Air Purifier Help is dedicated to providing consumers with up to date detailed information on the usefulness, effectiveness, and health benefits of Air Purifiers.

How Air Purifiers Work to Improve the Indoor Air Quality

American consumers spend approximately $250 million a year on home air purifiers. Individuals suffering from allergies or asthma are the primary purchasers and are looking for easy ways to improve the quality of air in their homes.

The quality of indoor air is typically worse than air outdoors. Forced-air heating and cooling units circulate already contaminated air and carpets and upholstery collect dust and allergens throughout the year.

If moisture enters the system, mold can grow and mold spores begin to circulate through the ventilation system causing further health and respiratory problems for individuals and their families. Conditions are further worsened by the presence of cigarette smoke or pets whose smoke and dander respectively cause severe symptoms in allergy sufferers.

Although most healthy individuals don’t suffer from common concentrations of indoor allergens, these high levels of airborne particles cause significant problems for individuals prone to allergies and asthma. These people generally seek relief from their symptoms through the purchase and use of indoor air purifiers. Although air purifiers are not the only remedy for allergy symptoms and respiratory problems, they do provide a degree of relief.

Not all air purifiers are created equal. In fact there are five major types of air purifiers and knowing the differences and specialties of each kind can help each person in determining which one best suits their needs. The five types are: Filters/air cleaners such as High Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) and Ultra-Low Penetration Air (ULPA) filters, Ionizing air purifiers (or electrostatic air cleaners), Ozone generators, Adsorbents, and UV light air purifiers.

Filters and Air Cleaners

“Air Cleaners” and filters are part of the heating and cooling systems of every home. These filters help remove airborne particles from the circulating air of a home. There’s usually always a filter between the air return vent and the furnace but some homes have filters for each return vent in each room. All of these filters need to be replaced or cleaned periodically in order to keep the air clean.

These types of filters are made from a variety of materials including foam, synthetic fibers, cotton, and fiberglass. The size of the holes in the filters can determine the size of the particles that pass through the filter. The more dense the filter fibers, the more particles it catches. And the more surface area (some filters are pleated) the more particles it can catch as well. Keep in mind that higher density filters inhibit airflow and are not as efficient in providing air movement as those with large holes.

HEPA and ULPA filters

These filters meet the U.S. Department of Energy standards for filtering certain types and sizes of particles from the air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends these types of filters for individuals looking to increase the air quality in their homes.

HEPA filters can consist of any kind of material but must filter out 99.97% of air particles and pollutants larger than 0.3 microns in size and must allow a specified amount of air to pass through. ULPA filters meet even stricter standards. The EPA recommends both HEPA and ULPA filters for allergy sufferers and in home air purification. These filters are also the same kinds used in hospitals and nuclear power plants.

Ionizing Air Purifiers

These types of air purifiers create charged particles out of air pollutants and airborne particles. Once the particles are charged (by either adding or removing an electron) they become attracted to one of two charged metal plates of the ionizing purifier.

These particles then “stick” to the metal plates and can be easily removed with a cloth or wet rag. Charged airborne particles also attract one another and form larger particles that then settle out of the air.

Ozone Generators

These types of air purifiers charge particles much like ionizing air purifiers, but instead of creating charged particles from dust and air pollutants, ozone generators create ozone out of the existing oxygen in the air. Oxygen molecules that we breathe in order to survive are made up of two oxygen atoms.

Ozone generators split up these molecules and allow them to reconfigure with three oxygen atoms, creating ozone. Manufacturers claim that ozone deodorizes and sanitizes the air, providing all kinds of health benefits. There is no strong evidence to support these claims. Ozone is known to be a toxic gas and is an unstable molecule. It reacts with all sorts of other molecules and creates compounds that are even more dangerous than ozone by itself.

Adsorbents

Adsorbents (not to be confused with absorption) are part of other air purification systems. The process of adsorption can be described as “one substance being trapped on the surface of another substance”. These additives are combined with other filters and processes in order to eliminate and filter odor, fumes and chemicals from the air.

Activated charcoal is the most common adsorbent product and traps many different kinds of particles in its porous surface. Although some chemicals react with the surface and are deactivated by the charcoal, some are simply stuck to it through the process of electrostatic attraction and air filtration.

UV Light

UV light has been tested to sterilize and sometimes kill airborne microorganisms. Some air purifiers use UV light to sterilize the air that passes through the filtration systems. Under optimal conditions, this light will rid the air of airborne viruses and bacteria.