Air purifiers have come a long way since their early beginnings. The first air purifiers, in the 1800s, were primarily used to protect people from harmful gases and particles. Here is an interesting history of air purifiers in Baltimore, MD.
Early Air Purifiers
In the 1800s, early air purifiers were typically made of charcoal or other absorbent materials. They worked by trapping pollutants on the surface of the material. Lewis P. Haslett invented one of the earliest air purifiers in 1848. Haslett’s air purifiers used a combination of water and charcoal to filter out pollutants from the air.
In the 1850s, John Stenhouse developed a more efficient air purifier that used charcoal filters. Stenhouse’s air purifiers were preferred by firefighters and other workers exposed to hazardous fumes.
Early air purifiers were not very effective at removing pollutants. They were also bulky and expensive. However, they were a significant improvement over the previous methods of air purification, which relied on natural ventilation or the use of fans.
The Development of HEPA Filters
The development of HEPA filters started in the 1940s during the Manhattan Project. The United States Army Chemical Corps and National Defense Research Committee jointly developed a filter to remove radioactive materials from the air.
Accordingly, the first HEPA filters used cellulose fibers, which were able to capture particles up to 0.3 micrometers in size or larger. This was a significant improvement over the early filters, which could only tackle particles that were one micrometer in size or larger.
In the 1950s, commercial air purifiers started using HEPA filters. These systems protect many from harmful pollutants like dust, pollen, and other particulates. Since then, HEPA filters have continued to improve over the years. Today, they’re made of a variety of materials.
The Rise of Domestic Air Purifiers
In the 1960s, people started using air purifiers. This change was due to a number of factors, including increasing awareness of the health risks of air pollution and the development of more affordable and effective air purifiers.
Another reason for the popularity was a growing body of research that linked air pollution to heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Their popularity continued to grow in the years that followed.
Air Purifiers at the Turn of the Millennium
HEPA filters and activated carbon filters were the most popular air purifiers at the time. Activated carbon filters remove various gases and odors from the air. They’re often used in combination with HEPA filters to provide a more comprehensive level of filtration.
Many HVAC companies started using timers in their air purifiers. Timers allow the user to set it to turn on and off automatically. This was a convenient way to ensure that the air purifier is only running when you need it. Air purifiers used in the 1990s and 2000s were less advanced than those available today. However, they were still valuable for improving indoor air quality.
Modern Air Purifiers
Today, air purifiers are more advanced than ever before. They’re able to remove a wider range of pollutants and are more efficient and effective. Air purifiers are now widely used in homes, offices, schools, and other public places to improve indoor air quality.
The technologies include air scrubbers, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, ionizers, and photocatalytic oxidation. In addition to these advanced filtration technologies, modern air purifiers also have a wider range of features than those from the past. For instance, many modern air purifiers have smart controls that allow you to control the system from your smartphone or tablet.
Similarly, some air purifiers have air quality sensors that can detect the levels of pollutants in the air. This information can be used to automatically adjust the settings of the air purifier to ensure that it is always working at its most effective level.
Due to these advanced features, the demand for commercial and domestic air purifiers has grown significantly in recent years. In the United States, the market for air purifiers will likely reach $22.84 billion by 2030.
With over 125 years of experience, we offer our customers the highest quality products and services. If you’re concerned about air quality, Griffith Energy Services can provide you with a cost-effective, modern solution to improve the indoor air quality in your home.
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