Did you know that one of the most important forms of contagion of COVID-19 are aerosols? This was demonstrated by a study carried out at the University of Cambridge in which it was found that the coronavirus has the ability to remain suspended in the air for hours in the form of aerosols, which are nothing more than the microparticles that we expel when speaking, shouting, sing, sneeze or cough. Being suspended in the air, the risk of inhaling the virus and infecting us is greater.
For this reason, experts recommend staying outdoors when we are away from home and, if we are in closed spaces such as home or schools, make sure that there is good ventilation to prevent coronavirus particles from accumulating in the spaces . aerosol sprays. However, with the imminent arrival of winter and the impossibility of keeping the windows open to facilitate air circulation, it is important to find other alternatives to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as purifiers with Hepa filters.
What is a Hepa filter air purifier?
Air purifiers with Hepa filters are a type of technology that is responsible for eliminating most of the pollutants and pathogens larger than 0.3 microns in diameter. that are suspended in the air. Its operation is very simple: first they capture the air from the environment by means of a fan and, after passing through a filtering system in which the impurities are trapped, it returns the air to the room.
Its effectiveness is around 99.95% in Europe and 99.97% in the United States, which means that it eliminates almost 100% of particles suspended in the air. In some cases, other purification technologies are added to the Hepa filter, such as ionization to neutralize particles, activated carbon to eliminate bad odors or ultraviolet light that acts on the bacteria that accumulate in the filter.
Advantages of using an air purifier with a Hepa filter in closed spaces
Obviously, the main advantage of using an air purifier with a Hepa filter in closed spaces such as homes or schools is related to the reduction of pollutants and pathogens in the air, but it is not the only one.
- Reduces the concentration of coronavirus in the air. Using an air purifier with a Hepa filter significantly reduces the number of coronaviruses in a room. The reason? The Hepa filter can trap a large part of the suspended coronaviruses in the form of aerosols, which decreases their concentration and minimizes their ability to spread, which can reach 8 meters in a closed space.
- Decreases the presence of other viruses and bacteria. A study conducted at Simon Fraser University found that an average relative humidity of between 40 and 70% reduces the chance of survival of infectious viruses and bacteria that are transmitted through the air. The use of an air purifier helps to keep the humidity stable in the room and, therefore, reduces the concentration of these microorganisms.
- Improves air quality in the room. By removing most of the polluting compounds in suspension, the Hepa filter purifier helps improve air quality. In this way, it is possible to breathe much purer air in the instance, with a much more balanced relationship between the gases that make it up.
- Purifies the air of allergens. Another function of an air purifier is to remove allergens from the air such as pollen, mites, tobacco smoke, dust and other suspended particles. In this way, its use reduces the risk of allergies and prevents the inflammatory response due to this cause.
The dark side of purifiers: What are the risks of an air purifier with a Hepa filter?
Using an air purifier with a Hepa filter in closed spaces such as school or home can help fight the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of contagion. However, it is important to note that an air purifier does not guarantee the effective removal of all pathogenic microorganisms in the air. The reason? Many of these microorganisms are so small that they escape the Hepa filter system. Therefore, its use can generate a false sense of security that leads to the relaxation of the main viral containment measures.
Also, Hepa filter air purifiers that include other associated technologies such as ionization or ultraviolet light can produce ozone, which worsens air quality. In the case of purifiers with UV light, they can cause permanent damage to the skin and eyes, even if the exposure is indirect. Therefore, it is important to choose the type of purifier carefully and continue to maintain basic safety measures, such as the use of masks and hand disinfection.
5 safe and effective Hepa filter purifiers against COVID-19
1. Honeywell Premium Air Purifier
It is a purifier with a high-efficiency True Hepa filter that captures up to 99.97% of particles from 0.3 microns found in the air. Plus, it removes pollen, smoke, pet dander, and mold spores while keeping bad odors at bay. And it is very easy to use: it has 5 purification levels and an automatic shutdown timer so you can program it from 1 to 8 hours. In addition, it includes an intelligent air quality sensor that indicates the level of air quality in the room through LED lights.
2. Aiibot Air Purifier
If you are looking for an effective Hepa filter purifier, this can be an excellent option since it offers up to 99.97% cleaning. It has a 4-layer filtration system that removes from larger particles such as pet hair and dust to smaller ones such as soot, pollen and bacteria and viruses of 0.3 microns. Thanks to its cold catalyst and activated carbon, it can also absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde and eliminate bad odours. In addition, it offers a negative ion purification system that improves air quality. And so that you can program it according to your needs, it has 4 wind speeds and a timer of 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours.
3. Winix Zero Air Purifier
Winix Zero is a high-performance air purifier that cleans the environment of dust, allergens, mold spores, VOCs, bacteria and viruses. It has a 4-stage filtration system that captures 99.97% of suspended particles larger than 0.3 microns thanks to its Hepa filter and PlasmaWave technology that neutralizes viruses without emitting ozone. Another of its advantages is that it includes an LED indicator, which changes color depending on the quality of the air inside the room, as well as a quality sensor that adjusts the speed of the fan in real time depending on the level of contamination. And it is very quiet!
4. Renpho air purifier
Efficient and practical, this Renpho air purifier model has a 5-stage filtration system with Hepa and activated carbon that allows to eliminate up to 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns, from allergens, pet hair and dandruff to smaller ones such as mold, bacteria or viruses. Thanks to its high speed, it can circulate the air in a room of about 22 square meters up to 3 times per hour and, so that you can modify this frequency, it has 3 speed modes. Plus, it has a built-in auto-off timer and a filter replacement indicator that alerts you when it’s time to change.
5. Rowenta Pure Air Essential PU2530 Air Purifier
Keep the air always clean inside the rooms with this Rowenta purifier that, thanks to its three filtration levels, eliminates up to 99.9% of the particles suspended in the air, including bacteria and viruses. Designed to purify small spaces in just 8 minutes, it can also be used in rooms up to 90 square meters. And what’s more, it’s very practical and easy to use: it has 3 different speeds, a timer with a delayed start for greater comfort and a filter replacement indicator so you don’t have to worry about maintenance.
It is worth clarifying that air purifiers with Hepa filters are only complementary to prevention against COVID-19 and that in no case should they replace the main prevention measures such as frequent hand washing, the use of masks, maintenance of the safety distance and regular ventilation of closed spaces.