Can Your HVAC’s Air Filter Kill Coronavirus?
We’ve all seen the warnings from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the White House urging Americans to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Here in Richmond, it’s not uncommon to see people stocking up on water and bread ahead of a storm, so we’re used to prepping for potential calamity — but can your HVAC’s air filter kill coronavirus, too?
In this post, we’ll talk about the coronavirus outbreak, how air purifiers can help minimize the spread of infectious diseases, and whether your home HVAC system can guard against an upcoming pandemic. We’ll also share tips on how to improve indoor air quality, which is important year round, especially during cold and flu season.
我们都已经看到疾病控制中心（CDC）和白宫的警告，敦促美国人为在美国爆发冠状病毒做好准备。在里士满，看到人们在暴风雨来临前先储备水和面包并不罕见，因此我们已经习惯了潜在的灾难-但是，您的HVAC空气过滤器还能杀死冠状病毒吗？
在这篇文章中，我们将讨论冠状病毒的爆发，空气净化器如何帮助减少传染病的传播以及您的家用HVAC系统是否可以预防即将到来的大流行。我们还将分享有关如何改善室内空气质量的提示，这一点非常重要，特别是在寒冷和流感季节。
How Air Purifiers Protect Your Health
Air purifiers work pretty much how you’d imagine — they draw air in and then send purified air out. Many people use them effectively to combat allergies and they do a great job removing odors from your home. Overall, they do a fantastic job of removing large particulates such as mold, pollen, and pet dander from the air, but they also face limitations.
A standard HEPA filter, for example, can catch 99% of the bad stuff floating around in your home. This is great news for improving indoor air quality in general and this can provide health benefits. However, viruses such as COVID-19 and others are much smaller than bacteria and other pollutants, making them that much harder to eliminate.
空气净化器如何保护您的健康
空气净化器的工作原理与您想象的差不多，它们会吸入空气，然后将净化后的空气排出。许多人有效地使用它们来对抗过敏，并且他们在清除家里的异味方面做得很出色。总体而言，它们在清除空气中霉菌，花粉和宠物皮屑等大颗粒方面做得非常出色，但是它们也面临着局限性。
例如，标准的HEPA过滤器可捕获99％的漂浮在您家中的有害物质。这对于总体改善室内空气质量而言是个好消息，并且可以带来健康益处。但是，诸如COVID-19等病毒比细菌和其他污染物要小得多，因此很难消除。
Can Home Air Purifiers Filter Out Coronavirus?
As coronavirus is believed to be an airborne illness, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released resources for addressing the 2020 outbreak. They cover guidelines for indoor air quality, residential buildings, healthcare facilities, and more. We know that some hospitals have already begun putting protocols in place to protect patients, but what about our homes?
Some air filter manufacturers are testing their consumer-grade products (particularly HEPA filters) against COVID-19, and the results have been promising. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that while HEPA filters may trap the virus, it won’t be destroyed. Instead, it will “remain alive inside the filter for as long as the virus survives.” In some cases, this can be for as long as nine days.
For those who want to be extra cautious, industrial air purifiers which can more thoroughly clean the air are available. While they might be more effective at preventing the spread of illnesses such as coronaviruses, they tend to come with a much heftier price tag. You’ll have to weigh all the factors to determine whether it’s worth the financial investment in the long run.
家用空气净化器可以过滤掉冠状病毒吗？
由于冠状病毒被认为是一种空气传播的疾病，因此美国供暖，制冷和空调工程师协会（ASHRAE）已发布资源来应对2020年的疫情。它们涵盖了有关室内空气质量，住宅建筑，医疗保健设施等的指南。我们知道有些医院已经开始制定保护患者的方案，但是我们的房屋呢？
一些空气过滤器制造商正在针对COVID-19测试其消费级产品（特别是HEPA过滤器），并且结果令人鼓舞。但是要记住的一件事是，尽管HEPA过滤器可以捕获病毒，但它不会被破坏。取而代之的是，“只要病毒存活，它就会在过滤器中保持活跃”。在某些情况下，这可能长达9天。
对于那些要格外小心的人，可以使用可以更彻底地清洁空气的工业空气净化器。尽管它们可能更有效地预防冠状病毒等疾病的传播，但它们往往标价更高。从长远来看，您必须权衡所有因素才能确定是否值得进行金融投资。
