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Quality portable air cleaners can
make a significant difference in the cleanliness of a room, however, it
must be used and maintained properly. The most important thing is to
understand the type of air cleaners you have and the filters that it
includes. Does it have filters that need to be washed, vacuumed, or
replaced? If so, how often? If your air cleaner contains filters that need
to be changed (HEPA, activated carbon, gas and odor, pre-filter, etc) you
should keep a record of them. When you first get the air cleaners, consult
your Owner’s Manual for the recommended filter change periods and mark
your calendar to change them. If you don’t use a calendar, tape a note on
the air purifier itself with the date that you began using it and the
recommended dates for changing the filters. Remember to allow about two
weeks for ordering and receiving the new filter.
In addition to changing or washing your filters on schedule, make note
of the maintenance required. It varies significantly from one air purifier
to another. Some require periodic vacuuming of the outside of the unit to
prevent hair and extra large dust from clogging it up. (Hair is a major
problem in households; there is a lot more of it floating around than one
might believe and it can clog an air cleaner preventing it from getting
the more toxic pollens and mold spores.) Find out what your air purifier
needs regarding maintenance and do it so that the unit will last
for a long time.
There is always a great quandary about where to put air cleaners. If
you have a specific source of pollution, such as an animal or a smoker,
place the air cleaner as near to the source as possible. It isn’t
necessary to place the air cleaner in the middle of a room but it should
be away from a wall at least four inches and should have adequate room to
move air all around it.
Air cleaners typically come with multiple speeds. Although the lowest
speed will be the quietest, it is important to run the air cleaners on the
higher speeds during part of the day so that it can clean the farthest
reaches of a room. This is particularly true if you have a small air
cleaner in a large room. It is generally better to order an air cleaner
that is a bit larger than you need, so that you can run it at lower (thus
quieter) speeds.
New owners of air cleaners often ask, “how do I know it’s working?”
You’ll find out for sure when you have to change a filter. The first time
you do so, you’ll be amazed at how dirty it is and you’ll be very glad you
didn’t breathe all of that stuff. In the early days of owning an air
cleaner, you should be able to judge its effectiveness by being able to
breathe easier, by having less congestion in the morning, by having less
asthma or allergy attacks at night, and by a reduction in the odors you
previously smelled on a daily basis. Sometimes you don’t realize how much
the air cleaner does until you visit a home that does not have one. The
air there will often seem thicker and generally less clean. There is a
tremendous amount of indoor pollution in today’s tight, energy-efficient
homes.
The other question that new owners frequently ask is whether or not they
should have multiple air cleaners. Generally it is a good idea to have an
air purifier for your primary living area (the place where you spend most
of your time) and for the bedrooms. The human respiratory system slows
down at night; that’s why most allergy and asthma attacks happen at night.
It is very important for anyone with respiratory difficulties to get a
good night’s rest in a clean room. If you have a moldy basement, it’s also
a good idea to keep an air cleaner running in it as well.
