If you’re constantly getting sick even while staying indoors, getting an air purifier might sound like a safe bet. But is it really necessary for your home?
While it’s a great way to reduce airborne contaminants, room air purifiers’ germ-killing capabilities are limited. In fact, air purifiers are shown to have little to no effect against most bacteria and viruses—which can lead to a spectrum of common respiratory infections. That’s where an air disinfection machine comes in.
So what exactly is the difference between an air purifier and an air disinfection machine, and which one do you really need? Keep reading to find out!
What do air purifiers and air disinfection machines do?
Air purifiers
Just as its name suggests, an air purifier is a device that helps to purify the air in indoor spaces. It works by trapping airborne particles using various filtration technologies, before releasing clean air back into the room. Most air purifiers are proven to be effective at removing common pollutants such as dust, smoke, pollen and dander.
The downside? While it’s effective at filtering out airborne contaminants, it does not necessarily remove airborne germs within a space. Indoor air may still contain high amounts of microscopic bacteria that are invisible, and are so small that they can easily escape through most filters in an air purifier. These harmful germs can be trapped inside our homes when there’s limited airflow to disperse these particles, leading to higher chances of airborne transmission.
Learn More: How Effective Are Air Purifiers? 5 Things You Need to Know
Learn More: Airborne Transmission, Explained: How Bacteria & Germs Spread Through the Air
Air disinfection machines
Unlike room air purifiers, an air disinfection machine can remove airborne germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungus and spores. It produces a form of disinfectant mist that is lightweight enough to stay suspended for an extended period, effectively killing all traces of harmful pathogens found in the air. Not only that, it can also get rid of any lingering germs when it eventually settles onto the ground or other nearby surfaces. This helps to keep your home clear of harmful bacteria and viruses so there’s a lesser likelihood of airborne transmissions, preventing you and your loved ones from getting sick.
How to choose between an air purifier and an air disinfection machine?
Both devices are designed to improve your air quality in different ways, but it’s important to understand how they work so you can select the right product that fits your needs – whether it’s to reduce airborne particles, or eliminate airborne germs.
Here are some factors to consider before selecting one:
Effectiveness: The effectiveness of an air purifier depends on the type of filter used. The gold standard is to choose air purifiers that feature a true HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter – it’s designed to remove up to 99.97% of ultra-fine particles down to 0.3 microns in size. That’s about 300 times smaller than the diameter of a strand of human hair!
As for an air disinfection machine, we recommend one with a high kill rate. The higher the kill rate, the greater the reduction in bacteria and germs. For instance, the BioCair air disinfection machine has a high kill rate of 99.999%, which has been proven to be effective against highly resistant pathogens.
Safety: It’s important to choose a product that’s safe to be used, especially around young children. While most air purifiers are generally safe, it’s advised to stay away from ioniser air purifiers that emit ozone as they can harm your lungs and respiratory airways when inhaled.
The same goes for air disinfection machines; make sure to avoid any products that use harmful chemicals. These can be dangerous to inhale, and leave a toxic residue which can end up being accidentally ingested. Consider a non-toxic air disinfection machine like the BioCair Air Disinfection Machine, which utilises an ion-energising technology to create a unique patented BC-65 solution. It’s non-toxic, alcohol-free and child-friendly, making it safe for everyone in the family.
Learn More: What is BC-65? The Ultimate Non-toxic Disinfectant for A Healthy & Safe Home
Validity: As with any product, always make sure to validate claims made by the manufacturer. A good, high-quality air purifier or air disinfection machine should be backed up with third-party testing performed by a certified independent lab. The bottom line: go with a trusted brand that has a proven track record for greater peace of mind and assurance. Take BioCair for instance, which has passed all necessary tests in accredited labs to ensure product quality and user safety.
Differences between an air purifier and BioCair air disinfection machine:
In short, both can be highly beneficial depending on the type of concern you have. This will then determine whether an air purifier or a BioCair air disinfection machine is the best solution for your needs, helping you to make a more informed purchasing decision.