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Raleigh, North Carolina – Despite calls from health officials to limit indoor gatherings, gatherings of family and friends continue to push the state’s daily number of coronavirus cases to record levels.
In addition to the oft-repeated advice to wear masks, stand at least six feet from others, and wash your hands regularly, one expert says keeping your indoor air fresh will also help reduce exposure to the virus.
“COVID has actually helped us a lot to get people to understand [that], if something is invisible, that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous, ”said Ellie Amirnasr, Managing Director of Raleigh-based qlair, specializing in analyzing and improving air quality interior of businesses and homes.
Business has picked up because of the virus, and customers are generally happy to know that a lot of the fixes are straightforward and fairly inexpensive, Amirnasr said.
“The best thing at this point that we recommend our customers is to improve your filtration system,” she said.
With the market inundated with devices claiming to fight the virus, she warned people against wasting a lot of money on things like bipolar ionization systems. She agrees with a high level indoor air quality group that there is not enough evidence that these systems work.
“The tests have been done and show the effectiveness in the lab, not in real life,” she said.
Ultraviolet systems are also claimed to kill the coronavirus. Although it has been a proven method for years, killing the virus in the air in your home is difficult, Amirnasr said.
“UV was originally used for surface treatment, and for air treatment, if you want to do that, you have to slow down the air flow, and you have to give it enough time,” says -she.
Adding a UV system to your air handling system may not do the trick, she added: “With just one pass, nothing will happen.”
High-end air intake filters for your HVAC system can catch viruses, but if you are determined to purchase a device, Amirnasr recommended that you have an air purification system. Although they are sometimes hard to find in stores, she said to make sure you get one with HEPA filters.
“HEPA filtration units are very useful for capturing very small particles, especially viruses,” she said.
Qlair is working with North Carolina State University and two other schools in the University of North Carolina system to prepare for in-person teaching this spring.
The company has installed sensors in laboratories and classrooms that continuously measure air quality. Using a simple red, yellow and green display, the sensor indicates when it’s time to refresh the air. One of the main methods of detection is the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, which people breathe out. Once this level is raised, there is an increased risk of viral spread if someone in the room is infected.
There is no proven device to stop the virus, and Amirnasr said part of the challenge is getting reliable test results,
“Measuring viruses is almost impossible because it requires an air sample [and] lab tests, “she says.” It’s very difficult. It is very expensive.”
But, she said, one of the best ways to fight the virus is free. Just open the doors and windows on opposite sides of the house, especially if you have guests.
“It will help to have clean air inside the building,” she says. “So you look old [and] clean air inside the building. You look fresh and you reduce the risk of viruses. “
Amirnasr recommended that people recycle indoor air two to three times per hour. Businesses should recycle four times an hour and schools six times an hour just by opening a classroom window, if possible.
Ceiling fans or free-standing fans can help circulate the air, which helps. But Amirnasr said that in itself was not effective.
“When you turn on the ceiling fan,” she says, “if there’s no cool air coming in, you’re just recirculating the air inside the building.
“If you turn on the ceiling fan, you better do that only by opening the window,” she added.
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