Author: Dennis Reed

Dennis Reed Owner and Author @ BreatheBetterAir.org

Air Purifier Price- Filtering Up the True Cost

Have you ever shopped around for an air purifier?

If you have, then you already have an ideal of the large gamut of features and choices you have to choose from.

And It is very hard to look at a box on a shelf and determine if the item inside is any good or not.

Most air purifier packaging have something about “great for pets” or “removes allergens up to 99 million percent”.

They’re all amazing apparently.

And they’re all Wi-Fi enabled, ready to send you a text when it’s time to replace the filter.

Ah yes, the filter…

air purifier replacement filter costAir Purifier Price – Replacement Filters

It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that you have to replace filters in air purifiers.

We all have motor vehicles that take upkeep and replacement filters from time to time so it’s not like we’re not used to it.

But the quality of the filters and the frequency of replacing the filters has a big impact on how much an air purifier costs.

Because you are not just buying an air purifier once, you are buying it over and over.

Because when it gets down to it,  the part of the air purifier that does the actual air cleaning is the filter or module.

It’s the essential part of an air purifier and it has to be replaced, and fairly often to do an adequate job.

Let’s face it, replacement filters are the real air purification industry.

So much so that many air purifier companies try to have you sign up for replacement filters that come to your door on an auto ship program.

And if you’re selling air purifiers it’s all good news to you. Because you’re not just selling the air purifier, you’re selling a recurring membership to the  air filter of the month club .

And there is certainly nothing wrong with commerce.

But from a consumer’s point of view, you should also be aware of how the air purifier industry works,

  and when it comes down to it, what is the actual cost of that air purifier that you are eyeballing going to run you.

air purifier familyCombination Air Purifier filters

Combination filters for air purifiers are easily the main style of air filters that you are going to run into.

Combination filters are a combination of a HEPA filter and a carbon filter.

Though they are truly more convenient because you only have to replace one part of the air purifier, they are also easily the most expensive.

Why wouldn’t they be, you’re buying two air filters in one.

You’ll find that some of the main and most popular brands of air purifiers like Levoit  and BlueAir are using the combination HEPA and carbon filter.

But the problem arrives when you realize that you cannot use the filters individually.

  You may be thinking “why would you want to?”

But did you know for instance, that carbon filters have a sweet smell?

They do. Almost a “birthday cake” sweet smell.

Some makers of carbon filters even use that smell as an indicator of when to replace your carbon filter.

Because once the smell starts to give out, it means the carbon has absorbed as much as it’s going to absorb.

All good.

But you should be aware of that before you purchase a filter that you cannot separate one from the other.

Another thing to remember is that you do not always have as much use for a carbon filter as you do the HEPA filter.

Carbon is a good odor and gas absorber when you need one. But that’s not usually as often as you need the HEPA filter.

The HEPA filter is the one that is primarily removing airborne particles like pollen and dust that are at the heart of most household allergens.

And you should know that before I say this,

that cleaning your own HEPA filter will definitely reduce the effectiveness and ability of it to capture airborne particles,

That being said, it is still done.

Activated Carbon filters on the other hand are more like a sponge than a traditional filter,

And once you get them wet, they’re pretty much done.

So if you ever want to do any type of do-it-yourself cleaning job on your filter,

It will not exactly be something you can do with a combination HEPA and carbon filter.

HEPA filters have long been the standard in air purification. They are manufactured in such a way that they are required to capture pollutants as small as .03 microns.

Though if you have been shopping for an air purifier lately, you probably noticed that most of the most popular air purifiers with combination filters are also featuring The H13 filter.

The H13 filter is HEPA filter designed to capture pollutants as small as .01 parts per million.

  This filter is advertised as a hospital grade filter that can capture the tiniest of particles including viruses, germs, and bacteria.

I can’t say whether or not these filters can capture pollutants as small as viruses or not,

But I can tell you for sure that having a filter with an even smaller path for air to move through will cause the filter to degrade much faster.

A tighter filter will simply get filled that much faster and reduce the period of time between filter replacements.

Air Purifier Price -The Main Point

When you purchase an air purifier that requires a combination filter, you will have to purchase and replace both the HEPA and the carbon filters at the same time,

Because regardless of whether they have both had the same amount of use, they are tied together and can’t be separated.

air purifier costAir Purifier Price- The Real Cost

 

When it comes to purchasing an air purifier, there’s definitely more to the story than you may initially have thought of.

“Filters are the back end of the air purifier industry and they are really where the majority of the money is made.”

And where the majority of the money is spent by the consumer.

  Most of the popular air purifiers these days including brands like Levoit and BlueAir require a periodic replacement filter that is a combination of HEPA and carbon.

Though it is very convenient it may sound great on the surface,

You should be aware of a few things before purchasing an air purifier but this type of replacement.

1. Carbon filters have a sweet smell.

If you find that you do not like the sweet smell of the carbon filter, there is no way to simply remove that filter and use the HEPA filter only.

2. Usage

 The HEPA filter is the main filter that you will get the most functionality out of. It is the filter that captures the air particles like pollen and mold spores that are primarily known to be household allergens.

3.  DIY filter cleaning

Though there is really no way to clean the HEPA filter yourself and get the same level of effectiveness out of it, it is still done and people do it all the time

A Carbon filter on the other hand, can’t be washed and water will completely render it useless.

Combination filters don’t give you the option of just cleaning the HEPA filter.

4. More Than You Need

 Lastly, the combination HEPA filter  that I am talking about has in the last year or so begun to feature the h13 style HEPA filter that is supposed to capture everyone contaminants as small as 01 microns versus the standard 03 microns.

Whether or not they are successful they’re doing so, I don’t know.
But since the filters are that much more tightly woven together, they will definitely need replacing more often.

“The Price of Air Purifiers is the initial cost of the air purifier plus the frequent filter replacements that are required for the air purifier to function adequately.”

You would have to admit, the replacement combination HEPA and carbon filter is a pretty crafty way of making a lot more money selling filters on the back end.

Just something to gnaw on….

Symptoms of High Humidity in Your Home (A Long Frizzy List)

If there is one thing that I have learned this past summer season is that a little humidity goes a long way.

