Is installing an indoor air purifier is an effective way to combat air pollution in Delhi?

by Amili R. SEO

Every year during the onset of winter season, the air quality of Delhi starts showing the sign of degradation in many ways. From people facing breathing difficulty to reducing visibility, there are lots of things that clearly show that something is not right with the air of the national capital of India. Various reasons cited behind this traumatic event including stubble burning in the states of Punjab & Haryana, vehicular emissions, local causes and others.

No matter what’s the reason behind, there is an immediate need to control this alarming level of air pollution. Though there are various steps we can take to tackle this situation, the best and quickest way to see the difference is to install an indoor air purifier. But is it really worth? Can it help you breathe in fresh and clean air? Let’s find out below.

In today’s times, different brands have come up with air purifiers of different filtering capacity. Hence, rather than buying anything arbitrarily, choose the one that is effective for the size of your room. You can always ask the shopkeeper for proper support. In case, you are not clear about the size of your room, stick with the one designed for bigger spaces.

One thing that you should keep in mind is that a portable room air purifier contains different types of filters to filter the air thoroughly before delivering it to you. No matter which brand or product you choose, it is actually the air filters that bring all the difference. So, bring an ail filtration machine that contains primarily a HEPA filter along with other ones.

What is a HEPA filter?

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. HEPA filters seize differently sized particles within a multi-layered mesh generally made out of extremely fine fiberglass threads (much diluter than the size of a human hair strand!) with changing sized gaps. The filter is airtight and made up of a thick sheet of small fibers gathered and sealed in a metal or plastic mount. The purifier's fan attracts air into the filter and particulates get captured in the filter. The larger particles (ones bigger than the fibers) are captured on impact, while mid-sized particles are captured by interception, and ultra-fine particles are captured through diffusion.

Other important things to look at while investing in an air cleaner.

· CADR (clean-air delivery rate) rating. This basically gauges the performance of the purifier for eliminating smoke, dust, and pollen. Check for a CADR of a minimum of 300, anything above 350 is truly great.

· Size guidelines. For better effectiveness, you would require a model made to work in the room size. Pick a product that is designed for an area bigger than the one you are supplying it for if you want to run it at a lower, noiseless environment.

There is no doubt that these air cleaning machines are very powerful in ensuring an unpolluted environment inside your home. But, to make this happen, it is very much necessary that you choose a good filter for your needs.