Before you buy an air purifier you should do a lot of research to make yourself aware of what exactly is available in the market and what you need. Once you take a considered decision, you can go ahead and buy the particular model you have selected. After you have got yourself the purifier the one document you will require most is the Air Purifier Manual. There are various reasons as to why you should hold it dear to you. We list a few reasons below.
First of all it carries instructions from the manufacturer. The topics on which instructions are provided are wide ranging and will help you to make the most effective use of the purifier. There will be a discussion on how to properly unpack the purifier and install it. The installation guidelines will clearly state how much clearing the purifier will require from the walls, whether it needs to stand vertically or lie horizontally, or if it works in both positions, etc.
There will also be a detailed instruction about the replacement of filters. Any filter based air purifier needs the filters to be changed after regular intervals. The manual will tell you how regular the filters need to be changed. It will also guide you through the process of replacement and illustrate how you should take out an old filter and install a new one at its place. There should also be cleaning guidelines for washable pre-filters.
Some purifiers require you to disassemble the whole unit for the filter to be replaced. For such models, you have to have the manual handy. The manuals also come with basic troubleshooting advices. If your purifier is making too much of a noise, or it seems to you that the body of the unit is getting much too heated you can refer to the manual and try some quick fixes.
A proper manual will also contain a lot of information about the purifier. It will have the details about the filters that have been used, the wattage the purifier uses, etc. this will help you to know the purifier better. There will of course be information as to where to take the purifier to in case of serious operational problems. It will also carry details about the warranty.
So, you must have realized by now how important it is to have your air purifier manual at a place readily accessible. This is one important document that you need to keep safely for your air purifier.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Sunday, 25 January 2009
4 Things to Check When Purchasing an Air Purifier
Quality of the purifier
Though shoppers and buyers are not advised to be picky individuals, when it comes down to health items, they are entitled to it. One must make sure that the item purchased is of good origin and if possible, comes with a medical approval if used with ionizers and ozone generators.
Price of the purifier
Another important issue, the price of the product must be evaluated against the functionality of the product itself. No one wants to end up paying a fortune for a second hand quality product that doesn't clean much air. Spending wisely and thinking wisely before purchasing are the keys to ensuring a satisfactory purchase.
Function of the purifier
It is good to get some expert advice before purchasing an air purifier. This is mostly due to its multiple functions and hidden truths. Normally, one would consult a veteran user or even the shop owner about the functions and cons of the particular air purifier. It is also good to aim for a simpler air purifier that functions accordingly, rather than purchasing the state of the art gizmo that is literally too fancy for the house.
Warranty of the purifier
As many of the items created through the generations, air purifiers are bound to break every now and then. You must make it a top priority to check and ensure that warranties are available for the particular air purifier that you are planning to purchase. If spare parts are not covered, inquiring for the pricing and durability is a smart choice to make.
Though shoppers and buyers are not advised to be picky individuals, when it comes down to health items, they are entitled to it. One must make sure that the item purchased is of good origin and if possible, comes with a medical approval if used with ionizers and ozone generators.
Price of the purifier
Another important issue, the price of the product must be evaluated against the functionality of the product itself. No one wants to end up paying a fortune for a second hand quality product that doesn't clean much air. Spending wisely and thinking wisely before purchasing are the keys to ensuring a satisfactory purchase.
Function of the purifier
It is good to get some expert advice before purchasing an air purifier. This is mostly due to its multiple functions and hidden truths. Normally, one would consult a veteran user or even the shop owner about the functions and cons of the particular air purifier. It is also good to aim for a simpler air purifier that functions accordingly, rather than purchasing the state of the art gizmo that is literally too fancy for the house.
Warranty of the purifier
As many of the items created through the generations, air purifiers are bound to break every now and then. You must make it a top priority to check and ensure that warranties are available for the particular air purifier that you are planning to purchase. If spare parts are not covered, inquiring for the pricing and durability is a smart choice to make.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Air Purifier Filters - Do You Want To Clean Or Replace?
Air purifier filters can have a huge impact on the choice of air purifier we choose to buy, as many of us do not wish to incur the time and expense involved with regular replacement of these air cleaning filters. As the effectiveness of your air cleaner is dependent on keeping it well maintained and running smoothly, it is wise to consider whether you want to deal with air purifier filters before you buy.