This has been, no doubt, one of the rainiest spring and summer seasons I have ever lived through.

The heat has been through the roof and the air conditioners don’t even feel like they’re on half the time.

  I guess we all know how miserable, excessive humidity can feel going through our regular work and school days.

And just about everybody has had an experience with their hair looking terrible because of the humidity outside,

But comfortability and great hair could be the least of your worries when the humidity has risen sky high in your home.

Symptoms of high humidity in your home

If you tell tale signs that the humidity inside of your house is too high.

symptom of high humidity in your home1. Condensation on the windows

Everybody knows what it looks like in the bathroom when they get out of a hot steamy shower.

The mirror gets completely fogged over in the windows get a layer of condensation on them.

That’s par for the course and completely understandable in the bathroom.

But if you have condensation on the windows in other parts of the house, that’s not normal.

That is definitely a symptom of high irregular moisture in the air.

2. Allergies and breathing issues

Air that is heavy with humidity can be harder to breathe. Especially if you’re coming from an area that is dry and traveling to an area that is extra humid like the tropics.

  But adapting to breathing extra wet air is not the only thing that makes humidity tough on your respiratory system.

Humidity just happens to be one of the main ways that dust mites get their nourishment.

Heavy humidity can cause an explosion of dust mites. Which are a common household allergen that can cause you to have multiple symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and coughing.

Another allergen known to be spurred on by higher humidity is mold. More specifically the mold spores that are released from the mold and travel through the air looking for the next place to take root.

Allergies and breathing problems while in the house can definitely be a symptom of high humidity.

3.  Visible mold growing on the wall

If you have mold on the wall, there is no doubt that you have an issue with high humidity in the area of said mold.

Humidity is not only caused by climate, you can just as easily because of a leaking pipe.

Mold only needs a simple recipe of dampness, darkness, and something to feed on.

That’s why you find mold growing in places like under the kitchen and bathroom sinks so often.

If you find mold growing on the walls, you will also find a source of moisture fairly close by. Guaranteed.

4.  Wet drywall

If a room is exposed to heavy humidity for too long, the drywall can begin to absorb moisture out of the air.

The result can be areas in the drywall that are damp to the touch or slightly bowing.

Damp drywall can also be a symptom of humidity inside of the walls caused by a leaking pipe inside and near the damp part of the drywall.

Discoloration of the drywall is also a telltale sign that you have excessive humidity somewhere in the area.

If you have a dark discoloration in the drywall, you can be fairly sure that you have a leaky pipe in that area.

You probably noticed the leak like this in the ceiling before.

5. The smell of mildew

Mold and mildew have a specific smell that is hard to miss.

Even when you don’t see any signs of mold growing on the walls or find any areas of dampness,

The smell of mildew is a surefire indication that there is mold growing somewhere.

Your nose always knows so follow your nose.

Excessive humidity in your house can cause mildew to grow in any dark corner it can find.

Which means it will not be obvious to your eyes. So trust your nose, if you smell mildew, you are smelling a symptom of high humidity.

6. Air conditioner doesn’t feel like it’s running

High humidity can make the air conditioner feel like it’s doing very little or nothing at All.

If you got the air conditioner on and you know the filters are clean and there’s nothing going on with the thermostat,

There’s a good chance that the humidity level is just at a point that it’s causing the AC to feel pointless.

An Air conditioner not feeling cold can definitely be a symptom of high humidity and excessive moisture in the air.

7.  Excessive condensation coming from your air conditioner

If you are running a window air conditioner or using the air conditioner in your HVAC system and you notice a lot of condensation building up and dripping out of your unit,

You can bet that the humidity is high.

That is because these units convert the humidity in the air to condensation and funnel it outside.

Another way the air conditioner can provide you with a symptom of high humidity.

8.  AC is set to “Fan on” instead of “Auto”

If your air conditioner is set to the fan on position, the humidity that is typically funneled out of the air conditioner doesn’t have enough time to evaporate and is blown back into the house through the vents.

This can also happen when your air conditioner unit is too big for your house.

If your unit is too big then it can cause rapid cycling which will also not give the humidity enough time to evaporate before it’s blown back into the house.

Improper settings and unit size of an air conditioner can cause and be a symptom of high humidity in the home.

Summary

Symptoms of high humidity in the home come in the form of condensation on the windows and mold growing on the walls.

Other symptoms that suggest does the humidity is too high inside of the home is an air conditioner but just doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything

or having a hard time breathing because of the amount of dust mites and mold spores traveling through the air because of the high level of moisture feeding them.

And if you are smelling the musty smell of mildew, you can bet there is mold growing somewhere around you.

Another symptom that you have high humidity in your home.

What to do?

Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is a device that pulls humidity out of the air. Dehumidifiers come in all sizes and range from simple ” dump the water out yourself models” to modern Wi-Fi units that include humidistats with a pump and a hose attachment that make it super convenient to use.

Dry mode on the AC

There’s a good chance that the settings on your air conditioner include “dry mode”.

“Dry mode” is the dehumidifying function of a refrigerated air conditioning unit.

The AC itself

Though the humidity can get to a point that it makes the cool function of an air conditioner seem like it’s not doing anything,
Running the air conditioner, provided we are talking about a refrigerated AC, will still reduce the humidity inside of your home.
And many times, it’s not the temperature that’s making your home uncomfortable, just the humidity itself.

Should You Use Air Purifier and Diffuser at the Same Time?

Should You Use an Air Purifier and Diffuser at the Same TimeAchieving a relaxing atmosphere is an integral part of making your space enjoyable. This includes the air, fragrances, and other elements that create this atmosphere.

To achieve these goals in your home or office, you need both a great air purifier and the best diffuser to enrich with a calming fragrance. 

Here, many people face challenges – deciding how to use them together in the best possible way? 

If so, then look no further! Here is everything you need to know about these two devices and whether it is recommended to use them together or not.

What Does an Air Purifier Do?

It is essential to provide your home with filtered, clean air for the health of everyone who inhabits it.

An air purifier removes allergens, bacteria, and other particles that can harm your respiratory system.

