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Air Purifier: An air purifier is best described as a device designed to eliminate pollutants from the air in any part of any building. Pure air is proven to be good for those that suffer from asthma and those susceptible to allergic reactions. If you’re considering purchasing an air filter you may find the following helpful.

What are the Benefits of Air Purifiers?

Relief for those who are susceptible to air-borne allergens - including dust, pet hair, pollens, mould, dust mites and smoke particles. House cleaning is reduced due the amount of dust it will remove from the air. Low energy use and electromagnetic emissions mean a safer environment. Which Type of Air Purifier is Right for Me?

Which Type of Air Purifier is Right for Me?

Not all air purifiers will remove identical contaminants so you need to be very sure of exactly what your requirements are before you go ahead and shop for an air filter. If you are wanting to remove larger particles from the air then you would be advised to look for HEPA filters. These will remove more than 99% of 0.01 to 0.3 micro-meter particles, however, they are not effective at removing particles less than 0.01 micro-metres. Dusty rooms need a pre-filter before you use a HEPA filter so as to catch the very fine particles.

Air particulates of 0.3 micro-metres or more are best extracted with an HVAC at MERV 13 or larger. If you are wanting to extract powerful chemicals and strong odours then it is suggested you use activated carbon filters and then follow this up with a HEPA filter to remove the smallest particles. Moulds, bacteria and viruses should be removed with photo-catalytic oxidation (PCO) - this is quite often incorporated with HVAC systems.

Ionizer air purifiers are another type of air purifier. They use charged electrical surfaces or needles to attach to air impurities. These are very suitable for large size rooms. They are known to produce tiny amounts of ozone which, unfortunately, is not great for the environment. This makes them a less popular choice. Another option is Ozone Generators - these are ideal for removing strong odours that cannot be moved with other types of air filters. They generate large amounts of ozone gas and should only be used in unoccupied properties.

What to Look for When Investing in an Air Purifier?

Check to ensure that the air filter does not emit any hazardous gas by-products, listen to how quietly it operates, check how regularly you need to replace the filters, monitor power consumption and make sure the unit is visually appealing. Most air purifiers generate very low levels of ozone gas and, with excluding Ozone Generator filters, are reliably safe to use. Do not buy an air filter that is described as HEPA-type, HEPA-like or 99% HEPA as these are not the genuine article.

U S Consumer Reports fully recommends air purifiers, air cleaners or air filters for use in any property - ultimately where there are people who suffer from allergies or asthma. If you wish to read further information on this topic then I wholeheartedly recommend the U S Environmental Protection Agency and its Science Advisory Board e-book called Indoor Air Quality.

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