One of the most effective air cleaning technologies available today is that used in the HEPA air purification systems, said to remove 99.97% of particulates from the air. This type of air cleaner, however, employs special air purifier filters, which must be changed on a regular basis in order to maintain the system’s efficiency.
There are also air purifiers available which don’t need air purifier filters; electronic air purifiers do not require air cleaning filters to work. This system works by gathering particles from the air on collecting plates inside the cleaner, and while these do not require regular replacement, the filterless air purifier still needs some maintenance to remain at optimum efficiency – the collecting plates must be cleaned regularly.
The very job that air purifiers do – removing particles and dust from our air that we do not wish to breathe in – necessitates some maintenance, as these particles will gather within the cleaner and will need to be disposed of. But while both filterless systems and those that employ air purifier filters require some upkeep to remain effective, this is minimal in both cases. The job itself involves only the simple wiping down of collection plates, or quickly changing a filter – the problem is remembering to do it!
And once you establish the habit, this simple air purifier filter maintenance will become a part of your routine. So don’t allow the thought of changing air purifier filters determine your choice of air cleaner – choose the system that is best for your family, and remember that the small amount of maintenance that comes with any air purifier is worth the work. Better those particles on your air purifier filter than in your lungs!
You need to think about air purifier filters before you buy your air purifier.
One of the most effective air cleaning technologies available today is that used in the HEPA air purification systems, said to remove 99.97% of particulates from the air. This type of air cleaner, however, employs special air purifier filters, which must be changed on a regular basis in order to maintain the system’s efficiency.
There are also air purifiers available which don’t need air purifier filters; electronic air purifiers do not require air cleaning filters to work. This system works by gathering particles from the air on collecting plates inside the cleaner, and while these do not require regular replacement, the filterless air purifier still needs some maintenance to remain at optimum efficiency – the collecting plates must be cleaned regularly.
The very job that air purifiers do – removing particles and dust from our air that we do not wish to breathe in – necessitates some maintenance, as these particles will gather within the cleaner and will need to be disposed of. But while both filterless systems and those that employ air purifier filters require some upkeep to remain effective, this is minimal in both cases. The job itself involves only the simple wiping down of collection plates, or quickly changing a filter – the problem is remembering to do it!
And once you establish the habit, this simple air purifier filter maintenance will become a part of your routine. So don’t allow the thought of changing air purifier filters determine your choice of air cleaner – choose the system that is best for your family, and remember that the small amount of maintenance that comes with any air purifier is worth the work. Better those particles on your air purifier filter than in your lungs!
You need to think about air purifier filters before you buy your air purifier.
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Why You Should Invest In An Air Purifier
Do you know the air in your home has ten times more pollutants and allergens than the air outside? The reason is because the air in your home is not circulating. As a result, people with sensitive noses and those with respiratory problems may feel uncomfortable.
A good air purifier can solve the problem. It helps to circulate the air in your home and filter the pollutants, dust and allergens leaving the air clean and healthy to breathe. A good air purifier can also get rid of bad odors in the house.
However, there are many brands of air purifiers available on the market. The prices can also vary from less than $100 to more than $3000. So how do you pick an air purifier that is suitable for your needs?
There are a few points to take note when buying an air purifier.
You might want to check the MERV rating of the air purifier. The MERV rating is a standard that is used to measure the efficiency of an air purifier. A rating of 6 to 12 is considered good. This rating should be stated on the box of the air purifier.
Another indicator of a good air purifier is the CADR rating. It is a rating that can tell you the rate at which clean air is delivered. Generally, the higher the number, the better. It is also more expensive. On most air purifier boxes, it is usually measured against three contaminants namely, smoke, pollen and dust.
Another important factor is the air filter. You may need to factor in the cost of replacing the air filter since it is a consumable item. Some air filters for certain brands can be expensive too.
A good air purifier can solve the problem. It helps to circulate the air in your home and filter the pollutants, dust and allergens leaving the air clean and healthy to breathe. A good air purifier can also get rid of bad odors in the house.