This ensures that you are getting fresh air in your home all day, every day, and multiple settings on a cleaner will allow you to use it only when necessary – at night while sleeping or when cooking food, for example.

An air purifier does not emit a subtle scent as a diffuser does. If you have pets, children, or smoke in and around your home – an AIR PURIFIER SHOULD BE YOUR PRIORITY! D

What are Diffusers For?

 

On the other hand, a diffuser emits a subtle scent and is typically used to create a relaxing experience. It can be used for both aromatherapy and home fragrance. The amount of time that you should run them concurrently depends on your needs and preferences.

Today’s diffusers are available in various shapes, sizes, capacities, and types of water and oils used. These can be broken down into two categories: cool mist and ultrasonic.

Cool-mist diffusers work by heating water or a variety of oils until the natural compounds in these substances evaporate into the air – hence, creating the wonderful fragrance that they are so well known for! 

Is it Possible to Use an Air Purifier and Diffuser Simultaneously?

 

It is possible but not necessary. The two devices perform different functions, so using one may disrupt the effectiveness of the other in some cases.

Some air purifiers are sensitive to odors; essential oils will be trapped inside, contaminating them with smell rather than allowing their scent to permeate through open spaces for aromatherapy benefits.

So Which One Should You Use?

 

Air purifiers and diffusers are both magnetic products. Diffusing essential oils can be an easy way to help you live a healthier lifestyle, but using a quality air purifier is too!

 They perform two different functions: the one traps pollutants like dust mites or pet dander while the other wrap your room in beautiful scents- perfect for mood-boosting therapy sessions at home without any of those pesky side effects we’ve all come to know from synthetic fragrances. 

What is the Solution?

Suppose you find yourself in a situation where both an air purifier and a diffuser are needed.
We recommend first using your air purifier to eliminate unwanted particles or contaminants.
After it is safe for breathing again, go ahead and enjoy the fresh scents of essential oils from your diffuser.

Bottom Line

Air purifiers and diffusers both have their purposes, but it’s not always possible to use them simultaneously.
 If you want a quick solution that will help clean your home of allergens, viruses, bacteria, or other pollutants, then an air purifier is the right choice for you.

However, if you are looking for something more long-term, like better sleep quality or improved mood, then diffusing oils may be the best option since they can last up to 8 hours in a room! But you can get the best of both worlds by using them alternatively in a systematic way. 

We hope this blog post could shed some light on which one would work best for your needs. Which do you think suits what you need?

Can a Humidifier Make you Sick? (A Better Question is When?)

Is there any truth to the idea that using a humidifier can make you sick? Why exactly do you think that could be?

Think about it…

The humidifier falls into a category of appliances and machines that use water and have a basin to fill with water.

Other machines like evaporative coolers,  air washers, and dehumidifiers all fall in the same category.

The one thing that each of these devices or machines have in common is the chance of getting contaminated when not maintained adequately.

More to the point, the water in them has a chance of getting contaminated when it is left standing.

Bacteria and mold can begin to take root and get a foothold in as little as 48 hours in standing water.

Can a humidifier make you sick?

humidifier mold sickness



A humidifier can make you sick when it is not maintained correctly.

A dirty humidifier with contaminated water can become a literal germ distributor when it is operated.

Diseases like Legionnaires are directly connected to breathing in the mist from bacteria contaminated water.

Pontiac Fever is a lesser version of the disease that occurs the exact same way.

Most people agree that a humidifier is not as likely to get bad enough to spread Legionnaires disease.

But it is a strong enough threat that the Israeli Ministry of Health issued a warning about the incorrect use of domestic humidifiers and their connection to Legionnaires.

The bottom line is that humidifiers
must be emptied once a day and cleaned thoroughly once a week.

And that yes, there is a chance of a humidifier making you sick if it is not cared for adequately.

And if you already have a predisposition to mold allergies, the chance of getting sick from an unmaintained humidifier can be that much worse.

So if you are in the market for a humidifier, it would be well worth it to search for one that is easy to clean and is dishwasher safe.

Many brands of humidifiers are starting to use features like ultraviolet light and carry additives that help keep mold and bacteria from growing or at least nearly as fast.

Over Humidifying

Another way that humidifiers can affect your health adversely is using one when the humidity is already high.

Air that is thick with heavy humidity can be harder to breathe.

And it’s very hard to breathe if you already suffer from a condition like asthma.

High humidity also promotes dust mite and mold growth.

Both of which fall into a category of airborne allergens that can cause symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, and fatigue.

Mold can also take root in your house, hiding in dark spaces where it can grow out of control and cause a great deal of damage in a very short time.

Maintaining a relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent is the key. And if the humidity is already above that range,

Running a humidifier will only make it more humid and exasperate the problem.

A dehumidifier or simply running the central heat and air would be a better solution to help reduce the humidity and thin the air.

Humidifier Pros Though Bro

healthy relative humidity

But with all the talk of how a humidifier can be dangerous when not properly kept,

It makes you forget how beneficial a humidifier actually is, when it is properly used and maintained.

And how important maintaining the proper relative humidity is to your health.

Humidity is a subject that most people don’t consider to be related to anything other than a bad hair day or a muggy uncomfortable afternoon.

But humidity has much more to do with staying healthy then you may have thought.

Like I previously mentioned, keeping the relative humidity at the optimal point is the key.

An actual quote in the National Library of Medicine states “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.

That’s a pretty big statement.

Another study concluded that “rodents and environments with 10 to 20% relative humidity succumb to influenza virus infection or rapidly than those housed in 50% relative humidity”

This leads to the conclusion that relative humidity is much more important to maintaining your health than previously thought.

Wouldn’t you say?

Benefits of Optimal Humidity

Some of the benefits of using a humidifier when the air is too dry include:

  • Reducing flu and viral transmission

Studies show that a proper relative humidity keeps viral droplets from being able to travel as far during cold and flu season.

  • Repairing Dry skin

Dehydrated skin equals dry skin.  When there is not enough mouth in the air , the air itself becomes an absorber, pulling the moisture out of your skin.

