Comparing Air Purifiers

There are several types of air purifiers to clean your home's air and help in alleviating problems with allergies and asthma. One type of air purifier contains HEPA air filters, which are able to effectively remove 99.97% of all particle matter in the air to control dust and remove pollen. HEPA filters are one of the best air purifying technologies available today. On the other hand, air purifiers using HEPA filters must have their filters replaced on a regular basis to remain effective.

Another type of air purifier uses electrostatic or electronic systems. This type of air purifier doesn't have air filters that need replacing, but they do have charged plates that need to be washed occasionally to remain effective.

Both air purifiers with HEPA air filters and those that use metal plates are able to control dust and many other particles effectively; however, on their own, they can't remove odors or other chemicals.

In order to accomplish this, air purifiers must have some type of activated carbon or UV purification system. Air purifiers work by pulling in air from the room into the system with a fan, cleaning the air, and then releasing the clean air back out into the room.

When considering purchasing an air purifier, it's essential to know how the system works. If you want an air purifier that eliminates particles, dangerous chemicals, and odors, you need one that contains an activated carbon or a UV purification system.

You should also know the power of the air purifier you are purchasing and its general effectiveness. Air purifiers, whether they contain HEPA filters or use electrostatic systems, are available in a wide range of prices. Price can be an indicator of the quality of the product. However, a smaller unit may be a high quality product but with a lower price tag.

A lot of high end air purifiers use a pre-filter as well as a HEPA filter. These air purifiers can give extended life to the HEPA filter by removing some of the larger particles before they can contact the HEPA filter, which will extend the lifespan of the HEPA filter. To be effective, the pre-filter must be cleaned regularly to remove dust build up that can reduce the air purifier's performance.

Efficiency is important to consider when purchasing an air purifier. Although a HEPA filter can remove 99.97% of dust from the atmosphere, that means little if the actual air purifier is cleaning only a fraction of the air in the room. To ensure that the air purifier filter you purchase is effective, it is ideal to find an air purifier manufacturer that states exactly how much of the air gets cleaned and can prove that this is the case.

Finding a table of air purifier comparisons, where different brands and different models of air purifiers are compared in an independent study, will help you choose an air purifier that actually works for you. A search on the Internet or consumer magazines are your best bet, especially if the source tells you exactly where the independent air purifier tests were conducted.

Comparing Air Purifiers

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