However, there are many brands of air purifiers available on the market. The prices can also vary from less than $100 to more than $3000. So how do you pick an air purifier that is suitable for your needs?
There are a few points to take note when buying an air purifier.
You might want to check the MERV rating of the air purifier. The MERV rating is a standard that is used to measure the efficiency of an air purifier. A rating of 6 to 12 is considered good. This rating should be stated on the box of the air purifier.
Another indicator of a good air purifier is the CADR rating. It is a rating that can tell you the rate at which clean air is delivered. Generally, the higher the number, the better. It is also more expensive. On most air purifier boxes, it is usually measured against three contaminants namely, smoke, pollen and dust.
Another important factor is the air filter. You may need to factor in the cost of replacing the air filter since it is a consumable item. Some air filters for certain brands can be expensive too.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Six Easy Steps For Choosing An Air Purifier
An air purifier can be very useful to improve the quality of your indoor air and make it more fit for breathing. Contrary to what people think, it is the
quality of your indoor air, and not so much outdoor air, which is responsible for various health problems such as asthma, allergies, hay fever, etc. All
these can be taken care of with a proper air purification system for your home. But how do you choose one? Well, here are the factors to consider when
choosing an air purifier.
Criteria For Choosing Air Purifiers
1) Size of the area: The size of the room that you wish to purify is an important consideration when buying an air purifier. If you choose a purifier
that is too small, it will not effectively clean the indoor air, thus rendering itself useless. And if you choose one that is too big, you could be
wasting a lot of money on your power bill. Thus, before buying an air purifier, you should measure the area of the room (or whole house as the case may
be) and then buy an air cleaning system that has the ability to purify the area.
2) Your purification needs: Why do you need an air purifier? What do you wish to remove from your indoor air? These are two questions that need to be
answered before choosing an purifier. Let's tackle them one by one.
• Most people want to buy an air purifier so that they can enhance their health through cleaner air. They wish to get rid of niggling allergies and
other health problems caused by bad indoor air. If that is the case, you need an air purifier for your whole house so that you can benefit from purer air
throughout your home. You should also ensure that the materials used in the air purification system as well as the filters are not ones that you are
allergic to and to which you can have a negative reaction. However, if you wish to purify selected areas in your home, it is best to go in for a portable
or a room air purifier, which can be used wherever you need it most.
• And now to the second question...what do you wish to eliminate from indoor air? Do you want to get rid of animal dander, or harmful germs and bacteria,
or disease causing particulates, or offensive odors and gases? If your primary need is to remove harmful particulates, then a HEPA air purifier is your
best bet as it effectively eliminates particles as small as 0.03 microns. To effectively remove germs and bacteria, you can choose an air purifier with a
UV system as these kill bacteria most effectively. However, in order to make your air as clean as possible, it is best to choose an air purifier that has
multiple filtration systems and not just one.
3) The CADR Rating: Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a rating that tells you how effective an air purifier is in eliminating dust mites, pollen
particles, and smoke from your indoor air. A higher CADR rating means the device is more effective and quicker at removing these harmful substances than
one with a lower CADR. Thus, you should select an air purifier with the best CADR rating.
4) Number of air changes per hour: This indicates the number of times a particular air purifier purifies the entire air within a given area in one hour.
Obviously, the higher the air changes per hour, the more efficient the purifier is, in not only purifying the air, but also maintaining its purity by
ridding the air of its impurities and pathogens rapidly and consistently. Thus, you need to choose one with as high air changing/hour rate as possible.
5) Maintenance and cleaning: Many people do not pay much attention to ease of cleaning the purifier when buying it and then get frustrated later on with
having to put in a lot of effort into its maintenance. While choosing an air purifier, you need to be aware of how regularly it needs to be serviced and
cleaned. How long can the filters be used before they need to be replaced? How expensive are the filters? Once you have the answers to these questions,
you can choose one which is easiest to clean and also not very expensive to maintain.
6) Noise Level: Some air purifiers make so much noise that they can literally wake up the dead! And since you want an purifier to enhance your health, it
is not going to happen if you choose a noisy one and lose sleep over it. Thus, check out the noise level of the air cleaner before making your purchase.