Dry skin is also at the heart of acne. A lack of moisture in the air also exacerbates psoriasis.

Increasing the moisture in the air with a humidifier can help improve and heal dry, damaged skin.

  • Managing Dust

Dust is made up of a huge list everything you can think of including dead skin and the exoskeletons of insects. As well as pollen and mold spores.

Running a humidifier helps add weight to the dust particles floating through the air. This keeps dust from being able to enter your airways and cause any number of allergic symptoms.

And for asthma sufferers, it can be the difference in breathing or not and triggering an attack.

Recap

There is no question that a moldy humidifier can make you sick.

There are conditions including Legionnaires and Pontiac Fever that are  caught by breathing in humidity droplets that are tainted with mold.

It is obviously very important to keep your humidifier clean as well as any other devices or machines that you have in your home that require adding or emptying water like in the case of a dehumidifier.

But don’t let the maintenance involved in using a humidifier keep you from doing so.

The benefits of keeping the relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent are as important to your health as eating, drinking, and sleeping well and enough.

Your skincare is absolutely dependent and maintaining the proper humidity as well. This includes treating Acne and helping to relieve psoriasis.

How to Get Rid of Dust in the Air? – A Moist Ideal

Living in dusty conditions can have a number of adverse health effects including dry skin and breathing problems.

Common household dusting will never go away. But living with the amount of dust in the air can be minimized.

  Sometimes that may mean filtering out the dust before it has a chance to land.

And sometimes that may mean adding weight to the dust so that it lands quickly and doesn’t remain in the ambient or direct air that you are breathing.

Sometimes it means using an air compressor or leaf blower and blowing it to the wind.

In most cases it’s probably a little of All the above.

How to get rid of dust in the air?

Humidity

Humidity is a big factor when it comes to dust in your home.

That’s right.

Humidity is not the first thing you think of when you are trying to figure out a way to keep the dust in the air down.

But dry air facilitates dust including all the germs and bacteria that the dust floating through the air is carrying.

So much so, that the National Library of Medicine at PubMed has stated that:

“the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%”.

How does that correlate to the amount of dust in the air and minimizing it?

  Because when the air is dryer, dust  floats easily because it has nothing to  weigh it down.

When the relative humidity is kept between 40 and 60%, there is enough moisture to adhere to the floating dust particles,

including viruses attached in the dust,

to weigh down the dust particles so that it becomes too heavy to float and fall out of the ambient air (the air that you breathe).

Dry Skin

 

Dry air not only creates an easy path for germs and allergens to travel, it also creates an atmosphere for dry skin.

The lack of moisture in the air actually creates a vacuum that pulls moisture from anywhere it can get it.

And one of those places just happens to be your skin.

The dust particles that land on your face are doing the exact same thing. Absorbing the moisture out of your skin and leaving you dried out and itchy.

So as funny as it may seem, the relative humidity is the first thing you want to check when your air quality is too dusty.

How can you know if the moisture level of your air is maintaining the optimal point? How do you check your relative humidity to make sure that it is on point?

A Hygrometer

A Hygrometer is a device that measures the humidity much the same way a thermometer measures the temperature.

And once you’ve found that the moisture level in your air has dipped below the point needed using a hygrometer,

You will need a way to correct the problem.

Humidifier

A Humidifier is the machine that adds moisture to the air if you find that the relative humidity in your room space has lowered to the point that dust and dry air have become a problem.

Humidifiers are not a new ideal and have been around for a long time.

But as the knowledge of maintaining the proper humidity level has so much to do with staying healthy and maintaining healthy skin,

Humidifiers have become sophisticated devices that come complete with a hygrometer/humidistat function to measure and maintain your relative humidity.

They also come with much larger basins and many options to help them stay germ free longer.

Air purifiers

  Of course, humidity or lack thereof is not the only reason your air may be dirty.

If for instance you live on a dirt road that is subject to dust being kicked up continually,

It is as simple as your environment.

An air purifier along with standard sweeping and vacuuming is going to do more to eliminate dust from your air at that point.

Most air purifiers work like a vacuum that pulls air through a series of filters that capture dust as well as other airborne particulates like pollen and mold spores.

Standard HEPA air purifiers are capable of filtering dust particles as small as .003 ppm. Any many air purifier manufacturers are selling purifiers with filters that are able to capture particles as small as .001 ppm

That’s pretty small.

Other air purifiers employ electronic technologies like negative ions and ultraviolet light.

Ionizers or negative ion generators use polarity to clump dust particles together so that they become too heavy to float and fall out of the air you breathe.

Similar to the effect that a humidifier has on the air as moisture helps clump and weigh down thus particles too.

Only with an ionizer, there is no moisture involved, only the production and release of ions.

It’s important though to realize that  ionizers actually make your surfaces extra Dusty.

And some surfaces like TV screens and computer monitors will attract the magnetized dust particles faster than other surfaces.

That’s an important distinction to make when you’re looking for a way to get dust out of your air.

  Because though the air that you are breathing will be cleaner with the use of an ionizer, the amount of dusting you do will probably increase.

Vacuuming

A great deal of dust in the air comes in the form of simple walking. Walking has a way of causing a whirlwind of dust to re-enter the airstream.

Frequent vacuuming can help keep dust out of the air more so than you may believe.

Other types of dust that come from machinery like sanders and table saws need to be vacuumed as it is produced in order to keep the level of dust from becoming a major ordeal.

Using compressed air to push the dust out of the air can work as long as there is a place for it to go. Like say a garage with a large door that the dust could be blown out of.

But dust that comes from construction like sanding wood or using a table saw will most always be better vacuumed with a shop VAC as it is being produced rather than blown with an air compressor.

The amount of dust created during a wood project can be pretty hard to displace by just blowing it.

Recap

Getting rid of dust in the air can be as simple as adding humidity back into the air with a humidifier.

Dusty air, a great deal of the time is due to a drop in the relative humidity.

By adding moisture back to the air with the humidifier, the dust in the air will absorb moisture and become too heavy to float and fall out of the air you breathe.

Other types of dusty air are environmental and can come from things like living next to a dirt road or a wind storm blowing through.

