Asthmatics - Here's Some Immediate Steps To Take For Cleaner Air

Look at your furnace or air-conditioning intake vent and locate the air filters—the same filters you probably haven't changed in some time. You can strike a blow against asthma today by changing every air filter you can find; look at your ceiling vents, furnace, and air conditioner. Check the owner's manual or call your service company to learn how often you need to change these filters. Ask the service representative or manufacturer if they sell special asthma- or allergy-friendly filters for their appliances.

 

Deciding on a HEPA filter with a quality gas and fume absorber in a rapidly ventilating unit should be easy. The hard part is deciding between acquiring portable/modular air cleaners or refitting your entire HVAC system with an induct filtration unit. While you can't control what happens to the air outside your house, you can control what happens to the air inside. If you have central air-conditioning or forced-air heat, there is ductwork that essentially monopolizes the air you breathe. Somewhere, probably on the ceiling, is an air-intake vent that sucks air into the HVAC system, which then spews it back into your home through a series of vents. Even if you don't have central air-conditioning or forced-air heat, your home may have some type of ventilation system.

 

A clean and efficient HVAC system can do wonders for asthma. Many people with asthma have trouble with "something" in the air and need to get it out of the air so it no longer irritates their lungs. The best way to rid that "something" from the air remains source control and ventilation. When source control and ventilation are impractical or impossible, such as with seasonal allergies, it's time to consider HVAC filtering systems. If you think an induct air-purifying system sounds right for you, call your local HVAC specialist to learn more.

 

Finally, your HVAC system has two ends: one for intake and one for output. Most homes have a single intake vent with multiple output vents. If you want to be meticulous, consider purchasing an electrostatic output vent filter to capture any contaminants your induct system may miss.

 

If you rarely use your furnace or air conditioner, or if you own an induct system but want extra help with trouble spots like the kitchen, consider a portable/modular air cleaner. As discussed previously, choose a portable air cleaner that uses a HEPA filter with a fume and odor sorbent in a unit that is rated for the room volume you want to clean. Pay attention to where you place your air purifier since location impacts efficiency. For example, to remove cooking fumes, place the unit's intake vent near the stove so the machine can suck up noxious fumes before they reach your lungs. But don't place the unit so close to the stove that it becomes a fire hazard. If your air cleaner is too hot to touch while cooking, it's probably too close to the stove. Finally, be careful not to block the unit's intake and output vents with furniture, walls, or appliances.

 

The nice part about portable air cleaners is that you turn them on and, with the exception of an occasional filter change, basically ignore them. Many people put their first unit in the bedroom, so it's important to buy a machine that runs quietly or is "noiseless." Usually, the quieter the machine, the more expensive it is, but a good night's sleep is worth the extra money. The bedroom is a logical place to start air purifying considering we spend a third of our lives in bed. Furthermore, the bedroom is one of the most hostile environments for asthmatics. How many HEPA units you use will depend on how aggressive you want to be; it's not unreasonable for some asthmatics to have a HEPA unit in every room.

 

One final note: Always change portable air filters outside, since old filters are loaded with contaminants that can be released back into the air with manipulation. The same advice applies to changing activated carbon filters and cleaning electrostatic precipitators. All used filters should be discarded in an outdoor trash container.