How Do I Choose?

You've heard that indoor air pollution can be a significant health concern. In fact, the EPA has said that air quality inside American homes and offices can be two to five times worse than outside. If you spend a lot of time indoors, you need to consider taking control over the air entering your lungs. And if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems or if you just want extra insurance against colds and flu, breathing cleaner air is even more critical. But choosing the right product can be confusing and intimidating.

Keep in mind that there is a difference between cleaners and purifiers. Cleaners generally involve a series of filters that captures particulates-including dust, dander, pollen, microorganisms and other airborne debris-from the air that circulates through the unit. Purifiers utilize a variety of technologies to destroy microorganisms, chemicals, odors and other contaminants, often at the molecular level.

Depending on the unique conditions in your home or office or your particular medical requirements, you may require one or more of the following common technologies. Keep in mind that many of these technologies are complementary-the strengths of one may make up for the weaknesses of another.

Cleaners

Filtration: The most common and most effective filter is the HEPA filter, or high-efficiency particulate filter. Developed by the Atomic Energy Commission, HEPA filters remove 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns.

In order to be cleaned by filtration, air must travel through the cleaning unit, so rooms that are overly large will not be effectively treated by this method. Some air cleaners include a pre-filter to capture larger particles and prolong the life of the HEPA filter, while some include an antibacterial filter to trap and kill microorganisms.

HEPA filters are effective at removing dust, pollen, mold, dust mites, bacteria and allergens, however this technology will not remove chemical fumes, gases, cigarette smoke, odors or viruses. An activated carbon filter can be used alongside a HEPA filter to absorb fumes, gases, smoke and odors, but a carbon filter alone cannot remove particulates.

Purifiers

Ionizer (Negative Ions): Negative ions chemically bond with airborne contaminants, creating a molecule too large to remain in the air. Ions are capable of removing particles as small as 0.01 microns and can do so outside of the unit, in an area up to 500 square feet.

This method is capable of neutralizing viruses, bacteria, cigarette smoke and chemical fumes, yet it does not remove odors, germs, fungi and some viruses and chemicals. With an ionizer alone, there is no method to collect neutralized particles.

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation: The wavelengths of UV light are destructive to microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores that pass by the unit's internal lamp. This method effectively protects against the spread of disease, but it does not affect particulates, chemical fumes, gases, cigarette smoke or odors.

Ozone: Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. Because it is highly reactive, ozone is extremely effective at destroying most bacteria, chemicals and odor causing agents at the molecular level.

A small percentage of people are sensitive to ozone and may experience irritation of the eyes, nose and or throat, so an ON/OFF setting is often desirable. Ozone has no effect on particulates.

Other Factors to Consider

Whole-House versus Room Units: Whole house units are installed directly into the ducts of a forced air heating and cooling system, while room units clean the air in one room only.

Room Size: Free standing units are rated based on the volume of air they can reasonably clean. Choose a unit that is rated to accommodate at least the square footage of the room to be cleaned, otherwise you will not experience improved air quality.

When choosing an ionizer or ozone emitting unit, be sure to size the unit properly by matching the unit to the size of space and level of contaminants. It is possible to overwhelm a room if too large of a unit is used.

Delivery Rate: Units that must draw air inside for it to be cleaned have a certain Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), which is a measure of a unit's efficiency. The higher the CADR value, the more air the unit can draw in, and the faster it can clean and distribute.

Noise: Depending on the technology in use, air cleaners and purifiers vary greatly in terms of sound emissions, measured in decibels, or dB(A). A higher dB(A) value means higher noise, so consumers may wish to turn the unit on high when the room is empty, and turn the speed lower, reducing the noise level, when the room is in use.

Replaceable Parts: Cleaners rely on filters, while some purifiers utilize UV (ultraviolet) lamps to eliminate contaminants. Both filters and lamps wear out, necessitating replacement every six to 12 months. Consider the cost of the replaceable parts when comparing your investment.

CleanAir4Life is proud to bring you these important products and replacement parts from manufacturers like Biozone, Airfree, Blueair, Neoair and Pure Indoor Systems, at the best prices.

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Affordable, reliable, and assembled with the highest technological standards, air purifiers work to combat dust, mold, pet dander, and drifting bacteria. Trapping harmful, floating pollutants and increasing the environmental health standard of family homes and businesses is the job of air purification systems. Air purifiers are designed to fit a huge variety of spaces and lifestyles. They range in size from large, sleek towers, which work effectively in large homes and offices, to compact, portable systems that can be worn around the neck or placed on a desk in the communal workspace or home office to keep air clear of smoke, viruses, and allergens.

Air cleaners represent the most effective tools for purifying the air of small to medium-sized living spaces. Designed to remove harmful particulate matter and gaseous pollutants that are byproducts of household appliances such as stoves and fireplaces, air cleaners come in a large variety of makes and models. Whether built into the HVAC system or portable units that can be moved from room to room, air cleaners are credited with relieving symptoms for asthma and allergy sufferers.

If you are having difficulty determining which air purifier or air cleaner is right for you we suggest viewing our air purifier and air cleaner Comparison Chart. Our chart compares products, product features, most effective applications for each product and prices all in one location.

Copyright © 2009 CleanAir4Life.com. All rights reserved.