How Clean is Your Indoor Air?
The Pollution Outside
Is so much worse than our indoor air quality, right?
Here is a timely note that isn’t too funny….Being stuck inside comes with more risks than running out of toilet paper!
Why? Because the air in your home can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air! I’m not talking about China or India, this is true right here in the United States. It turns out our energy efficient, highly decorated, constantly freshened houses can be really quite bad for us.
So what’s making our indoor air so polluted?
A combination of external pollutants like pollen, smoke, and dust and internal pollutants like dust mites, mold and chemicals are often to blame. But that’s just the beginning. There are a whole host of pollutants that we introduce into our air from grooming, cooking and cleaning. And now we also have viruses that are airborne and don't clean well off surfaces entering our homes.
Most people aren’t aware of the potential dangers and have no idea how to improve it. I didn't for years, but after I started taking air quality serious my entire family’s health has improved.
In fact, most people don’t even realize that many of their symptoms – like difficulty breathing, wheezing, sleep troubles and irritability – can be caused by air pollutants. And with cold and flu season in full swing, our immune systems have to work double time to try and keep us healthy from all of the viruses and bacteria floating around.
How did we take action? Other than removing as many chemicals in our cleaning products and personal care products as possible, the other big change was adding in the AirDoctor air purification system.
Who might benefit from investing in an Air Doctor?
At this point, it is my opinion that everyone needs an air filter and a water filter.
We all are living in the modern world and toxic chemicals and off-gassing is just a part of it. However, if this is you, Air Doctor may be especially helpful:
Often gets sick
Has seasonal allergies
Has a history of respiratory illness or lung problems
Has cats and dogs that shed
Lives in fire, smoke, smog affected areas (big cities included!)
Has a history of cancer
Struggles with health issues, for unknown reasons
Has new furniture and carpet in the house
Has been using air fresheners (like Glade)
Has been using conventional skincare and house cleaning products (from the leading brands, advertised on TV)
What I’m excited about is that the Air Doctor doesn’t just eliminate 99.97% of particulate pollution, but also virtually all the chemical pollution, too. Conditions indoor air pollution is linked to having an effect is numerous, here is a short list;
Autoimmune disease
Cancer (lung cancer, breast cancer, and others)
Respiratory diseases (including asthma)
Cardiovascular disease (including high blood pressure)
Neurological problems - including an increased risk of Alzheimer’s in children!
Type 2 Diabetes
Organ damage (kidneys, liver)
Birth defects
Accelerated aging (due in part to decreased collagen production) and shortened lifespan
Purifying Your Air
Sadly, most indoor air purifiers are incapable of protecting you and your family from the harmful effects of all the dangerous toxins in your home because they…
1) Only remove a small percentage of the dangerous particles from your air.
2) Are completely incapable of removing toxic gasses from your air.
3) Are LOUD and annoying
But I have found a purifier that I trust for my entire family. It’s called the AirDoctor and I haven’t found anything that works as well.
AirDoctor is the first affordable air purifier that not only removes virtually 100% of the airborne particle pollution, but also the vast majority of toxic ozone and volatile organic compounds (VOC). The result is an air purifier that’s 100x more effective than the competition. That means they can filter even the smallest particles.
In fact, AirDoctor was tested by an independent laboratory to remove 100% of airborne particles at .003 microns in size. Virus Info: Viruses can range in size from 0.004 to 0.1 microns in size. According to Dr. Mariea Snell, the Assistant Director of Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs at Maryville University, the size of the coronavirus is approximately 0.125 microns.
Remember, viruses most often spread from person to person via respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes and even speaking from the infected person. Tiny droplets travel through the air and can land on the mouths, noses or eyes of others nearby. Infection can also happen when those droplets land on surfaces and then people touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Sleeping Safe and Sound at Night
Look, in today's wild times, what would it feel like knowing you've done all you can to protect your health? Imagine the ability to lay your head down at night and know that you can relax... because spending time inside your home isn't harming you or your loved ones.
Imagine if your sinus inflammation, allergies, sniffles, or whole body inflammation actually went down... from just this simple change. And the relaxing feeling knowing your family is totally safe.
I mean even our animals. I'm so glad my animals get high quality indoor air while our travels outside the home are limited.
But hey it's warming up so open the windows right?
Yes, but not if you have seasonal allergies that are about to flare up. We are in the weird time of the year, where opening your windows can cause problems but being stuck inside isn't good if the air quality is subpar. And if you don't know if you have mold, bad bugs, or rogue gasses then it's better to be safe than sorry.
Here are some helpful FAQs about AirDoctor
Not all HEPA filters are created equal. Standard HEPA purifiers are 99.97% effective at capturing particles as small as .3 microns, but they are not tested to capture virus-sized particles.
AirDoctor’s UltraHEPA filters have been independently tested to capture 100% of airborne particles at 0.003 microns in size, making AirDoctor 100 times more effective than ordinary HEPA filters.
AirDoctor is able to capture some of the most dangerous airborne particles, including: Bacteria and Viruses,* Ultrafine PM 2.5, Smoke, Pollen, Pet Dander, and even Gasses & VOCs like Formaldehyde.
If you have an AirDoctor, make sure you’re regularly replacing your filters. It’s a good idea to have some filters on hand, so you can easily swap them out as soon as your change filter lights come on.
What if I already have house air filters as part of the heating system? Most of the systems are very basic and don't use Ultra HEPA or even HEPA filters. It's best to contact the heating system maker and ask if your system has Ultra HEPA (which is what we recommend).
What is UltraHEPA™? HEPA is an acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Air. These filters are designed to capture particles that is 0.3 Microns. UltraHEPA™ captures particle down to 0.003 microns. That is 100 times smaller than regular HEPA.
Does Air Doctor have an Air Ionizer? Air Doctor does feature an Air Ionizer which can be turned on or off, as you choose. Air Ionizers can help remove particulates, microbes and odors from your room, leaving it smelling fresh.
How often should I change the filters? How long the filters last depends on a couple of different factors. Specifically, the quality of the air in your home AND how many hours per day you operate your unit. Based on the air quality in the average home in the United States and Canada and 24/7 operation, the Gas Trap VOC filter should last 6 months and the UltraHEPA™ filter should last a full 12 months before they need to be replaced. If you operate your Air Doctor for only 12 hours per day, then the Gas Trap VOC filter should last 1 year and the UltraHEPA™ filter should last a full 2 years before they need to be replaced (in homes with average air quality). We recommend that you leave your Air Doctor set to Auto, which will allow your device to adjust automatically, based on the filtering needs inside your home.
How do I know when it's time to change the filters? Your Air Doctor comes with an automatic sensor which notifies you when it's time to replace each of the two filters mentioned above. (Note: There is also a 3rd pre-filter, which can be easily removed and washed. With proper care and under normal operating conditions, this filter should not need to be replaced.)
*Please note: While Air Doctor has been shown to capture particles as small as COVID-19, it has not yet been tested for this virus. Until such testing is available and completed, Air Doctor does not claim to be effective at removing or killing COVID-19.