How To Select The Right Air Purifier For Your Home?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, the air inside most homes is full of harmful particles that form naturally and from certain activities. Dust is probably the first thought that comes to mind, but there are other particles floating in the air. Cats and dogs shed hair, which falls into the category of pet dander. Mold spores are extremely harmful to respiratory health. But the underlying cause of mold growth is humidity, which must be controlled by a dehumidifier. Smoking, fireplaces, and cooking ranges produce fumes that float inside the house. Pollen can also make its way inside homes. Bacteria and viruses are also commonly found in the air.

All of these airborne particles pose major threats to people with respiratory problems such as Asthma and Allergies. Of course, even healthy people are adversely affected by these particles. Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to these harmful particles. There are air purification systems and units which can eliminate all of these problems. The most common types of technologies used in home air purifiers include ionization, HEPA filtering, electrostatic precipitators, ultraviolet radiation, and ozone generation. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of air purifying technology. However, many systems combine a variety of technologies to offer the maximum effectiveness in eliminating dust and other particles from the air.

The most common types of air purifiers are those that use HEPA filters and ionizers. The filters trap more than 99 percent of harmful particles, and must be either replaced or cleaned regularly. HEPA type filters have fans to circulate the air throughout the room.

Air ionizers purify the air by releasing charged particles that attach to dust, and then form new larger particles. The newly formed particles can then be either vacuumed from the floor or collected from an ionizer’s electrostatic plate (if equipped with it.)A major advantage of air ionizers is the lack of filters and fans. This means there are minimum maintenance requirements and silent operation.

Standalone air purifiers (which include air ionizer units), are popular alternatives to expensive whole house air cleaners. Inexpensive and portable, the standalone types are typically designed to be effective for small spaces of up to a few hundred square feet. It’s recommended to install multiple units throughout the house. Some common specifications to look for in home air purifiers are the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) and micron size. You want a purifier with the highest CADR rating, and the smallest micron rating.