Ozone air purifiers work by releasing ozone into the air. Ozone is a molecule that has three atoms of oxygen as opposed to oxygen that has only two atoms. The additional oxygen atom in ozone has the ability to separate from ozone and attach itself to molecules of harmful contaminants. When this happens, the chemical composition of the harmful particles changes and becomes such that it is not harmful to breathe anymore. This is the basic principle on which ozone air cleaners work.
Features Of Ozone Air Purifiers
They contain an ozone generator that releases ozone into the air for purification.- Ozone purifiers are filter-less purifiers.
- Ozone air purifiers do not require the air to be circulated within the purifier for purification purposes.
- They emit a peculiar smell that is due to the release of ozone.
- It can be available with other purification technologies incorporated into one air purifier.
Ozone Air Purifier Benefits
- Since an ozone air purifier does not need the air to be circulated through a main air filter, it can purify large amounts of air in a considerably shorter amount of time than most other air purifiers.
- They help to not only remove but destroy harmful bacteria, organisms, and chemicals in the air.
- They are especially effective in removing gases and horrible odors such as cigar smoke, kitchen fumes etc from the air.
- These air purifiers are very effective for use in pubs, saloons, and bars, where there is a lot of pollution due to cigarette smoke and other contaminants. In such places, an ozone purifier can make the air cleaner and free from any unpleasant smells.
- They can reduce the presence of mold spores from the air and can thus help to minimize asthmatic symptoms, hay fever, allergies etc.
Many people notice how the natural air, feels and smells, so much more clean and pure, after lightning storms and heavy rain. This is because, due to the lightning, ozone or activated oxygen is released into the air, which makes it feel so much purer. An ozone air purifier can duplicate that kind of feeling in your home or office, by releasing the same type of activated oxygen molecules into your indoor air.
What Is An Ionic Air Purifier?
Ionic air purifiers (also known as ionizers) have something that is known as a negative ion generator. This generator releases negative ions into the air. The negative ions thus released, attach to molecules in the air and change the polarity of such molecules. Once these molecules and harmful particles become charged, they attract other such particles and join to them. This continuous joining makes the particles too heavy to remain in the air, and they either fall to the ground or become attached to positively charged surfaces such as furniture, walls etc.
Once these particles are removed from the air, they can easily be removed from the area by regular cleaning and vacuuming. Many of these air purifiers have collection plates as well, which attracts the heavy particles and collects them on the plate instead of letting them fall to the floor.
Features Of Ionic Air Purifiers
- They do not have any filters that need to be changed or replaced continuously.
- Ionizers have collection plates to gather the particles that fall out of the air, and these plates are very easy to clean.
- Ionic air purifiers have in-built fans for superior circulation of air and can release negative ions even on the other side of the room from where the Ionic air purifier is located.
- These purifiers remove particles as small as 0.01 microns from the air.
Benefits Of Ionic Air Purifiers
- Ionic air purifiers are not very expensive.
- Ionizers help to rid the air of all kinds of harmful particles, bacteria, dust, smoke etc. Even though they do not actually kill the molecules, they remove them from the air and deposit them on other surfaces from where the harmful particles can easily be vacuumed away.
- They release thousands of negative ions into the air, so even if the fallen particles are disturbed and come back into the air, the continuous release of negative ions helps to rid them from the air once again.
- They remove all kinds of odors from the air as well.
- They have a very quiet operation and will not disturb you due to excessive noise.
Ion Air Purifiers Explained
An ion air purifier is a type of electronic air purifier and is also know as an ionizer. It works by sending out negatively charged ions into the air. The ion generator, inside the ion purifier, sends out a steady stream of negative ions into the air in a room.
An ion is an atom with an ion missing. Thus, when these ions are sent out in the air, they attach to other molecules and ions, thus forming a complete atom. This process continues till the molecules become so heavy and big that they cannot float around in the air. The particulates either fall to the ground, or become attracted to positively charged surfaces in the room, such as furniture, upholstery, fixtures, walls, etc.
Once the harmful particulates are removed from the air, they can then be removed entirely from the room, through regular vacuuming and cleaning. Even if the particulates are disturbed and sent back into the air because of regular movement of people and animals, the steady release of ions, will once again ensure that they are removed from the air, thus purifying it completely.
Benefits Of An Ion Air Purifier
- They are not as expensive as other kinds of air purification systems.
- An Ion air purifier is not very noisy and is perfect for those who get disturbed even with the slightest of sounds.
- Ion air purification systems help to remove all kinds of harmful particles, bacteria, dust, smoke etc from indoor air. Even though the molecules are not actually destroyed, ion air purifiers help to drop them on other surfaces from where the unsafe contaminants can easily be vacuumed away.
- They help in removing unpleasant smells from the air as well.
- Ion air purifiers are filter-less air purifiers, and thus you do not have to contend with any filters, which need to continuously be replaced or cared for. This also helps in reducing your maintenance costs.
