Top 8 Benefits of Using Portable Air Purifiers

Indoor air quality is essential whether you work in a specialized industry or are considering IAQ improvements for reopening following post-pandemic changes. Air purifiers are a proven method to meet new air quality requirements and recommendations.

One of the biggest perks of portable air purifiers is its simplicity in setup, daily usage, and maintenance. Rather than making costly upgrades to your entire HVAC system, you can easily plug-and-play air purifiers and place them in spaces needing protection. Read on to learn more about air purifiers and the top 8 benefits of using them in your office, business, school, or home.

What are Air Purifiers?

Air purifiers, or air purifier systems, clean the air through air filtration. Air purifiers are typically packaged as a standalone or mobile device that plugs directly into a standard 120V wall outlet. Air purifiers often have a vast range of capabilities, from smart controls, multiple filtration media layers, and electronic air cleaning technologies.

These portable systems are convenient for providing continuous air exchanges within a given space. Measured by the system's rated ACH (air changes per hour) and the air volume it can move per minute CFM (cubic feet per minute). Air purifiers provide critical local air filtration using filters such as HEPA, Activated Carbon, and Pre-Filters. 

Air purifiers with electronic air cleaning technologies can also provide improved filtration of common airborne contaminants such as particulate matter (PM), dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Systems that use UV-C Light (PCO Technology) or Hydroxyl Radical technologies can protect against bacteria, viruses, and various pathogens.

Reasons Why You Would Get an Air Purifier

While not always necessary for every space, there are many reasons why you should get an air purifier. Air purifiers are great when trying to improve an indoor environment. Poor air quality can affect productivity, cause illnesses, increase sick days that directly impact a business's bottom line. 

Some spaces need air purifier technologies because they have higher concentrations of harmful bacteria and viruses in the air. Airborne contaminants can spread illnesses, like the flu viruses and the viruses that cause COVID-19. 

Other buildings may require air purifier systems based on industry and for regulatory reasons. For example, hospitals need to follow guidelines set out by the CDC for Environmental Infection Control. Therefore, based on your industry standards for air quality, air purifier controls may be required to ensure that your building follows the appropriate health and safety standards.

8 Benefits of Using Air Purifier Systems

Whether you are required to use an air purifier system or not, here are eight benefits of using one:

#1 Relieve Asthma and Allergy Symptoms

Asthma and allergies are prevalent chronic conditions significantly impacted by air quality. Pollutants such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander can contribute to asthma or allergy symptoms, causing difficulty breathing and forcing bronchial tubes to become inflamed. Asthma and allergies are also symptoms of sick building syndrome!

When individuals with asthma are in spaces with poor air quality, they may experience increased symptoms such as shortness of breath and severe inflammation. Air Purifiers, especially those with pre-filter and HEPA filters, can capture these pollutants to reduce the impediment of coming into contact with these particulates. 

While HEPA filters primarily capture pollutants through its pleated synthetic fibers, pre-filters can be added to prolong the HEPA filter's life and help the HEPA Filter capture the smaller particles it's designed for.

 #2 Eliminate VOCs, Harmful Chemicals, and Odors from The Air

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are toxic gases emitted by certain types of materials and machines. VOCs can include nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide, and so many VOCs are common in our daily life:

• These gases are commonly found within proximity of high motor vehicle traffic, paints, pharmaceuticals, refrigerants, etc.
• Other compounds can be released from household cleaners. For example, ammonia, chlorine, and phthalates can be emitted from common cleaners, and routine exposure can cause serious health issues. 
• Other types of machinery in industrial settings also give off harmful VOCs.

VOCs are not always associated with products or machines. Common materials also give off VOCs. Laminates, paints, upholstered furniture, air fresheners, different types of flooring, gypsum ceilings, metal powder-coated paint, and fabrics can all give off a range of VOCs.

In some cases, VOCs can produce strong odors. Some odors might also be associated with a harmful gas, such as gasoline, benzene, and formaldehyde; each breaks down at room temperature and gives off an odor. By lowering VOC levels, you can have an increase in productivity and performance. 

