Having an air purifier in your visual art studio is as necessary as having the right lighting, proper tools, and enough space to work effectively. Here are 5 things your purifier should be able to do to keep your air fresh and healthy while you create.
Remove Chemical Fumes---Many of the products that are used to create beautiful works of art contain volatile organic chemicals that evaporate into the air. These chemicals are contained in oil paint, inks, varnish, turpentine, and many other solvents. Inhaling even a small amount of these fumes can cause headaches, watery and burning eyes, sore throat, and dizziness.
Studies have shown that breathing these fumes day after day can cause long term health problems. And if your studio is connected to your home, these fumes can expose others in your family such as children and pets to the hazards of these chemicals.
Carbon has been shown to be the most effective type of filter to remove gaseous pollutants. An air purifier that is to be effective at eliminating these chemicals must have a carbon-based filter with an additive that increase its effectiveness at airborne chemical elimination
Eliminate Particles---Sanding, chiseling, and grinding can all send millions of particles into the air. Wearing a mask is effective to a point, but many of these particulates remain in the air for quite a while. An effective air cleaner must be able to effectively and continually eliminate these particles.
HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filters are the best for removal of airborne particulates. By definition they must be able to remove 99,997 out of every 10,000 particles that are.3 microns or greater. This is the same type of technology used in hospitals to insure clean air.
Adjustable Filtration Speeds---Because no 2 days are probably the same in your studio, your air cleaner must be able to adapt quickly to the conditions around it. When you know there are more chemicals and/or particles in the air, you need to be able to filter the air faster to keep air quality high. A cleaner must have the ability to clean at various rates in order to keep the air fresh regardless of how many pollutants are being created in your studio.
Run 24 Hours----It may take hours for fumes to dissipate and particles to settle from the air in your studio. A cleaner with a split capacitor motor is able to run 24 hours a day every day. This is important because it can continue to clean the air while you are away. This means you are always able to enter a studio that smells clean and encourages the creativity within you.
Be Cost Effective----You are much more likely to use an air purifier that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to run. There can often be hidden costs such as frequent filter changes, and the cost of your time to maintain it. Your cleaner should be able to run for years without a filter change. And maintenance should be as simple as vacuuming the outside whenever you vacuum your studio. Any thing more in terms of maintenance is too expensive in both time and money and should not be considered.