Air Purifiers

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Air Purifiers: The Lowdown

Air Purifiers Intro

Air purifiers are electronic devices which remove or reduce the amount of pollutants or contaminants from the air that we breathe. This is usually achieved by the use of filters hence the gadgets also being referred to as air filters. Prices for air purifiers vary greatly ranging from small personal purifiers at around $20 right up to the massive industrial air purifiers which can run into several $1,000's to an almost unlimited amount. In general the price increases as the amount of air that it can process increases and/or the level to which filtration occurs.

Air Purifiers Popularity

The popularity of the air purifier continues to increase. This is due to a number of factors. With regards to industrial usage of air cleaners their use is now widespread where industrial pollutants are likely to enter the air supply. This is simply down to the fact that employers do not wish to risk being taken to court by their employees for illness caused by poor air quality. Looking at the massive increase in the popularity of home air purifiers is a little more difficult as there are several influencing factors.

Increased levels of allergies amongst members of the general population, together with an increased number of people who suffer from Asthma, have led to an increase in the demand for air purifiers that are able to remove the allergens responsible for these allergies. Typically these allergens are likely to be pollen or mold.

Increased awareness of the dangers of tobacco smoke and especially those associated with 2nd hand smoke have led to an increase in demand for air filters capable of removing all traces of tobacco smoke.

Buying An Air Purifier & Things You Should Know

The most popular filter in air purifiers is called a HEPA filter. These air filters have to pass rigid tests before they can be referred to as HEPA filters as they must be capable of removing almost all (99.97%) pollutants from the air (of 0.3 micrometers in size). Sadly these filters are very expensive and the air filters used in air purifiers eventually need to be replaced and they can often cost nearly as much as a brand new machine. The frequency at which the filter will need replacing should be considered when making a purchase. Many air purifiers now use cheaper filters to pre-clean the air before it passes through the HEPA filter. These pre filters help reduce the workload of the HEPA filter and therefore extend their lifetime. If possible try to find an air purifier that uses such a technique as it is far easier and cheaper to replace a pre filter a couple of times rather than replacing the main filter all the time.

If HEPA filters are simply too expensive try to find an air purifier that is advertised as having a "HEPA like filter" as it is likely that the filter only just failed the stringent tests required for certification. Such air purifiers are often far cheaper than true HEPA's.

A Look At Ionic Air Purifiers

An air ioniser is a machine which uses electricity to charge the air, specifically the ion particles within the air which are charged positive or negative. There is much debate over the use of this technique and the use of it in home air purifiers. Many consider Ionic air purifiers as ineffectual and rather useless while others even consider them a danger to the public. There appears to be some confusion over the technique which involves the use of a plate which is electrically charged to produce negative ions which "attract" pollutants in a similar way in which static electricity energy attracts your hair if you brush it too much.

Unfortunately the electricity used in such purifiers could lead to the production of harmful substances such as Ozone. These substances can actually aggravate asthma and other similar conditions. For this reason there is ongoing research into the development of ionic air purifiers, their usage, effectiveness and the dangers involved. For this reason we will continue to add details as and when they become available and care should be taken when considering the purchase of such devices. Personally I would much rather opt for the proven technology of the HEPA filter, even if it is far more expensive!

It is hoped that you find the articles below both interesting and useful. However we would strongly advise that you consider all of the air purifiers available rather than rush into purchasing the first one that catches your eye.

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