Types Of Air Purifiers

More people are realizing that the potential airborne hazards in our homes can be controlled with the use of an air purifier. Not all air purifiers are the same however, and you really need to examine your own needs and do a thorough search of the market before making a purchase. It helps to have some idea of what types of air purifiers are out there if you are to make an informed decision about which make and model would be best suited to your particular needs.

All air purifiers are designed to remove pollutants such as pollen, dust and pet dander from the air in your home - some models are also designed to deal with odors and gases as well. You can get air purifying systems which are attached to your central heating/air conditioning system and which are meant to clean the air throughout your house – or you can get different room sized or portable machines. Many people say they prefer the portable type as they can move it from one room to another as needed – this works best if your rooms are of much the same size.

Different types of air purifiers employ various methods to clean the air in your home. Ionic air purifiers use negative charges to attract pollutants, which are positively charged when the pollutants become attracted by the charge then they become heavy and cannot remain in the air. The pollutants then settle like dust – one of the problems with this type of purifier is that any disturbance in the room can shift the particles again. This is recognized by an increasing number of manufacturers who may also use filters to dispose of the charged particles.

Ozone air purifiers remove particles and then release ozone into the air. There is some dispute over whether the use of ozone in this way is just as harmful as the particles it is attempting to destroy – while ozone is fine in the upper atmosphere, too much exposure to it can cause respiratory problems and lung damage.

HEPA – high efficiency particle arresting filters is the system that the Environmental Protection Agency recommends, and there is rigorous testing before manufacturers can give their product the HEPA label. Particles are drawn in by means of a fan and then trapped in a filter. The HEPA system can deal with most airborne particles and some models are also designed to deal with odors and gases as well. There are also electrostatic filters and carbon air purifiers – some manufacturers now combine different