By following the above steps, you are sure to pick the ideal air purifier for your needs.
quality of your indoor air, and not so much outdoor air, which is responsible for various health problems such as asthma, allergies, hay fever, etc. All
these can be taken care of with a proper air purification system for your home. But how do you choose one? Well, here are the factors to consider when
choosing an air purifier.
Criteria For Choosing Air Purifiers
1) Size of the area: The size of the room that you wish to purify is an important consideration when buying an air purifier. If you choose a purifier
that is too small, it will not effectively clean the indoor air, thus rendering itself useless. And if you choose one that is too big, you could be
wasting a lot of money on your power bill. Thus, before buying an air purifier, you should measure the area of the room (or whole house as the case may
be) and then buy an air cleaning system that has the ability to purify the area.
2) Your purification needs: Why do you need an air purifier? What do you wish to remove from your indoor air? These are two questions that need to be
answered before choosing an purifier. Let's tackle them one by one.
• Most people want to buy an air purifier so that they can enhance their health through cleaner air. They wish to get rid of niggling allergies and
other health problems caused by bad indoor air. If that is the case, you need an air purifier for your whole house so that you can benefit from purer air
throughout your home. You should also ensure that the materials used in the air purification system as well as the filters are not ones that you are
allergic to and to which you can have a negative reaction. However, if you wish to purify selected areas in your home, it is best to go in for a portable
or a room air purifier, which can be used wherever you need it most.
• And now to the second question...what do you wish to eliminate from indoor air? Do you want to get rid of animal dander, or harmful germs and bacteria,
or disease causing particulates, or offensive odors and gases? If your primary need is to remove harmful particulates, then a HEPA air purifier is your
best bet as it effectively eliminates particles as small as 0.03 microns. To effectively remove germs and bacteria, you can choose an air purifier with a
UV system as these kill bacteria most effectively. However, in order to make your air as clean as possible, it is best to choose an air purifier that has
multiple filtration systems and not just one.
3) The CADR Rating: Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a rating that tells you how effective an air purifier is in eliminating dust mites, pollen
particles, and smoke from your indoor air. A higher CADR rating means the device is more effective and quicker at removing these harmful substances than
one with a lower CADR. Thus, you should select an air purifier with the best CADR rating.
4) Number of air changes per hour: This indicates the number of times a particular air purifier purifies the entire air within a given area in one hour.
Obviously, the higher the air changes per hour, the more efficient the purifier is, in not only purifying the air, but also maintaining its purity by
ridding the air of its impurities and pathogens rapidly and consistently. Thus, you need to choose one with as high air changing/hour rate as possible.
5) Maintenance and cleaning: Many people do not pay much attention to ease of cleaning the purifier when buying it and then get frustrated later on with
having to put in a lot of effort into its maintenance. While choosing an air purifier, you need to be aware of how regularly it needs to be serviced and
cleaned. How long can the filters be used before they need to be replaced? How expensive are the filters? Once you have the answers to these questions,
you can choose one which is easiest to clean and also not very expensive to maintain.
6) Noise Level: Some air purifiers make so much noise that they can literally wake up the dead! And since you want an purifier to enhance your health, it
is not going to happen if you choose a noisy one and lose sleep over it. Thus, check out the noise level of the air cleaner before making your purchase.
By following the above steps, you are sure to pick the ideal air purifier for your needs.
How to Select the Best Air Purifier For Your Needs
Indoor air pollution is a serious problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air pollution levels are two to five times higher indoors. In some buildings with a lack of proper ventilation, the indoor air may be 100 times more polluted than the air outside! This is because modern buildings are constructed with energy efficiency in mind. However, the tight seals that make a home energy-efficient also trap pollutants inside. On top of that, the average American takes nine out of ten breaths indoors, so it's imperative to make sure that your indoor air is free of allergens and other impurities.
Air purifiers eliminate allergens, toxic chemicals, and other dangerous pollutants. This article explains why people use air purifiers, how they work, which air purifiers you should avoid, and how to select the best air purifier for your needs.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants
What is the source of indoor air pollution? In terms of organic pollutants, mold and dust mites are everywhere - and they are the two most common causes of year-round allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Pollen is also a pervasive allergen that always finds its way into your home since it is so small and sticky. If you have pets, they will surely spread their dander to every nook and cranny of your home. Many viruses and bacteria are also airborne.
