Picking the best air purifier is a very difficult decision since the need of each allergy or asthma situation has different needs. Adding to this tough task is different allergens and different types of home pollutions are removed in different ways. Below are some comparisons of some of the more popular type of air purifiers.
Air Purifiers with HEPA (High Energy Particle Arresting) filters were originally developed for the atomic energy commission and are used in commercial clean rooms to remove particles of dust and other airborne pollution. This is a paper or polymer sheet with very tiny holes that allow airflow to pass though the material but not very much else. The holes are so small you need a lot of surface area for a reasonable amount of airflow to pass though the material. It is because of this that the medium is always folded in an accordion or zigzag fashion to get a lot of surface area in a small area.
There is also a mixed version of the technology that one manufacturer uses where the holes in the HEPA filter are slightly larger to promote more airflow but the air is charged with electrostatic wands. Which then attracts any of the smaller particles that get thru the holes. HEPA Filters work well in the home for trapping particulates.
The disadvantage is that the filters must be changed regularly (every 6-months to 5-years depending on the manufacturer). Before purchasing you would also want to review how much air by-passes the filter, fan noise, how long the filter is good for and finally price of both original unit and replacement filters. The review of any HEPA unit depends on the efficiency (how much air by-passes the filter), fan noise, filter life and price.
UV air purifiers use ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light in the right intensity destroys the DNA of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. The disadvantage of a UV air purifier is that removes very few gas pollutants and no air particles. It would be necessary then to purchase a UV air purifier along with another type or one that combines with another filter system.
Ion Generator Air Purifiers are small air purifier devices that put out a stream of negatively charged Ions. These ions charge particulate pollution and when the particle bumps up against something it sticks due to the electronic charge. These devices are used on US submarines and in the poultry industry to keep the feather dust down.
These air purifiers do what they say but there are some very distinct disadvantages. Particulates end up on your walls so your walls turn black near the device. Secondly, since they typically do not have a fan they only work in a localized area. They also do nothing for gas pollution and some may put off some dangerous Ozone.
You can see just with the 3 examples above there are differences in air purifiers. Research and comparison shopping is necessary to find the right purifier for your specific case. Do not allow promotional hype to sway your judgment, picking the wrong air purifier is as bad as not having one at all.
Best Rated Air Purifiers
There are many high quality air purifiers available today and you can easily find one to fit your style and budget. Some of the most popular models are made by Honeywell, Holmes, Whirlpool and Kenmoor, among many other well-known names as well. The price tags on these guys range from a few dollars on up to a few hundred bucks. One of the best places you can find prices as well as a various number of air purifiers is on eBay (only the best auction site ever). Listed here, I will tell you the top ten best air purifiers on the shelves today available to consumers as well as businesses. These air purifiers will include, home use, office use and car use as well as Ultra Violet, Ionic, Hepa, and much more. Pay attention, this is really valuable information!
1- IQ Air Health Pro Compact Air Purifier $250
This might be one of the smaller more compact systems available when it comes to allergy and asthma type systems, but it is still a high performance particle control systems. This is a terrific purifier for smaller houses and makes it more convenient for small apartments and offices as well. The Health Pro effectively removes every type of air pollutant with the same high efficient as the larger models. The Hepa filters are certified to remove 99.5% of all particulates!
2- BlueAir 501 $250
This is a great system for anyone that is living with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions, or for anyone that just wants clean and breathable air! The smaller 501 was rated 6th by Consumer Reports and has been a long time contender in air purifiers. The value in this system also adds to its quiet operation, low energy use, and steel construction that is easy to maintain. The filter needs to be replaced every 6 months.
3- Honeywell QuietClean HHT-215 Tower Air Purifier $120
The Honeywell provides extremely superior cleaning performance with very little maintenance and no replacement filter costs. Compared to Ionic purifiers it captures 12x more pollutants, plus its tested in laboratories to reduce airborne bacteria, viruses and fungus with UV lights. This system removes particles such as dust, pollen, smoke and mold spored. The Honeywell circulates your room 5x in one quiet hour. The filters can be removed and cleaned with water easily and quickly! It also features 3 speeds, is energy efficient, has a built in ionizer and it retails for almost $300. Find this one on eBay for the $120 price.
4- Auto Car Ionic Ionizer Air Purifier Fresh Cleaner R10 $10.00
Mini ionizer is perfect for auto use, simply plug the ionizer into your cars 12v cigarette lighter socket! The high output 12 volt DC negative generator helps remove dust, pollen, smoke, dander, mold spores and other allergens in your vehicle. This mini system freshens and purifies the air within your automobile or truck and ionizes the air using tiny negative ions. This item also will not interfere with radio reception or interfere with car electronics like other car ionizers may.
5- Sunbeam Portable Ultrasonic Pest Repeller And Air Ionizer $33.00
The SB600-2 ultrasonic pest repeller and built in ionizer eliminates pests by emitting waved of ultrasonic signals that pests hate! This item is however, safe to use around birds, dogs, cats and reptiles. Warning do not use around domesticated pets such as rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils or other rodent type pets! The compact system is great for home or office use, simply plug the system into a standardized electrical outlet.
In order to find any and all of these systems simply search on places like Google, eBay or Amazon. Personally I love shopping on eBay more than anywhere else because you can almost always guarantee you will find a better price than you would in a regular brand name store. All of the products listed below are prices found on eBay rather than brand name stores, so I recommend on you doing the same! Notice just because an item is cheaper and available on eBay doesn't mean its worth less, or a piece of junk. In most cases even if the item is "used" it's in really great shape!
Both Ken Charnley & Kristi Ambrose are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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