| What are indoor air pollutants? These are harmful | | | | - Use air cleaners. There are two types of air |
| and unwanted materials present in the air of your | | | | cleaning devices. Some clean the air in the whole |
| home, apartment, or office. They affect the | | | | house and others are designed to clean air in a |
| quality of air you breath. | | | | single room or a specific area. |
| Most common indoor air pollutants are dust, pollen, | | | | When choosing a room air cleaner consider the |
| dust mites, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, and | | | | following: |
| viruses. Household products like air fresheners or | | | | - The room size. This is probably the most |
| building materials and furnishings can release | | | | important factor. Most purifiers will state the size |
| pollutants continuously in the air. Some products | | | | of the room they can clean. |
| like household cleaners and pesticides, | | | | - The type of contaminants the unit can eliminate. |
| malfunctioning space heaters, furnaces and | | | | - The ease of maintaining the unit. |
| stoves, paints, and varnishes can release | | | | - Where is the purifier going to be placed. If its |
| pollutants intermittently. | | | | for, say, bedroom or living room, than you may |
| How can one improve the quality of air in the | | | | consider one that is designed to operate quietly or |
| home, office, or apartment? There are three | | | | has very low noise. |
| ways for doing this: | | | | - How many air changes per hour it provides. The |
| - Find out the sources of the pollution and | | | | more changes per hour the greater the quality of |
| eliminate or try and reduce their emissions. | | | | air. |
| - Ventilate your home so you have clean fresh | | | | - The type of filters used and the ease of |
| outdoor air coming in. If weather permits, open up | | | | cleaning and cost of replacing them. |
| doors and windows. Using the exhaust fans in the | | | | - Energy consumption of the unit. |
| bathroom and kitchen can help remove | | | | - Warranty on the product. |
| contaminants from these rooms. | | | | |