There are numerous air cleaning devices available in Canada, many that have unproven health claims.
Tips:
- Before buying an air cleaner, look for the source of the problem causing the issue. Removing the source of the problem is more effective than using an air cleaner to improve indoor air quality. For example:
- If you find mould, clean it up and try to find the cause and fix it. If you have old carpeting, replace it with smooth flooring.
- In addition, you can look at ensuring there is enough ventilationmoving through the home, which will help improve indoor air quality.
- If you are still having air quality issues after trying to address the source of the problem and increasing ventilation, you may wish to buy an air cleaner. Just keep in mind that although air cleaners can remove pollutants from the air, there is no strong proof that they will improve your health.
- Determine the appropriate size of the air cleaner based on the size of your room and maintain the unit according to the manufacturer's instructions. If possible, choose a device with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter since it traps the very small particles that are of most concern.
- Look for higher Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) and Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) numbers on packaging. The higher the number, the more effective the device will be in cleaning the air.
- Avoid buying devices that intentionally produce ozone, since breathing in ozone can cause lung irritation and discomfort. Also, there is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that ionizing air cleaners improve health.
