If you or a family member suffer from asthma and/or allergies, you might logically assume that the air inside your home is safer to breathe than the air outside. Unfortunately, this is not normally the case.

Buildings today are designed to be airtight, with energy efficiency a high priority. This airtight construction helps to keep airborne pollutants trapped inside. Combine this with the fact that the average person spends between 75 and 95 percent of his or her time inside the home and it is easy to see why the quality of air inside your home is vital to your health and well being.

Allergens In the Home

Dusts, moulds and pet dander are the primary allergens within the home. Other allergenic substances include those we cannot see, such as the chemicals used in carpet cleaning and manufacture; home cleaning products such as furniture polishes and appliance cleaners; detergents, bleaches and aerosol sprays.

How Air Purifiers Help

Air purifiers remove these particles from the environment and recirculate cleaned air back through your house. This helps to make inside air safer and more comfortable to breathe.

Air purification units also keep your environment healthy and more pleasant by removing harmful bacteria, smoke and odours from the air.

Many doctors and other health professionals now recommend using an air purifier as the first defence against pollution and poor air quality. For people with allergies, a home air purification system has become a “must.”

Choosing an Air Purifier

When choosing an air purifier, you will want to make sure that the model will perform the best possible job for you and your family. Two factors to consider are the size of the room/s you wish to address and the level of performance desired.

All air purifiers available from London Drugs use the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) system to help you select the right model. You will find the CADR number and the corresponding room size on the AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) seal on the box.

Two factors affect the performance of the air purifier: the quality of the filter and the volume of the air drawn through the filter. The most effective models have a quality filter system combined with strong airflow. The CADR certification process considers both of these factors to determine performance.

Is Your Home Dusty?

Dust is perhaps the most allergenic substance in our homes. This is due to the presence of highly irritating insects called dust mites. These tiny creatures survive by eating skin particles present in dust. (Close to 80 percent of the airborne dust you see in a shaft of sunlight within your home consists of human skin cells.)

Air purifiers effectively remove dust and its irritating inhabitants from your home. Here are some other ways to keep the level of dust down:

• Remove drapes, feather pillows, non- washable comforters and soft toys.
• Replace carpets with linoleum or wood.
• Vacuum weekly with a machine that has a HEPA filter.
• Vacuum couches, chairs, and drapes, as well as floors.
• Wash all bedding in hot water (hotter than 54°C or 130°F) every seven to 10 days.
• Cover mattress and pillows with plastic and don’t use mattress pads.