Owning a filterless air purifier sounds like a cost effective solution to indoor air pollution, and in truth it will help to a degree. Advertising across the media tout the advantages and cost savings of air purifier models with washable filters, as opposed to other technologies which require filter changes. What's really financially savvy is to understand what you're getting with a filterless air purifier and what you are not, before you purchase one.

In the past decade, asthma, allergy, and chemical sensitivity problems experienced both by children, and surprisingly, by adults who've never had them, have skyrocketed. No one knows for sure why (although theories abound), however, the use of air purifier products in the home has risen dramatically in concurrence with the need. Naturally, companies have sought to provide products to meet the need for cleaner indoor air. Some have contributed home air purifier products that significantly reduce the range of toxins that cause health problems, others have made products which push air around and pose as air purifiers.

A filterless air purifier will primarily remove dust particles, which are often loaded with other particulate such as pollens. Most filterless units are electrostatic which means the air purifier charges the particles coming into the unit. They are then attracted to the grids or plates in the unit that have an opposite charge. (See, opposites really do attract). The air purifier is typically cleaned by wiping the plates or grid. In a dusty house, such a filterless air purifier can be very helpful, if it is cleaned as needed. Otherwise, it will just make a lot of annoying popping sounds.

What the filterless air purifier misses is the other range of irritants which impact allergenics and asthmatics, as well as people who are chemically sensitive. The latter problem, referred to as MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) varies greatly from person to person. Some people may find perfumes or cleaners slightly irritating, others may get deathly ill from them. In general, because homes are so much more tightly built today with less natural airflow, many people experience more respiratory discomfort from the chemicals, gases and odors present than from the particulate. You can't wipe gases off of an electrostatic plate in a filterless air purifier.

Some filterless air purifier models do include an activated carbon filter which must be changed, but is typically inexpensive. The air purifier can often be used with or without the activated carbon filter. Activated carbon will absorb a variety of odors and chemicals, although the amount used in most of the filterless air purifier models on the market is marginal. The carbon mat which is the format in which the activated carbon is used in the air purifier, weighs only ounces and won't hold a lot. Usually several pounds of activated carbon or a blend of it is needed to adsorb chemicals, odors and gases over a year or more.

A filterless air purifier in households where dust is annoying but not really a health issue, is a good idea. For more serious respiratory health related concerns, a quality HEPA (high energy particulate arresting) air purifier (which does require new filters from time to time) which also contains several pounds of activated carbon will be a more long term and effective solution, though more expensive.