Whether you're an allergy or asthma sufferer, or someone who is concerned with providing your family with the best indoor air quality, finding a solution to the airborne contaminants in your home is a very important issue. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that most indoor air is three to five times dirtier than outdoor air. This startling revelation led to a boom in the production of air purifiers, but do they really work?
Most air purifiers remove airborne pollutants like mold spores, pollen, dust, bacteria, and pet dander. But determining whether an air purifier is effective is measured by its ability to capture particles and the amount of air it can process in a given time. Translation: If an air purifier can't catch particles of all sizes and process enough air to make a difference, it's probably not worth the cost of shipping.
The effectiveness of an air purifier is generally based on the effectiveness of its air filter. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) tests and certifies air filters, using a rating system to ensure accuracy. The first rating, Initial Staining Dirt Efficiency, measures how well the filter removes microscopic staining particles such as tobacco tar, allergens, and grease. The second rating, the Average Arrestance Test, determines the percentage of ordinary dust, hair, lint, and other large particulate matter removed. It's important to know which rating is being used when comparing air purifiers.
The size of air contaminants like dust and pollen particles is measured by the micron. The human eye cannot see particles that are smaller than 10 microns, as one micron equals 1/25,400 of an inch. Particles like lint, dust, and pollen can all be seen by the human eye, but smaller contaminants like bacteria and viruses will escape the detection of our eyes and some filters. Finding a filter that will eliminate air impurities of all sizes is important to ensure the effectiveness of an air purifier.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters set the standard for effective air cleaning. HEPA filters have been tested and certified to remove particles that average 0.3 micron in size. Particles of this size are likely to be inhaled and deposited into the lungs and trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions.
To qualify as a true HEPA filter, the filter must remove at least 99.97% of airborne contaminants, including mold spores, dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander. There are many generic "HEPA-like" filters on the market today; however, true HEPA filters are marked as such on their packaging and provide the most efficient filtration.
Most air purifiers on the market are tested and certified by the Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), using the Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR. The CADR measures how many cubic feet per minute of air is cleared of certain size particles. Three particle sizes are rated: smoke (small), dust (medium), and pollen (large).
Rating air purifiers is simple: the higher the CADR rating, the less time the unit needs to remove a given quantity of particles from the specified size room. The room size is indicated on the packaging of the air purifier and all AHAM-certified models are marked with CADR data, as this information acts to distinguish each air purifier from its competitor. You can use the CADR ratings to determine which air purifier works best in your home.
As you can see, there are many standards and ratings requirements used for all air purifiers. These requirements are used to ensure that every consumer receives the benefits they've been guaranteed by the manufacturer. Air purifiers can't guarantee the elimination of allergies or asthma. However, HEPA air purifiers can guarantee the elimination of harmful airborne contaminants.
So if you're struggling with the decision of whether to buy an air purifier or which air purifier to buy, consider the large variety of HEPA air purifiers on the market. Find an air purifier that works for you and your family, and breathe easier knowing that you're breathing clean air. To learn more and browse top brands, visit http://www.achooallergy.com/airpurifiers.asp
Air purifiers are very effective if the consumer is careful to choose an air purifier that is appropriate for his or her needs. Air purifier models, both portable and whole-house, vary greatly in their design, cleaning technology, required maintenance, filter longevity, area coverage, power consumption, quality and price. If an air purifier is selected carefully, the user can expect the room in which the air purifier is placed to remain significantly cleaner as long as the unit is operating continuously and is properly maintained.
A person who wakes up congested in the morning from sleeping in a room heavy with particles or chemical out-gassing, should sleep better and wake up significantly less congested if an air purifier with the proper technology for removing both airborne particles and chemicals is used. A person sensitive to perfumes or cleaners in an office, should find significant relief from an air purifier that is designed to remove them. A child with asthma should have fewer night attacks in a room that is extremely clean due to a quality air purifier that is sized right for the room. A person who feels ill from time spent in a basement that smells of mold will feel better if an air purifier that is designed to remove airborne mold spores is used.
An air purifier that is chosen wisely really should help eliminate symptoms. Choosing an air purifier that will work in the above scenarios depends in part upon an understanding of the health issues involved and some understanding of the indoor air pollution present. Knowing what you are allergic to is a good first step, and may require testing by an allergist. However, if it's spring, you can see the pollen in the ai,r and you're congested, it's pretty easy to self diagnose a problem with pollens. If you get out of an elevator feeling sick from the perfumes you smelled, you are probably chemically sensitive. An abundance of mold spores generally makes everyone feel badly.
In order to select an air purifier that will help, determine your symptoms as best you can. Evaluate the air quality in your home or office. Compare how you feel in your home or office to other locations where you feel better. Is the air noticeably cleaner in the other places? Is there an air purifier at work there? Study the different technologies available to determine which ones are best at removing particles, (particularly the smallest particles which can slip by the protective cilia in the nose and sinuses), and which ones are best at removing chemicals and gases. Look for products that do both if both are a problem for you. Study and compare the CFM ratings on the different air purifier models. CFM is the cubic feet per minute of clean air the air purifier puts back into the room.
An air purifier that works well must be designed to cover the amount of square footage in the room in which you want to place it, or more than one unit might be required. Generally, it is better to choose one that covers a greater area than you need to have cleaned because you can run it on a lower, thus quieter, speed. These are a few of the aspects of cleaning your indoor air that must be taken into consideration in order for the air purifier you purchase to actually make a difference in your health. There are excellent models on the market. They really do work, but before you buy, take some time to evaluate your needs and compare them to the products? capabilities.
Both M. Scott Smith & Terri M. Zajac 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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