This type of dust can be rectified by using an air purifier that pulls air through a series of filters as a means of cleaning the air.

Other types of air purifiers like ionizers, though will clear the ambient air that you breathe, they will also leave your surfaces dustier. And create more of an opportunity to kick the dust back into the air.

And other types of Dusty air that are created using machinery are most always best resolved by attaching a shop VAC to the machinery that you are using to capture the dust as it is being created.

Portable Swamp Cooler – My Recent Experience in Colorado

My family took our summer vacation in the mountains of Colorado this year.

It’s not the first time we’ve made this trip during the summer but I can say it was definitely the hottest Colorado trip I’ve ever taken.

My normal experience with Colorado weather is that it is super dry and the peak temperature is usually around 85°.

This year we found ourselves walking around in 95° weather with 30 and 40% humidity.

Miserable to say the least.

If you haven’t been to Colorado Springs or any of the other touristy towns in Colorado,

One thing they all have in common is   there is a great number of small shops and stores selling souvenirs, candy, and just about everything else you can think of, scattered all along the area.

As we were walking through some of these stores, there was one thing that I noticed quite a lot.

Most of these little shops were using portable swamp coolers to help cool the inside temperature.

But the problem was, the humidity outside was so high that you could barely feel anything coming out of these units.

There was one store that had a couple air movers that were doing much more to help combat the heat than the portable evaporative cooler they had setting at the door.

And there were a few shops that were using refrigerated window air conditioning and you could tell a big difference when you walk into those stores.

But seeing how the weather in Colorado is typically very dry, portable swamp coolers seem to be the AC unit of choice.

  One portable swamp cooler I saw was so filthy that there was no way water was going to soak the pads enough to cool off the air.

So I’m not saying that the units were all maintained perfectly.

And most of these shops could have been getting a lot better result from the swamp coolers if they were putting ice in the cooler water periodically throughout the day.

But after going through a summer of excessive heat and humidity like this,

I’d imagine that a great deal of those vendors are going to be looking to switch over to window air conditioners by next summer.

Portable swamp cooler- yay or nay

  Swamp coolers can do an excellent job in the right circumstances.

The problem is that this has probably been one of the most humid Summers I can remember ever going through.

And remembering back to last year, it rained so little that you could barely keep the grass wet. Definitely one of the dryer seasons I remember.

So going the portable swamp cooler route is a hit or miss.

My opinion is that if you’re grappling with whether you are going to purchase a portable swamp cooler or go with a portable refrigerated air unit or window AC,

My experience is, you will be much happier with a refrigerated AC unit.

Like I mentioned before, the shops on our Colorado trip that had Window ACs built into the wall were much cooler.

And one of the main reasons I believe that was the case is that refrigerated window ACs work as dehumidifiers as they cool the air.

In fact most Window ACs you can buy these days, have a dry mode setting to operate the unit in dehumidifier mode only.

And if the temperature itself is not all that high, bringing the humidity down with a dehumidifier or the dry mode on a window AC is going to help quite a bit.

And even make the need for an air conditioner obsolete.

Of course, if you have no way of exhausting the heat from a window air conditioner or portable AC, then a portable swamp cooler is going to be better than nothing at all.

And if you live in an area where dry weather is the norm and you’re certain that the summer heat is not going to be tainted by excessive humidity then you’re probably going to be happy with a portable swamp cooler.

Humid air is not necessarily hot air and like I mentioned a few paragraphs back, there was one shop that we visited in Colorado that was getting particularly good results using air movers. Which is basically a high velocity fan.

A fan, although maybe not on the level of a dehumidifier, can do an awful lot to help dry out the air in a specific room.

And when the humidity is so high that 80° feels like 100°, a high strength fan can go a long way towards drying out the air and bringing out the overall comfortability in a room.

But again if you are grappling on which way to turn while shopping for a way to cool off your room or shop, a refrigerator air unit is going to be a much more efficient way of cooling down the temperature in a room and also have the capacity to lower the humidity when it’s the moisture in the air that’s making things so uncomfortable.

Recap

If you’re thinking about purchasing a new unit to help cool down the air in your room or garage, there are several different options you may look into.

The above article spoke about how on a recent trip to the Colorado mountains, I noticed that most of the souvenir shops that I visited had portable swamp coolers.

But since this has been a particularly humid season, the swamp coolers we’re not doing much of a job cooling the air.

But the couple of shops that I went into were using window air conditioners we’re much cooler.

  And one of the shops I visited was getting a good result out of using high velocity air movers.

The winner bar none was the window air conditioning that was installed through the wall.

Not only was it able to cool down the room better during an insufferable humid day, it also had the capacity to reduce the humidity through the dry mode function.

Portable swamp coolers have their place as long as you realize that they are not going to do much good when the weather is muggy.

At that point, you’d get better use out of a high-speed fan or an air mover.

How Do You Deodorize a Room Quickly?

 

 

We all know that bad smells are disgusting and can make you feel sick. Again Deodorizing a room is not as easy as you might think.

So, how do you deodorize a room quickly?

How long does it take to remove the stench of cigarettes, body odor, and food from your living quarters? How can I make my dormitory smell less like stale beer and more like fresh linen?

These are common questions for people who live in large households or have roommates with poor hygiene habits.

It’s not always easy to figure out how to get rid of the odor, but we have some tips for you! In this blog post, we will give you step-by-step instructions on how to clean up your home so it doesn’t smell bad anymore

Why Does My Room Smell Bad?

how to deodorize a room quickly
You’ve just walked into a room. Why does it smell? Surely, there’s something wrong with that!

It’s one of the most frustrating things to walk into a room and have it smell bad. It is not easy to tell what causes a bad smell in the room.

You might be aware of some factors that could give rise to this problem, but it won’t hurt if we find out more about why your room smells bad.

Stagnant Air

Stagnant Air Causes Room Smell Bad. Fresh air can be the answer to eliminating bad odors from your home, office, or business.