Even though they are not organic allergens, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) cause many people to experience allergic reactions and other health problems. VOCs include formaldehyde, fragrances, pesticides, solvents, and cleaning agents. VOCs can enter the air through chemical off-gassing from furniture, new carpets, adhesives, plastics, and various building materials. Furthermore, many VOCs are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide may also be present in your indoor air, as well as toxic heavy metals like airborne lead, mercury vapor, and radon.
How Air Purifiers Work
HEPA air purifiers use a HEPA air filter, which was developed by the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1940s as a way to filter radioactive contaminants. HEPA filters set the standard for air purifiers: to be classified as HEPA, a filter must capture a minimum of 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns or larger. Top-selling HEPA air purifiers include the Austin Air purifier, available with a HEGA (High Efficiency Gas Adsoprtion) filter, along with air purifiers from IQAir, Allerair, Blueair, and Honeywell.
Activated carbon filters remove gases, odors, and chemical toxins. The carbon is "activated" when it is treated with oxygen, which opens up millions of tiny pores to attract and adsorb chemicals. Impregnated carbon filters have been treated with an additional chemical, normally either potassium iodide or potassium permanganate; these chemicals, known as chemisorbents, improve the carbon filter's ability to trap VOCs and other chemically reactive gases.
Electrostatic filters use an electrostatic charge to attract pollutants and trap them on collector plates. These filters are great for people who don't want to have to worry about changing HEPA filters, but if the collection plates are not cleaned frequently, they quickly lose efficiency. Also, beware that some electrostatic filters emit ozone, which is known to be a powerful lung irritant and can be very irritating to some people with asthma or allergies. The Friedrich air purifier is, by far, the best electrostatic air purifier, as well as the overall top-ranked air purifier in previous Consumer Reports rankings
Charged media filters give pollutants an electrostatic charge before collecting them in a traditional filter. Charged media filters are typically quite effective, but like electrostatic filters, they lose efficiency rapidly-and they may require frequent and expensive filter changes. Some charged media air filter units also emit ozone. The advantage of charged media filters is that they are quieter and more energy-efficient than HEPA air purifiers. The Blueair air purifier is the best charged media filter, and it does not emit ozone.
Where and How to Use an Air Purifier
If you suffer from allergies (especially if you're allergic to dust mite allergen), then the best place for an air purifier is your bedroom. It's essential to have clean air in your bedroom because you spend about a third of your life there. If you're allergic to animal dander and have pets, then you may want to place an air purifier in the room where your pets spend most of their time-and keep the pets out of your bedroom! Also, you should not place an air purifier in the corner of a room; it should be at least a couple of feet away from the walls for maximum air flow.
You should run your air purifier continuously for optimum performance. Most air purifiers have high and low settings. Even if you go on vacation, we recommend that you keep your air purifier running on low. Otherwise, you'll return to a house full of polluted air! If you are concerned about your electric bill, find out how much energy an air purifier uses before buying it. Typical HEPA air purifiers can use anywhere from 50 watts on low to 200 watts on high. For comparison, a typical lamp uses about 60 watts, while a typical computer uses about 365 watts.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
Avoid ozone generators and ionizing air cleaners. These air purifiers create ions that attract pollutants; however, many of the pollutants are released back into the air, often times leading to dirty spots on nearby walls. Besides the fact that they don't do a good job of cleaning the air, ozone generators and ionizing cleaners also emit ozone. Ozone, a main component of smog, could potentially lead to a serious asthma attack.
Moreover, David Peden, researcher at the Center of Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina, has examined how ozone exposure might exacerbate the allergic response of people who are allergic to dust mites, and his results suggest that ozone worsens the asthmatic response. The EPA has warned consumers against using ozone generators, and Consumer Reports recommends against the newest Ionic Breeze Quadra, despite the addition of OzoneGuard, a device meant to eliminate some of the dangerous ozone emitted by the Ionic Breeze.
Consumer Reports points out: "Our air-cleaning tests show that the Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard does a poor job of removing smoke, dust and pollen particles from the air when new and after 500 hours of continuous use" and "the Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard still adds ozone to the air."
