How Sharp Air Purifiers Help to Reduce Mold In Your Home - TWICE - Twice

Posted: 29 Jul 2020 08:05 AM PDT

Mold. Just the utterance of the word can seize my nasal passages. I've got several airborne allergies, but my allergy to mold is the most severe. Seven years of allergy shots nearly cured most of my allergies, except the one to mold is strong as ever. For me, an allergic reaction can trigger an asthma event and have me reaching for my rescue inhaler, especially when sleeping.

Having researched while writing this series of blogs, I decided to purchase the Sharp KC-850U Plasmacluster Air Purifier for my bedroom, and within a week, I was breathing freely. More on this later.

Mitigation

As much as possible, I've tried to remove the potential sources of mold from my home. I moved plastic bins around in my basement to find that moister somehow collected, and there was mold growing on the bottom. For years I've known to keep the gasket of my refrigerator squeaky clean, my bathrooms are as clean as I can see, wet towels are never put into the laundry basket, and I do my best to keep the basement clean. Honestly, I could spend every day looking for the source and would not ever find it. The majority of mold spores measure between 2 and 10 microns, only visible when viewed under a microscope. For comparison, a human hair is between 50–75 microns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts a finer point on the issue stating that there are more than 200 species of fungi, or what is generically called mold or mildew that people are routinely exposed to indoors and outdoors. They estimate that up to 50 percent of the population has a sensitivity to mold. The presence of mold can cause health problems that affecting immune response.

It would seem that keeping a clean house would be enough to be rid of mold, but it is particularly pesky because these fungi are part of the natural environment. Mold spores float in the air in search of a moist host to reproduce. In its Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that it is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors. That doesn't mean I won't give up trying.

There are several intervention methods that you might not have considered to help mitigate the growth of mold.

Maintain heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Keep gutters and downspouts clear to ensure water drains away from the foundation.
Routinely check, clean, and dry the drip pans in air conditioners, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers.
Use exhaust fans or open windows to increase ventilation when cooking, showering, or when using the dishwasher.
Leave closet doors open for air circulation.
Maintain an ideal relative humidity level in the home between 40 to 60 percent.
Locate and fix or remove sources, causing a build-up of moisture.
Reduce the number of indoor plants.
Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

Clean Air, Room-by-Room

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states that ensuring healthy Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by minimizing indoor air pollutants is essential. Poor IAQ can have severe repercussions on an individual's health.

Not every home has ductwork available to install a whole-house air filtration/purifying system, and even for those that do, it can be cost-prohibitive. This is where a portable in-room air purifier comes to the rescue.

A Sharp in-room air purifier with a True HEPA filter captures up to 99.97% of allergens from the air that passes through the filter, measuring as small as 0.3 microns and larger. Not only does it capture mold spores, but you also benefit from capturing pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and bacteria.

Building on what a True HEPA filter alone can accomplish is Sharp's patented Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) air purification technology. The Plasmacluster Ion technology mimics nature's cleaning process, by splitting water molecules into positively and negatively charged ions, which spread throughout the room and actively break down pollutants like germs, airborne and surface-adhering bacteria, fungus, mold, viruses and clinging odors, and then return to the air as water vapor.

Seeing is believing; check out this video of how Sharp's Plasmacluster Ion technology reduced airborne mold by 79 percent in a test chamber.

Why Changing Your Furnace Filter is a Good Idea - Programming Insider

Posted: 29 Jul 2020 03:40 AM PDT

After using your HVAC unit for a period of time, there is a high chance that the furnace filter will become clogged with dust, debris, and pet dander. This might add another arduous task on your to-do list, but maintaining the integrity of your HVAC unit is crucial for its effectiveness. Experts recommend that you change the furnace filter at least once every 6 months, but depending on the weather in your area, you might have to change it every 3 months.

If you want to know why changing your furnace filter is so important, continue reading to find out.

To Extend the Life Expectancy of Your HVAC Unit

One of the main reasons why air conditioning systems are continuously breaking down is due to clogged filters. If you notice that your filter does not heat the air in your house as properly as it did before, then this is a clear sign that the furnace filter is clogged and is causing the whole unit to overheat. When dust accumulates, the air won't pass through the system, which will cause the evaporator and condensing coils to lose their efficiency. This can only be avoided by changing your air filter and washing the inner components of your unit regularly. If you let dust and debris accumulate over time, you might have to pay a sizable amount of money on repairs alone, or you might have to replace the unit altogether and get a new one.

To Improve the Air Quality

Naturally, the cleaner the furnace filter is, the better the air quality will be in your house. Some experts believe that the air inside our houses can be 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors, which makes getting the best furnace filter a necessity. Another issue you might face while getting an air filter is finding the right size. If you click here, you will understand more about how important it is to get the right size for the furnace filter, as installing the wrong filter will result in inefficient heating and air leakage. Sure, there are standard filter sizes, but you'll still have to find out the dimensions of the filter that you need to get a proper replacement. You can usually find the dimensions printed on the old furnace filter, but if they're not, then you'll have to measure them yourself.

You'll Save Money

If you notice that your energy bills are steeply increasing each month, then this might be due to your HVAC unit being overtaxed to heat or cool the air in your house. As previously mentioned, clogged furnace filters won't allow air in; this causes air to accumulate over the coils. As a result, your HVAC unit will work harder, which will require more energy and generate higher energy bills in the process. In addition to this, you will have to replace old and worn out parts of the unit regularly to maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system. If you make a rough estimate of these costs, you'll find that you will pay much less if you replace your furnace filter regularly.

To Keep the Innards of the Cooling System Clean

Clogged furnace filters, in some cases, might pollute all components of your HVAC unit, which can be very risky, as you will have to replace these parts. It means extra costs and help, as you'll have to hire professionals to do a full wash if there hasn't been any damage already inflicted on the unit. A polluted HVAC unit can very easily pollute the air inside your house, spreading unpleasant smells or coating the surfaces with a fine film of dust.

To Maintain Your Family's Health

Dirty furnace filters will contaminate the air in your house, causing you and your loved ones to breathe polluted air, which really defies the purpose of having a filter in the first place. Polluted air can lead to several health problems, including eye irritation, sneezing, and dizziness. It can also allow soot, dust, bacteria, and mold spores to fester inside your house, creating an unhealthy living environment. If you want your house to be clean and pristine, changing the furnace filter is your first step. This is important, especially if someone is allergic to pet dander or suffers from asthma.

Now that you know why it is essential to change your furnace filter, make sure to check the size and quality of the filter before you purchase it. Filters' MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating is one of the best indicators that tell you how efficient a filter is, so make sure to check the MERV rating of the filter first before you make up your mind. Finally, make sure that your unit is in good shape before you install the new filter for maximum efficiency.

Search This Blog

Air Purifier Mold