Air quality has become a heightened concern amidst the coronavirus pandemic, and people are looking for ways to ensure that the air they breathe will not make them sick. This is great for people who suffer from the harmful effects of allergens, mold, and viruses. It also highlights how air purifiers can help to combat mold and COVID-19.
An air purifier is not going to remove the need for face masks or social distancing, but it can help to make your body more resilient to the threats of mold and viruses. It can also reduce the number of harmful indoor particles that are inhaled. This includes viruses, but it also includes harmful toxins released during cooking and mold spores.
HEPA Filtration
Many indoor air purifiers rely on HEPA filtration. HEPA stands for High-Efficient Particulate Air, and these filters will trap 99.97% of all particles down to 0.3 microns in size and sometimes smaller. The coronavirus is thought to travel on droplets that are much larger than that. Of course, it is a new virus, so it is unclear if HEPA filtration reduces your chances of getting infected significantly. It may reduce droplets in rooms where there is an infected person.
What is clear is that HEPA filtration has a positive effect on air quality in the home. This is because it reduces many other irritants in the air such as allergens, pet dander, and mold. This leads to overall improvements in cardiovascular health, which can decrease the impacts of other illnesses.
Combating Mold and COVID-19 with Air Purifier
While you may not be able to totally negate or even significantly reduce your chances of contracting COVID-19 with an air purifier, you can decrease your chances of getting sick from mold infiltration or COVID-19 because you will be living in a home with higher air quality. Those who succumb to mold infested conditions often have underlying respiratory conditions that exacerbate the impact of mold. The same goes for those who suffer with COVID-19. Not all but many of them have pre-existing conditions.
It is unclear what the best way to treat or prevent COVID-19 is. It seems that the only solutions the experts have to offer is social distancing and wearing a mask. Therefore, an air purifier is not the only answer. Likewise, if you have a mold infestation, an air purifier is not going to remedy it. However, an air purifier will improve the quality of air in your home. You’ll have less risk of severe illness in either event.