Dirty Laundry

Laundry causes the room to smell bad for 2 reasons. First, it’s dirty and second, you leave wet clothes in a pile when they’re clean. In order to avoid bad odors in your room, it’s important not to let dirty laundry pile up. Dirty clothes should be washed regularly because they will produce unpleasant scents if you leave them for too long.

Leftover Food

Kitchen is the heart of a house. It is where you prepare food for your family, friends, and guests with your valuable kitchen appliances. Unfortunately, food waste causes the smell of your kitchen to be bad.

The main cause of the smell is bacteria. Bacteria thrive in moist, warm environments where food particles are available to eat and grow. 

“To avoid this problem, make sure that you have a garbage can close by when you’re done eating so that the leftovers don’t go to waste and spoil in your kitchen’s smell.”

And also the longer food stays in the refrigerator, the more likely it is to cause odors that make your kitchen smell bad. When you’re done eating a meal or snack, make sure to remove all leftover food.

Stagnant Air

Stagnant Air Causes Room Smell Bad. Fresh air can be the answer to eliminating bad odors from your home, office, or business.

Garbage Disposal Stink

You probably know that garbage disposals can make your kitchen smell bad, but you may not have realized the extent of their odor.
They produce odorous gases that are absorbed by the surrounding air. These smells are often easily avoided by keeping your garbage disposal clean.

Carpet Smells

Most people think that the carpet smells cause the room to smell bad. In reality, it is the other way around—room smell bad causes the carpet to smell. It’s very common for carpets to smell bad because they get dirty easily and accumulate bacteria over time.

How Do I Make My Room Smell Fresh?

How Do I Make My Room Smell Fresh?




You might be thinking that you need to clean the room from top-to-bottom, but there are a few quick and easy ways to deodorize your home. Here are some ways to make your room smell fresh.

Dust Your Room from Top to Bottom

If you want to deodorize your room, just dust it. Dusting your room helps to deodorize it and make you feel better. Dusting removes a lot of the dirt and dust in your room. Also, dusting is fun! Dusting your room is one of the most important things you can do to keep it smelling fresh.

Use an Indoor Air Purifier

Did you know that the air inside your home can be more polluted than outside? Indoor air is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. If you have a room that smells bad, use an Indoor Air Purifier.

Indoor Air Purifiers are very useful for eliminating smells from rooms. They really help you feel more comfortable inside your house and can even reduce allergies and asthma symptoms.

Feed Your Garbage Disposal Oranges and Ice

Did you know that your garbage disposal can smell bad? I’m going to tell you how to make your garbage disposal smell good. Feed your garbage disposal oranges and ice. This is the most effective way to deodorize a room. In fact, if you put them in there every once in a while it will deodorize your room.

Remove Smell From Carpet

Carpeting is a great way to make your house look nice. However, it can get pretty smelly if you do not keep up with regular cleaning. If you have a room that smells like smoke, the best way to deodorize it is to sprinkle baking soda all over your carpet. Then vacuum up the baking soda and voila! Your room will smell fresh again.

Open Your Windows

Did you know that opening your windows for just 15 minutes can reduce the levels of these toxic chemicals in your home? It is not good to keep the doors and windows closed because it’s hard to breathe in a closed place. You must open your windows to let fresh air in. When you do that, it deodorizes your room and makes the smells go away.

Turn on a Dehumidifier

You can deodorize your room by setting up a Dehumidifier. You can save some money by turning on a dehumidifier to get rid of the musty smell in your room.

They come in different types, so you should know what to buy when getting one.

Use an Odor Absorber

If you have a stinky room, don’t worry. You can just use an Odor Absorber to get rid of the odor in your home or office. A deodorizer can be used to remove smells from a room. Odor absorbers are great for use in places like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where there may be unpleasant odors.

Conclusion:

Deodorizing a room can save you from the embarrassment of having an unpleasant odor in your space. And, when it comes to deodorizing a room, there are many options. However, the best way is to start using an air purifier song with some natural remedies. 

For you, we have compiled some helpful tips that will help get rid of even the most stubborn smells and prevent them from coming back too soon.

We hope you found our guide on “How do you deodorize a room quickly” helpful.

Blueair Pure Air 211 vs. Levoit Core 300 (yeah baby!)

Blueair Pure Air 211 

Blueair is an amazing air purification manufacturer out of Sweden that has some of the absolute best air purifier products on the market.

The Blueair Pure Air 211 is no exception.

This air purifier is about simplicity. It has one control button located directly on the face of the air purifier. One control button to simply eliminate allergens, odors, dander, and mold.

This air purifier employs true HEPA, activated carbon, and a washable pre-filter.

It is very small, coming in at only 20 in tall and about a foot diameter.

The video for blue Air is one of the most astounding videos that any air purification company has produced.

Check the Price of the Blueair Pure Air 211 on Amazon

The rate at which this air purifier is able to remove all the smoke in a room is unheard of.

The noise level this air purifier operates on- 31 decibels for low and 56 decibels on high is also a landmark that other air purifiers have not been able to reach.

I know what you’re thinking. I’m pouring it on thick.

Well….

For starters, This IS an awesome HEPA air purifier and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype.

This air purifier does have an amazing clean air delivery rate and can filter a 500 ft room about five times an hour.

But….

There is some things you might want to consider with this air purifier before you go rushing in paying a big price for it.

For one, the replacement filter for it is $45. And the recommended time span to replace it is every 6 months. So you’re looking at an extra $100 a year to keep a fresh filter.

And companies like this are not stupid when it comes to the way they manufacture these filters.

blueair pure airThey know that if they sell you a separate HEPA filter and a separate carbon filter that even though you will not be able to get a 100% clean result, you can still clean a HEPA filter pretty well and make it last much longer.

But when it is tied to a carbon filter, it’s not going to be nearly as easy to clean and you will not be able to reactivate the carbon since it has to be heated to 1,000° or something.

Second, carbon filters are sold by weight. And getting a carbon filter heavy enough and big enough to absorb strong odors is not very likely in a small air purifier. Another thing that you rarely hear about carbon filters themselves is that they can have a strong sweet smell.

Most of the reviews you find about the blue Air carbon filter is that the smell of the filter is not too good. And since the carbon filter is the part of the air purifier that is supposed to get rid of odors in the room…. WTF? You get the point.

