Air Purifiers

Top Ten Air Purifier Questions

Air Purifier Ratings
Before you shell out any money for an air purifier, you want to make sure you are getting your money's worth. You can find this out .....

1. Do I really need an air purifier in my home?

It depends on several factors, including your own comfort level and what the indoor air quality is in your home. There are several factors to take into consideration, however.

First and foremost, many health organizations agree that indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality. In fact, for many people, indoor allergens and irritants such as dust, smoke and pet dander may be two to five times as bad in their homes as outdoors!

There are several indications that you may benefit from an air purifier in your home. Reasons to get an air purifier include:

Allergy symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes and runny nose

Itchy, dry skin or frequent skin rashes

Asthma or other breathing problems

Being or living with a smoker

Owning indoor pets

Mold or mildew in your home

Air Purifier Info For Dummies
If you are in the dark about what air purifiers are and what they actually do, you .....

2. Do all air purifiers clean the same kinds of pollutants from the air?

No. Although all air cleaners clean certain particulates from the air, there are differences in what and how they clean. Some remove dust and particulates such as pet dander and smoke very effectively, while others will actually eliminate bacteria, viruses and molds and mildew. But very few will do all of these things, so be sure to read the article Understanding Air Purifiers for a more detailed outline of what each type can and cant do to improve the air quality in your home.

3. How do I know what size air purifier to get for my home?

Air Purifier Types And Benefits
Considering the amount of irritants that are present in the air today, those who suffer from allergies and other .....

Actually, most air purifiers are designed for individual room use rather than for the whole home. Unless you have an air purifier or air filtration system that has been installed on your heating or air conditioning unit, you should get separate units for each room or living space.

The reason you need separate units for each room is because effectiveness is affected by air flow, and walls mean no air circulation. Each room will need its own unit.

To determine what size you need, look for the CADR number. This number indicates the Clean Air Delivery Rate, which should always equal at least 2/3 the total square footage of the room you will be using the air purifier in. For example, a 10 X 12 room has 120 square feet, and needs a purifier with a CADR number of at least 80.

4. What is Ozone and is it safe for indoors?

Ozone is a tasteless, colorless gas made up of three oxygen atoms. It can be found in the upper atmosphere and is naturally produced by thunderstorms during electric discharge.

It is perfectly safe indoors if kept at acceptable levels (between .02 and .05 parts per million), just like many other type of naturally occurring gasses that arent harmful to us at certain levels. Ozone air purifiers have been developed to produce the correct amount of ozone to purify the air without reaching harmful levels.

5. How often will I need to change or clean the filter in my air purifier?

It depends on several factors, including how large the room is and what type and size of air purifier you have. Some will need to be changed or cleaned monthly, others more often.

It is very important to check your filter regularly and follow the recommended schedule the manufacturer suggests, since the efficiency of the air purifier relies on proper maintenance.

6. What exactly is a Micron?

A micron is a measurement of the size of a particulate in the air. One micron is 1/25,400 inch (roughly 100 times smaller than a single strand of hair). Obviously, a micron is far too small to be seen. For the purpose of choosing an air purifier, most types are considered very efficient if they can filter airborne pollutants to .3 microns.

7. How much should I pay for an air purifier?

Its very hard to determine what you should spend on an air purifier, because price doesnt always guarantee quality. Doubtless you should be willing to spend enough to get a high-quality product, but protect your investment by making sure your air purifier comes with a warranty.

When buying an air purifier, also take into account the cost of any replacement filters and the electricity to run the unit.

8. Will an air purifier be noisy?

An air purifier with a fan in it will have some noise. HEPA ......