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We know at this point in the pandemic thatCOVID-19is less likely to spread outdoors.
Jomkwan/Getty Images
Humans need social interaction, and that need doesnt disappear when nasty weather comes knocking.
What is ventilation, and why does it matter?
And with how much time most people spend inside, air quality really matters.
TheEPA reportsthat Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors.
you oughta bring in more outdoor air to dilute those indoor pollutants, Dr. Taylor says.
This in turn reduces the risk of infection if harmful pathogens are lurking, he says.
What are my options for ventilation and filtering the air in my home?
The easiest way to bring fresh air in?
Open your windows to replace stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
I do it every morning and air the house out, Dr. Bahnfleth says.
Dr. Bahnfleth also suggests turning on bathroom exhaust fans to bring more outdoor air in.
(The same is true if you haveseasonal allergies and pollen counts are super highin your area.)
What should I consider when purchasing an air purifier?
Dr. Bahnfleth says he keeps an air cleaner with a HEPA filter in nearly every room in his house.
That square footage rating is calculated using the purifiers clean air delivery rate, or CADR.
Noise is also a factor.
Dr. Bahnfleth recommends sizing up if you dont plan to run your air purifier on its highest setting.
Most people dont like the noise level when theyre on the high fan setting, Dr. Bahnfleth says.
You should really give them a listen if you’ve got the option to.
I would not recommend getting an air cleaner that emits ozone, Dr. Taylor says.
Ozone is very inflammatory for your airways.
Someair cleanersintentionally generate ozone, while others produce it as a by-product.
Either way, you want to avoid it.
HEPA filters,for reference,are MERV 17 or higher.)
Most hardware stores sell pleated HVAC filters, including HEPA filters, with MERV ratings listed on the package.
you’re free to find all of our recommendations for the best air purifier for your roomhere.
Below are a few standouts.
Plus, it does not emit ozone.
What about those USB-powered handheld air purifiers?
If youve ever poked around the air purifier section of Amazon (what, just me?
), you might have seen HEPA air purifiers that are about the size of a water bottle.
They look curiously like a wireless Bluetooth speaker and often feature in Twitter threads on safe air travel.
Small tabletop air cleaners can be helpful, Dr. Bahnfleth says.
But what is your expectation as far as how much thats going to reduce your risk?
Again, directionality and airflow matter here.
It could reduce it some if its pointed right at you, Dr. Bahnfleth says.
While it may help in some scenarios, Dr. Bahnfleth cautions against over-reliance on a product like this.
Okay, I got an air purifier.
What should I consider when Im setting up my room?
Instead, put the air purifier in the middle of the room with clearance on all sides.
If I step up my ventilation game, do I still need to mask indoors?
Ventilation cant replace other precautionsespecially masking.
Dr. Bahnfleth still always wears an N95 when teaching classes at Penn State.
Masks are still in as far as Im concerned, he says.
Wear them when you’re free to if youre really concerned about getting infected.
But it’s possible for you to maintain a healthier indoor environment through ventilation.
