Contact: Jill Notini
202.872.5955 x318
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A HEALTHY HOME

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2020) – The extra time at home because of COVID-19 restrictions has made it even more important to avoid the discomfort and potential health issues, like allergy symptoms, that can arise from poor indoor air quality. 
A room air cleaner can reduce allergens and make home environments more comfortable in a time when many are placing renewed emphasis on staying healthy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a portable air cleaner can also be part of your plan to stay healthy while COVID-19 remains a threat. 

“When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space,” the EPA stated in its Frequently Asked Questions about Indoor Air and Coronavirus. “However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.”  When used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your family.”

Currently, there is no way to determine if an air cleaner is effective at removing viruses and bacteria from the air; however, some allergists recommend that their patients use air cleaners to reduce their allergy symptoms, based on their ability to remove common household pollutants like dust, smoke and pollen and outside pollution particles, known as PM 2.5. Dust, smoke, and pollen can trigger symptoms like coughing, wheezing and asthma. PM 2.5 is a significant enough issue for those with breathing difficulties that it is tracked in air quality reports and monitored by the EPA.

Make the right choice for cleaner indoor air

It only takes a few minutes of research for consumers to find an air cleaner model that meets their needs. The AHAM Verifide® Air Cleaner Directory allows those looking for an air cleaner to find a list of models appropriate for the size of the room in which the air cleaner will be used. Each listing carries the recommended room size for that unit, along with the air cleaner’s CADR – Clean Air Delivery Rate – showing its ability to filter tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. The U.S. EPA called CADR “The most helpful parameter for understanding the effectiveness of portable air cleaners".

Air cleaner models are assigned their CADR based on the results of rigorous testing conducted by independent laboratories. During testing, the air cleaners are exposed to specific quantities of tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. After the air cleaner is operated for a certain duration, the amount of each pollutant in the air is measured. The higher the CADR, the greater its ability to filter that specific pollutant.

Know the size of the room or rooms in which the air cleaner will be placed for maximum efficiency. Choosing one rated for a larger room may use unnecessary energy and generate excess noise.  
CADR is a helpful guide to finding a room air cleaner that can be part of your toolkit to fight COVID-19.

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The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is the trade association representing manufacturers of major, portable and floor care home appliances and suppliers to the industry. AHAM is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and maintains an office in Ottawa. AHAM is the single voice providing the home appliance industry and its customers leadership, advocacy and a forum for action — developing and implementing credible solutions for public policy, standards and business decisions. You can visit AHAM’s web site at http://www.aham.org or follow us on Twitter @AHAM_Voice and @AHAM_Policy.