Indoor air cleaners act to filter out contaminants in the air which contains particles that are hazardous and harmful to the respiratory system. There is a wide variety of indoor purifiers available in the market, each of them with their own unique traits and physical dimensions. Most of them are equipped with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate) filters, which are tested by of the Department of Environment. In fact, international air filter standards are used for the testing of the HEPA filter in order to maintain product quality and efficiency. This is why HEPA filters are very popular throughout mainstream indoor air purifiers.
These HEPA filters help give the ability to indoor air purifiers to remove 99.97% of particles from the air, up to a size of 0.3 micron. However, these filters have to be changed regularly in order for the air purifier filter to maintain its effectiveness and efficiency in cleaning indoor air. However, if the air purifiers are equipped with electrostatic charged plates in addition to the HEPA filters, then the frequency of change can be reduced.
Finally, indoor air purifiers are also equipped with charcoal filters to filter out the smell and odors from the air, such as tobacco odor, in order to release only fresh-smelling air-flow into the room.
Buying a home air purifier does not entail just going to a store and asking for an air purifier for your home. Although it is a relatively simple task, you need to consider the following, while choosing a home air purifier.
Things to Consider: Finding the Right Home Air Purifier
- The enormity of your health problems: Since home air purifiers are typically bought to clean indoor air so as to have a healthier body, your health problems will be an important consideration when choosing home air purifiers.
- If you have light allergies, then you can make do with a cheaper and smaller home air purifier, but if you have serious allergy problems, then a similar purifier may not work for you.
- If you are asthmatic, you need an air purifier that has a gas filter. A gas filter helps to remove smells and gases from the air, which are a leading cause of asthma attacks.
- If you are sensitive to chemicals and react badly to them, your choice of home purifier will depend on whether or not your body reacts with the different materials used in different types of air purifiers.
- Area to be purified: The size of the room that needs an air purifier will determine the size of the device. If you want to purify the air in your entire home, then you can choose from in-duct air purifiers, or portable air purifiers that can be moved from room to room.
- Technology used: There are various technologies used in different house air cleaners. You can choose from ozone air purifiers, filter-less air purifiers, UV air purifiers etc. The choice will depend on what type of allergens you want to get rid of, and also if you need to remove odors along with other contaminants.
- Cost: Your budget will determine your choice to a great extent. If money is not a concern, you can go in for a top-of-the-line purifier with multiple purification technologies. If you do not want to spend a lot of money, you can choose a small portable home purifier according to your immediate needs.
The amount of pollution in and around your home, the number of people living in the house, whether or not you have any pets, are all miscellaneous conditions that will also affect your choice of air purifiers for your home.
What Is A Home Air Filter?
This is a filter that is used in various appliances and air purification systems in a home. The quality of indoor air, in homes, is deteriorating by the day, because of increase in pollution levels, domestic pets, and many other factors. Breathing in such air can often lead to medical problems in people, such as allergies and other reactions.
In order to avoid and minimize health complications because of impure air, many people choose to have air purification systems in the house, most of which require an air filter for effective purification.
Applications Of Home Air Filters
These can be used in the following appliances and areas commonly found in homes.
- Air conditioner air filter: These are used inside air-conditioners. Such filters prevent dust from getting inside the air conditioner and also allow for maximum air flow into the air-conditioner. This helps to give you absolutely clean and cool air, to provide you with health and comfort.
- Air filters for air cleaning devices: House air filters are also used in most air purification systems. They capture the particulates from the air and then pass such air into the purification system so as to rid it of harmful germs and other microorganisms. Many air purification systems do not use air filters. But although such systems get rid of microorganisms, they cannot control the particulates present in the air, without the use of home air filters.
- Furnace air filters: These are used to protect your indoor heating systems, and provide you with clean warm air.
- Vent air filters: These filters fit onto the vents in your home, to prevent objects from falling into ducts, and also help to trap harmful particles from the air.
Home air filters are available in many standard sizes, with some manufacturers offering as many as 40 standard sizes to choose from. If you still don’t find an air filter for your home that suits your requirements, you can get one custom made, to the exact specifications of your appliance that requires a home air filter.
Your selection of purifiers will be determined by what you want to get from the air purifier. If you need one primarily for getting rid of allergens and harmful particulates from the air, then a HEPA air purifier is your best bet.
A HEPA purifier uses a HEPA air filter for purification of indoor air. These air filters trap all the allergens and particulates that pass through the Hepa filter and do not let them back into the air. It is essential to note that itcan only clean and purify the air that actually passes through the air filter. If the air stays around the air purifier, but does not actually pass through it, the HEPA filters would not be able to purify such air. Thus, when choosing a HEPA air cleaner, it is essential that you choose one that has enhanced air flow capacity.
Air filters are the main part of any Hepa purifiers. These filters are usually made from very fine filtration materials, such as polymers, fiber etc. The filtration material is typically folded in pleats, tightly together, much like an accordion. These folds help to create a very large surface area of filtration material, through which large quantities of air can pass and be purified effectively.
If you remove all the pleats in a HEPA filter, you can get filtration material that is as large as 40 feet in length. The more the filtration material used in the filters, the better will be the purification efficiency of the air purifier.