Check the Price of the Levoit Core 300 on Amazon

Levoit Core 300

The Core 300 by Levoit is the close runner-up the BlueAir 211

It is less than half the price for one Levoit core 300 but it also covers about half the square footage.

The filters for the Levoit come in two different styles. One rated for pet allergies is $36 and one that is the original at $30.

What’s the difference between the two filters?
No one’s saying exactly but it looks like the pet allergy model has a heavier mass of carbon than the original.
That would make sense because carbon is the part of the filter that absorbs odors.

For less than the price of one blue Air 211, you could purchase two 

Levoit Core 300s and place them on two different sides of a large room and get a better result than trying to clean a large room with one air purifier.

But two filters for two small air Core 300 purifiers is slightly more than one filter for one large air purifier.

But the fact remains that it is always better to put smaller air purifiers throughout the house than it is to have one large air purifier and try to get air from the whole house or large room circulating through the one air purifier. Make sense?

Plus there’s also the added benefit of being able to place smaller air purifiers and smaller rooms when you need them to be there.

Downside:
But remember, though you may be able to get a better air purification process out of two small air purifiers than one, the noise level of two air purifiers in the same room will be louder than one.

Levoit also has its own large air purifier line that is advertised to cover 700 square feet and only slightly more than the blue Air. But it also has a smart sensor that automatically adjusted the speed of the fan on the air purifier to match the amount of indoor air pollution that needs to be eliminated.

The price for the filter is $70. The pet allergy and smoker version cost $100.
The filter has a suggested life of 6 to 8 months before you have to replace it.

You can see how expensive it can get to run a Levoit large room air purifier pretty quickly.

The Levoit core 300 is an excellent air purifier that boasts all the same features as the blue Air.
Very quiet and able to completely filter the air in the room five times per hour.

And the reviews for Levoit are typically very good.

What’s the Best buy? Blue Air 211 or Levoit Core 300

Two small air purifiers by Levoit is a better deal than the larger 211 air purifier by Blue Air.

The price of the filters will be a little more but they are rated for 6 to 8 months over the 6 months expected exchange on the BlueAir.

It is better to have smaller air purifiers throughout a home or large room than it is to try to get one big air purifier to do all the work.

Food for thought:

If your main concern is getting rid of allergens and dust and you could take or leave the carbon filter, there are plenty of HEPA air purifiers that do not use an all-in-one true HEPA and carbon filter. Cheaper.

And though it may be true that you will not be able to completely wash a HEPA filter 100%. They still can be rinsed quite well if they are not sealed together with a carbon filter.

Regardless, filters are the part of the air purifier business where the big money is made.

And for the consumer, it is where most of the money is spent.

Do Air Purifiers Work for Kitchen Smells?

Kitchens are one of the rooms which are most likely to have odor builds up. The smell of spices, searing or browning foods, fish, meat, and all the other things are enough to ruin your day. So, if you are tired of having a smelly kitchen and are searching for a solution, you have landed in the right place.    

Air purifiers work great to remove smells or unpleasant odors from your home air. And, in this guide, we will show you how do air purifiers work for kitchen smells and how to find out the best one. So, stay with us to explore how an air purifier can free you from your smelly kitchen.   

Do Air Purifiers Work for Kitchen Smells?

do air purifiers work for kitchen smellsAs per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPS) indoor air is 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. In this case, air purifiers are the best ever solution to purify indoor air. They remove all the harmful pollutants, chemicals, and odor from the indoor air. But, do air purifiers work for kitchen smells also?

The answer is YES, air purifiers definitely can help you with the musty kitchen smell. It can be the ultimate kitchen odor removal machine and ensure smell free air in your kitchen. Here are the facts for how air purifiers remove the kitchen smell.

  1. Air purifiers are usually designed with activated carbon filters which are odor neutralizers. These filters trap and lock down the kitchen smell and eliminate the bad smells immediately from the air. 
  2. Another thing is true HEPA filters which not only clean the pollutants but also remove the bad smell effectively from the kitchen air. With the fine filter mechanism that can even remove the smallest particles. 
  3. Some air filters have UV lights and these are best for killing odor-causing molds, dirt, and other pollutants. 
  4. This device either uses electric attraction or a series of fans with multiple speeds that helps the air move faster. Once sucking in all the contaminated air from the room these fans pass them through the filters. You can speed up the fan if the smell is really tough to beat.   
  5. The automatic detection feature of most air purifiers can sense the dirt or smell of your air. Then automatically adjusted the device’s setting and started working to remove the smell from the room.    

Using an air purifier for the kitchen can ensure your overall cooking environment and experience fresh and smell free. In addition, your kitchen will be free from allergens and germs. 

What To Consider Before Buying an Air Purifier for Kitchen Smells?

Air purifiers work amazingly to keep your home air bacteria-free and odor-free. But when it comes to removing kitchen smells, not all air purifiers can do this. To make sure, your air purifier can eliminate your kitchen smell effectively, you must consider some features. So, while buying one for your kitchen do consider the following features.

Odor Filtration

The most effective method for odor elimination in the kitchen is using an air purifier with an activated carbon filter. This filter is well known as the best absorption media filter. Usually, activated carbon can easily trap cooking odors, gases, vaporized oils, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This filter becomes saturated quickly and is better for absorbing odorous elements efficiently.  

There are some other odors filtration technologies available and these are Plasmawave and Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO). Photocatalytic oxidation air purifiers use ultraviolet radiation and a photocatalyst, to produce hydroxyl (OH) radicals that are purportedly generated to destroy gaseous contaminants.

HEPA Filter

When you cook something, the food releases tiny particles alongside VOCs. In this case, the true HEPA grade filters come in very handy to trap all the fine and even the tiniest airborne pollutants. However, HEPA filters are designed to capture the pollen, dust, dander, bacteria, and smoke from the air. 

Once capturing the smell-causing particles and gaseous vapors, they pass right through the HEPA filter. In this way, it prevents the smell from spreading over the kitchen or around your house.     

