We all want to live in a world with cleaner air, and for decades millions of Americans have worked towards that goal by supporting anti-pollution measures. But what about the quality of the air in our own homes? What can be done to reduce allergens and pollutants and make the air in a house or apartment safer to breathe?
Shino Mapleton is the owner of Filter Market and has a great deal of experience with helping homeowners find solutions to their air quality problems. He offers the following expert tips for those wishing to breathe cleaner air or eliminate allergens at home:
- Air filters. The first step towards cleaner air is buying a high efficiency air filter for your home's heating and cooling system. A quality filter will clean the air as it passes through the system, preventing dust from settling.
- Air cleaners. The next line of defense is a good room air cleaner that has a HEPA level filter in it. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) is a standard given to filters that meet a strict efficiency requirement, and they are able to reduce 99.97 percent of all particles down to .3 microns in size.
- Vacuums. The third strategy recommended by Mapleton is to use a vacuum cleaner that includes a HEPA filter. This way, you are not redistributing dust or allergens back into the air as you vacuum.
For more information on making you home's air cleaner, check out the following organizations and websites:
EPA: Indoor Air Quality
www.epa.gov/iaq/
American Lung Association: Indoor Air Quality
www.lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_index.html
Epinions: Air Quality Products
www.epinions.com/well-Personal-Air
Allergy Buyer's Club: Air Purifier Comparisons
www.allergybuyersclub.com/compare-air.html
Clean Air Delivery Rate
www.cadr.org/consumer/index.html
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