Salt lamps have become increasingly popular across the country in the last few years. They’re not only sold as attractive home decor items, but they’re also said to double as an effective air purification tool that can elevate mood, relieve respiratory problems and provide a better night’s rest.
Learning what salt lamps are and how they purify the air is the best way to decide if they’re just a passing decor fad, or a beneficial device for improving air quality.
Salt Lamp Basics
Salt lamps are real salt crystals equipped with a heating element or small light bulb. The pink salt comes from mines in the Himalayan mountains of Pakistan. Some lamps are a single, carved-out crystal fastened to a wooden or metal base. Others consist of either simple or intricately-designed metal or glass containers filled with salt crystal chunks. You’ll also find small, “night light” versions. When a salt lamp is lit, the rose-colored crystal provides a warm, soft glow and soothing ambience.
Salt Lamps as Air Purifiers
Salt lamps are not only used as beautiful home decor pieces, they’re also said to provide two kinds of air purification:
- Negative ionization. These lamps are often called “natural ion generators” because salt emits negative ions when heated. The negative ions then attach to positively-charged floating irritant and allergen particles and remove them from the air.
- Hygroscopic absorption. Salt is hygroscopic, so it can absorb water molecules from the air. The warmth of a salt lamp’s bulb allows water to evaporator faster. The premise is this works as an air cleaner because contaminants and allergens are taken out of the air along with the water molecules, and stay on the crystal’s surface.
Proven Air Purification Tools
If you’re considering salt lamps for air purification, you should know that no major studies have been done to prove claims about their effectiveness. However, there are proven technologies available to boost air quality, including photocatalytic oxidation, UV light, high-MERV and carbon filtration.
To learn about the most effective air purification options for your Lorain home, contact us today at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area