If VOCs concern you, look for an air purifier that features an Activated Carbon Filter. This filtration media is the most effective at trapping gases, reducing odors, and commonly found VOCs.

#3 Air Purifiers Helps Businesses Open Faster and Following Regulatory Guidance In COVID-19 Pandemic

Indoor air quality has become crucial for businesses to reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The removal of harmful airborne contaminants, like virus particles, can occur by increasing airflow, optimizing ventilation, and adding an air purifier system to purify the air and remove viral particles. 

Many HVAC systems don't have high-grade air filters in place, including MERV 13 or higher filters. Therefore, getting an air purifier system with HEPA filtration, which can capture over 99.97% of particles as small as 0.1 microns in size, can improve the indoor air quality and density of virus particles in the air.

#4 Improve Air Quality to Remove Chances of Spreading the Flu

 The COVID-19 pandemic may not stick around forever; however, we have regularly encountered severe flu outbreaks during the flu season. With improved air quality and air filtration systems that reduce airborne viral particles, you can manage the risk of flu transmission, decrease the number of sick days that your employees experience, and increase productivity even during heavy flu outbreaks. Portable air purifier systems are great investments. They can also help prevent sick building syndrome, a year-round condition usually tied to poor ventilation, dust mites, VOCs, pollen, and pet dander. 

#5 Improve Productivity in the Workplace

While the air quality might seem like a small thing to a business, poor air quality can result in decreased productivity, increased sick days, and overall poor health of your employees. You may find seasonality in increased sick days or decreased productivity during certain times of the day or even during certain months. For example, we typically see increases in cold and flu symptoms in winter, and the emergence of spring brings on troublesome allergies. Introducing air purifier into your workspace can reduce the chance of your employees being uncomfortable, distracted, and sick.

 #6 Reduce Sick Building Syndrome

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is an unexplainable sickness caused by poor indoor air quality and profoundly affects office buildings. Symptoms of sick building syndrome include headache, fatigue, sensitivity to odors, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, throat irritation, dry and itchy skin, and more signs of acute discomfort. 

Unfortunately, SBS has no known direct cause other than time spent inside a building with poor indoor air quality and environmental conditions. Improving air quality through increased ventilation and air purifier can help reduce symptoms associated with SBS.

#7 Reduces Harmful Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rocks and emits through its natural breakdown process. The breakdown releases the gases, and high concentrations of radon can be found in indoor air.

Unfortunately, radon is invisible, tasteless, and odorless therefore undetectable without proper testing. Radon gas can enter a building through the water or as gas and seep through foundation cracks. Thus, the radon exposure will depend on the type of facility that you operate. 

You can get your facility tested for radon and then hook up expensive radon diverging systems.  However, air purifier systems with Activated Carbon Filters and UVGI filtration can help reduce or remove radon gas in the air. 

#8 Removes Harmful Asbestos Particles

In older buildings, employees could have exposure to harmful asbestos particles. Asbestos is a known, naturally occurring crystal that can cause long-term health conditions like lung cancer when released. 

While governmental programs have been set up to remove asbestos, exposure still exists. Air purifier systems with the proper technology, such as one that can eliminate harmful VOCs, can reduce the risk of being exposed to asbestos.

What Air Purifier Do I Need?

With air purifier solutions through Sanalife, you will find a variety of scalable solutions to meet the need of any business, office, school, or facility.  Depending on your industry and regulatory body requirements, you may need air filtration that meets a minimum efficiency threshold. 

For example, your organization may need to complete the ASHRAE standards (52.1, 1992) and MERV ratings where your air filter must have a rating of 30 (for the first filter) and 90 (for the second filter). If you are unsure what air purifier system you need or air quality solution is right for your organization, local health departments and government regulatory body such as the CDC have published guidelines. 

Sanalife's team of air quality specialists can work with you to develop a blueprint for implementing improved indoor air quality in your facility. Our in-duct, portable air purifier, and UV sanitization robots can help you disinfect and sanitize any indoor space and meet the required air exchanges needed for clean air. Our specialists are on standby to help customize an air purifier solution that is designed for you.