Benefits Of HEPA Air Purifiers
- They typically have an efficiency rate of 99.97% in removing harmful particulates from the air.
- HEPA air filters can trap all kinds of particulates, such as pollen, dust, smoke, smog, pet dander, dead skin, mold spores etc, that are as small as 0.3 microns in size.
- HEPA purifiers can usually clean the air in any given room, up to 15 times per hour. This results in highly pure and clean air, which is absolutely fit for breathing.
- With proper maintenance and care, HEPA air filters can last you for as many as 5 years, without needing to be replaced.
- Hepa air purifiers remove all allergens and dust mites, which are especially responsible for asthma and allergic reactions in most people. Thus, using a HEPA air purifier will result in cleaner air and a healthier you.
How An Electrostatic Air Filter Works
Air which passes through the filter produces friction which causes static charges between the hairs of the fibers within the filter. This static charge attracts particles in the air which is passing through and captures it within the metal plates of the electrostatic air filter.
With this, once these filters are cleaned with water through a water hose once in a while, they can then be used again. As they don’t suffer much wear and tear, these electrostatic air filters are also given a lifetime warranty by their producers. Apart from that, the external construction is made from non-corrosive material which will not degrade due to heat from prolonged usage.
Additionally, electrostatic air purifiers are also very cost efficient as they do not require much energy to operate. Therefore, using these electrostatic filters will not hike up your electricity bills. These filters also come in many sizes and shapes, are easy to install and are also environmentally safe as they do not emit ozone into the air for cleaning purposes. Finally, with an electrostatic purifier, you will be sure that your home will be free from any pollutants which may cause allergic reactions to those within your home. Therefore, with an electro static air filter, everyone in your home will be able to breathe easier and feel fresher as well.
Over the years, because of various factors, such as rise in population, increasing number of vehicles on the road, and increase in pollution levels, the outdoor air quality has become practically unbreathable, which is why most homes and offices today are highly insulated to protect against the bad outdoor air, and also to save on energy costs.
This has resulted in an even more dangerous problem – that of bad indoor air quality. As most homes and offices are tightly insulated nowadays, there is not enough circulation of fresh air, which is why the indoor air quality is going from bad to worse. And add to it factors such as pet dander, dust mites, cigarette smoke, and mold spores; add what you get is very unhealthy indoor air.
Bad quality of indoor air leads to many health problems, the least of which are hay fever, runny noses, headaches, breathing difficulties etc. The only way to improve your indoor air quality, and thus your health, is to use clean air machines.
Introducing Clean Air Machines
A clean air machine is an appliance, which helps to clean indoor air and make it fit for breathing. Clean air machines, or air purifiers, remove harmful particulates from the air, such as dust particles, pet hair, dead skin, mold spores etc, and also remove disease causing germs, viruses, bacteria and a host of other micro-organisms from the air. Removing all these dangerous contaminants from the air makes the air cleaner, purer, and safer to breathe for children and adults.
Using a vacuum cleaner and dusting your home regularly, will only remove that has settled on surfaces. Vacuuming does not help to purify the air and also cannot reduce the presence of germs in the air. Only a clean air machine can achieve complete and thorough purification of indoor air.
Benefits Of A Clean Air Machine
A clean air machine will help to purify indoor air and rid the air of all disease causing contaminants. By using an air cleaner for just a couple of weeks in your home, you will see a marked difference in your health and the health of your family members. A clean air machine also provides for better sleep because of purer air, thus making you feel completely rested and energized.
If only we lived in the good old days, where purity of air was taken for granted, we would not need any appliances for cleaning indoor air. But since you don’t, the next best alternative is to get an air cleaning machine.
Although reviews do help, they should be used to short list some air purifiers and not to make the final decision about the best one. Here is no such thing as one best air purifier for everybody. Each person’s requirements, in an air purifier, are different from others, and thus you can only select one that will be best for you. What is the best air purifier for one a particular household may not be the best purifier for another.
Factors For Choosing The Best Air Purifier
- Size of the area: The size of the room, office, or home will determine the best air purifier for that space. If you have a large room, then you cannot use a purifier that is not efficient enough for big spaces. In such a situation, the air purifier best for you will be one that can effectively purify air even in large areas.
- Filtration technologies: There are many different kinds of filtration technologies used in different air purifiers. These include, heap filtration, ionic filtration, ozone generation, UV air purification systems etc. The best air purifiers use more than just one type of technology for air purification. The more the technologies used in a particular air purifier, the better it is likely to be in purification of indoor air.
- Health concerns: The choice will also depend on the type of health problems that you are facing because of bad indoor air quality. Depending on what you are suffering from, you need to decide whether you want an air purifier that attacks air borne particulates, or one that removes germs from the air, or both. An air purifier that helps to minimize your health problems is the only one that can be considered the most suitable air purifier for you.
So, in choosing the right purifier for you, pay attention to your individual home and health requirements, and not to something that you saw on television, or heard somewhere, about some ‘best air purifiers’.