FAQ

Unfortunately, yes. We’ve had poor quality air here for a long time but previously haven’t
associated the illnesses it causes or worsens with what we breathe in.

Only now are we beginning to understand the truly bad impact it has on all our lives.

Over two-thirds of the UK population live in an area with illegal levels of air pollution and ‘illegal’ is a far cry from ‘safe’. Even areas far from major towns and cities can be problematic, and driving almost always entails excessive pollution. We often can’t easily tell when the air is dangerous, but we now know that virtually all of us are suffering adverse health effects as a result, with the very young and the elderly especially vulnerable.

We try to answer this question in detail throughout the website. Managing airflow from outside
when indoors and driving, ventilating when pollution is lower, avoiding the use of chemicals and
aerosols, and purifying the air around you are the basic foundations.

Different purifiers do different things. Some have hardly any effect. Many remove some of most of the particulate pollution, and those with a large bed of activated carbon will also remove gases. But it isn’t always easy to tell which from the sales material or how good any model is at its job.

Purifier manufacturers or retailers will often say pretty much anything to persuade you to buy their products. Better products do tend to be more expensive, but there are also plenty of poor yet expensive purifiers. Plain Air only recommends products that we know really do the job, and do it cost-effectively, taking into account the significant ongoing costs of new filters. Different types of purifiers are suited to different environments and requirements and sound advice before buying is crucial.

It depends, and we talk about this in more detail throughout the website. You normally spend most time in the bedroom, but pollution levels are often much higher in the living room – especially if you have an open fire or wood-burner – or in the kitchen. We can advise you based on your particular circumstances.

Many manufacturers have a range of purifiers, each seemingly with a different speciality. However, a good particle filter will remove most of the problems particles, dander or pollen associated with each of these conditions. Yet all will be useless unless you also manage the airflow in your home appropriately. So don’t just buy something, let us advise you.

Home or personal air sensors do not have the accuracy to reliably tell you the precise levels of
different pollutants. However the better ones can be very good for highlighting changes in the air
and for when pollution reaches the point where you should take action. They can also be an
invaluable reminder to keep good habits and to see the positive effect of your purifiers. We can recommend the best value products.

Get in touch with us at Plain Air for a no-obligation chat and some friendly advice.