Photo reveals concerning household problem

More Aussies have turned to this device in recent times and as our reporters found out, there’s a good reason to have one.

Have you ever noticed how on a bush walk in the mountains the air just feels ... cleaner?

We put that theory to the test – but in the home.

Turns out, people who live away from the city do have cleaner air after all.

When I was asked to try the new Philips Air Purifier 3000i Series, we’d just moved from inner west Sydney to the lower Blue Mountains.

My grand plan was to try out the purifier in both locations but the move proved too hectic – so enter my inner west colleague Phoebe Loomes.

After trying out the device at our place, I sent it down to Phoebe to see just how different our air quality might be.

The coronavirus pandemic that followed Australia’s worst bushfire season thrust air purifiers into the spotlight last year.

You couldn’t get your hands on one in the height of the country’s smoke haze, and as people started working from home, attention turned to a healthy workspace environment.

With about 2.7 million Aussies suffering from asthma and more than 4.6 million suffering from hayfever, poor air quality can cause issues ranging from a runny nose to major breathing difficulties.

Indoor air is often 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air due to dust and pet dander.

But I never could have predicted the difference in air quality between both our houses, when measuring PM2.5 particles.

The term describes extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air and NSW Health says there’s sufficient evidence that exposure to PM2.5 over long periods (years) can cause adverse health effects.

When Phoebe measured the PM2.5 level in her place with the Philips device, she got a reading of 77 – I got a reading of 11. Her red reading indicated “very unhealthy” air.

“But after vacuuming when dust is in the air it can be even higher,” Phoebe says.

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The Philips Air Purifier 3000i Series in news.com.au journalist Phoebe Loomes’s house.

After leaving the device on, particularly after vacuuming, Phoebe got a much healthier reading.

The air purifier results in Steph’s house – well away from the city – were in the normal range.

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“I really recommend using it after cleaning when there’s a lot of dust in the air. After having the purifier on in our room for about half an hour you can see the PM2.5 level went right down to 8, which is what you want for the room you sleep in.”

Phoebe also noticed the difference around her kitchen area.

“The PM 2.5 level is often up to around 55 when we turn on the purifier,” she said.

“We have an open plan kitchen and living room where cooking smells can be a problem and it really makes the room smell clean within about 20 minutes. We also barbecue in our backyard and it gets rid of any smells that might blow inside.”

According to Philips, their air purifiers can remove 99.99 per cent of pollen allergen, plus 99.97 per cent of particles as small as 0.003um (equal to 3 nm) from air that passes through the filter including common airborne allergens: dust mite, mould spores and pet dander.

Adele Taylor, of the National Asthma Council, says respiratory health has become an increasingly important topic for Australians, following one of the worst bushfire seasons in history.

“Now more than ever, we are considering the impact of pollutants in the air and the potential impacts on our health,” she says.

“However, air quality at home is often neglected, despite being a hot spot for pollutants such as dust and pet dander.

“Carpeted areas, such as that of home offices, can produce a build-up of dust and pollutants over time. Additionally, these areas can produce hidden mould due to increased humidity.

“As Australians continue to spend more time at home for work where air quality can be much poorer than in the office, it’s important to consider air quality and reduce the risk of asthma, allergies and hay fever-related issues.”

The Philips Air Purifier 3000i Series retails for $899 and purify air in a small room in less than eight minutes.