down. Advantage :
Burns biological pollutants Disadvantage :
somewhat long treatment / only effective in small spaces / no action on chemical contaminants requiring combustion of at least 1000°C.
The air purifier with photocatalysis
Photocatalysis is a process that dissolves pollutants through light. The purifier consists of a fan that traps the contaminated particles in a catalyst, usually titanium dioxide (TiO2), and the action of ultraviolet rays then converts them into water vapor and a small amount of carbon dioxide. Advantage :
Destroys odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), allergens and pollen, chemical pollution residues Disadvantage :
To be effective, it needs to stir as much air as possible, so the process is a bit noisy
Two criteria to consider before making the purchase:
1. The air volume to be purified
There are air purifiers for all surfaces, from the smallest to the largest. To be effective, it must be able to stir and refresh a certain amount of air (on average 3 times per hour) and this, in accordance with the volume of the part to be treated, otherwise it threatens to rotate constantly. full power. The flow rate of an air purifier is measured in cubic meters per hour (m3/h).
Reminder of the calculation of an air volume: take into account the area of the room and multiply this number by its height. This will give you the cubage (volume) of the chamber.
2. The noise level of the air purifier
The sound level depends on the airflow of the device. The higher the current, the more the noise level increases. For more flexibility, you can opt for an air purifier with adjustable airflow. Usually the noise level of an air purifier is between 5 and 60 dB. In comparison, a discussion reaches about 50 dB.
Air Quality Meter and Air Purifier... You now hold all the cards to fight indoor pollution! And if you don't find what you're looking for, don't hesitate to contact our MyBruneau specialists, they will find it for you!