An Ionizer 

Generally, ions latch onto particles and make them weigh down. As a result, they fall onto the floor or stick to the surfaces and create bad odors. Here, ionizers emit all these negatively charged ions. It works as a supplemental feature that boosts the effectiveness of an air purifier to reduce the bad smell. 

Keep in mind that ionizers release Ozone which is harmful to your health. But, as per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if the ozone level remains less than 0-0.05 ppm, it is considered safe for the human body. So, while buying make sure the level of the ozone.  

VOC or Particle Sensor

Mostly, kitchen odor is caused due to vaporized or volatilized oils, and tiny particles. Therefore, you can look out for an air purifier that is designed with built-in air quality, particle, and VOC sensors. This combination will be great for eliminating your kitchen odor.   

Air Intake and Output Design

Considering the design of air intake and output is essential for ensuring accurate placement of the air purifier. You should lookout for a compact, sideways, and flat design. With this shape, it will be convenient to place the air purifier nearby to the wall. One more thing, the 360° air intake purifiers are also considered best for better air circulation

Benefits of Kitchen Air Purifiers

kitchen air purifiers
It will be the most wise choice to get an air purifier for your kitchen. Having a kitchen air purifier is essential to get all the healthy benefits. In addition to keeping your kitchen odor-free, this device can do a lot more things for your kitchen. So, here are all the additional benefits that you will get from your kitchen air purifier.

  • Removes all the allergens from the kitchen air caused by spices, smoke, and other food ingredients. 
  • Ensuring filtering the kitchen air constantly to prevent the musty smells, especially when you cook for a longer time. 
  • It will protect your family member who suffers from respiratory disease caused by inhalation of smoke and contaminants.
  • This device effectively reduces VOCs from your kitchen caused by gas leakages or burnt food.   
  • Air purifiers extract particles that cause lung diseases, allergies, asthma, mesothelioma developments, and many more. 
  • The major advantage is, it reduces the level of carbon dioxide from your indoor environment.                                           

Final Verdict

Cooking is fun but when it comes to the lingering smell, it feels very unpleasant. Over time, the cooking smell started to stink and even spread to the other rooms, which is very irritating. In this awful situation, an air purifier can help you out. If you don’t have one, getting a purifier will be a wise choice.   

With the air cleaning technology, this useful device can make your kitchen atmosphere fresh and absolutely odor-free. For your better convenience, we have shared how do air purifiers work for kitchen smells, in this guide. Hopefully, you have enjoyed this guide and we are able to help you out.  

Do Humidifiers Clean the Air? (You May Be Surprised)

Do Humidifiers Clean the Air?

A humidifier is not the same thing as an air purifier and doesn’t have a way to filter air.

But a humidifier can be a type of air purifier when the air is too dry.

Maintaining the proper relative humidity in a room has an air purification effect on the air.
  This is because humidity droplets are heavier than the dust particles , including viruses and bacteria.

  So when the humidity binds itself to the dust in the air, the dust becomes too heavy to float and falls out of the ambient air that you breathe.

  Very similar to the way an ionic air purifier works.

  Except in the case of the air purifier it is ions that are binding to dust and causing it to fall.

Humidifier for Plants

 

Another way that humidifiers help clean the air is by keeping your air purifying plants healthy.

If you haven’t seen it, there’s a popular list of plants that NASA was conducted research on and determined natural air purifiers.

A humidifier is one of the best ways to keep your plant life thriving in your home.

Adding some of the plants like spider plant and rubber plant that NASA has determined are air purifying plants to your home is an excellent way of utilizing a humidifier in an air purification mode.

Dry air can cause a variety of issues including interrupting respiratory function and causing skin and acne problems.

When the Air does not have enough moisture, it allows dust to float and travel freely making it into your pores and also absorbing the moisture out of your skin and your nasal cavities.

Using a humidifier to keep the relative humidity in your home at 40 to 60% will alleviate most dry air symptoms.

  But on the flip side…  over-humidifying the air can have the opposite effect.

  Air that is too humid can explode the dust mite population exponentially in your home. It will also promote mold growth which in turn will unleash mold spores into your Air.

When the humidity gets above 60%, running a  humidifier we’ll make the air quality worse.

For instance, Basements are notorious for being extra humid. Running a humidifier in a basement would be the opposite of what you need to do.

A dehumidifier is a more useful device at that point. Refrigerated air conditioners double as dehumidifiers and some even have “dry mode” settings that allow you to bring the humidity level down in your home without bringing the actual temperature down.

Many basements require industrial vents to pull the moisture out of the area.

Monitoring and keeping your relative humidity between 40 and 60% is the key .

You can purchase humidifiers and dehumidifiers that have a hygrometer or a humidistat built in to ensure that you are adding or taking away the right amount of humidity to stay healthy.

Both humidifiers and dehumidifiers come equipped with smart apps that you can get notifications from as well as monitor your relative humidity remotely at any time.

Though a humidifier can be a huge factor and do a great deal to help manage the air quality when conditions are dry,

A humidifier is not a replacement for an air purifier because indoor air pollution does not rely solely on the air being dry or extra humid.

And air purifiers are useful all year long whereas humidifiers usually gets stored away during the warmer and hot months.

But an air purifier will do nothing to add or take away moisture from your air.

And unfortunately there is not an appliance that can humidify, dehumidify, and filter the air. At least nothing available that can do a great job at any of the three.

Recap

A humidifier can help clean the air when conditions are dry.

Without the adequate moisture in the air, airborne particles, including germs, bacteria, and viruses, can float much easier and travel much further.

A humidifier will add moisture droplets to the air that will bind with the dust particles and cause them to be too heavy to float. The result will be cleaner and fresher air.

But a humidifier can actually make the air quality worse when the humidity is on the high side.

Higher levels of humidity promote mold growth and feed dust mite populations.

Reducing the humidity with a dehumidifier or refrigerator air conditioner will help keep the air quality good during times and seasons of heavy humidity.

But neither a humidifier or a dehumidifier is a replacement for an air purifier.

Air purifiers work 24/7 all year long to keep your air clean. Whereas humidifiers and dehumidifiers are both seasonal devices that are stored away when not in use.