How to Buy the Best Air Purifier
The air purifier market is vast and riddled with confusing and often misleading advertising schemes. If you're shopping for an air purifier, then you should first consider what kind of pollutants you're trying to eliminate. For example, if you have problems with cigarette smoke, then you'll want to make sure your air purifier has the ability to eliminate fumes, VOCs, and other gases. You may also want to consider the following factors before buying an air purifier: the area coverage (make sure the square footage listed for the air purifier is about the same or slightly greater than the square footage of the room where you intend to use it); the ACH rating (Air Changes Per Hour-this number lets you know how frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air in a given room); the CADR (the Clean Air Delivery Rate tells you how much air is purified and how well it is purified); the price; how often you have to replace the filters and how much they cost; the noise level of the air purifier; energy usage; whether it emits ozone; extra features (like a filter change indicator light); the manufacturer's reputation; and the warranty.
Visit achooallergy.com to learn more and browse a large selection of top brand air purifiers.
Air purifiers eliminate allergens, toxic chemicals, and other dangerous pollutants. This article explains why people use air purifiers, how they work, which air purifiers you should avoid, and how to select the best air purifier for your needs.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants
What is the source of indoor air pollution? In terms of organic pollutants, mold and dust mites are everywhere - and they are the two most common causes of year-round allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Pollen is also a pervasive allergen that always finds its way into your home since it is so small and sticky. If you have pets, they will surely spread their dander to every nook and cranny of your home. Many viruses and bacteria are also airborne.
Even though they are not organic allergens, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) cause many people to experience allergic reactions and other health problems. VOCs include formaldehyde, fragrances, pesticides, solvents, and cleaning agents. VOCs can enter the air through chemical off-gassing from furniture, new carpets, adhesives, plastics, and various building materials. Furthermore, many VOCs are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide may also be present in your indoor air, as well as toxic heavy metals like airborne lead, mercury vapor, and radon.
How Air Purifiers Work
HEPA air purifiers use a HEPA air filter, which was developed by the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1940s as a way to filter radioactive contaminants. HEPA filters set the standard for air purifiers: to be classified as HEPA, a filter must capture a minimum of 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns or larger. Top-selling HEPA air purifiers include the Austin Air purifier, available with a HEGA (High Efficiency Gas Adsoprtion) filter, along with air purifiers from IQAir, Allerair, Blueair, and Honeywell.
Activated carbon filters remove gases, odors, and chemical toxins. The carbon is "activated" when it is treated with oxygen, which opens up millions of tiny pores to attract and adsorb chemicals. Impregnated carbon filters have been treated with an additional chemical, normally either potassium iodide or potassium permanganate; these chemicals, known as chemisorbents, improve the carbon filter's ability to trap VOCs and other chemically reactive gases.
Electrostatic filters use an electrostatic charge to attract pollutants and trap them on collector plates. These filters are great for people who don't want to have to worry about changing HEPA filters, but if the collection plates are not cleaned frequently, they quickly lose efficiency. Also, beware that some electrostatic filters emit ozone, which is known to be a powerful lung irritant and can be very irritating to some people with asthma or allergies. The Friedrich air purifier is, by far, the best electrostatic air purifier, as well as the overall top-ranked air purifier in previous Consumer Reports rankings
Charged media filters give pollutants an electrostatic charge before collecting them in a traditional filter. Charged media filters are typically quite effective, but like electrostatic filters, they lose efficiency rapidly-and they may require frequent and expensive filter changes. Some charged media air filter units also emit ozone. The advantage of charged media filters is that they are quieter and more energy-efficient than HEPA air purifiers. The Blueair air purifier is the best charged media filter, and it does not emit ozone.
Where and How to Use an Air Purifier
If you suffer from allergies (especially if you're allergic to dust mite allergen), then the best place for an air purifier is your bedroom. It's essential to have clean air in your bedroom because you spend about a third of your life there. If you're allergic to animal dander and have pets, then you may want to place an air purifier in the room where your pets spend most of their time-and keep the pets out of your bedroom! Also, you should not place an air purifier in the corner of a room; it should be at least a couple of feet away from the walls for maximum air flow.
You should run your air purifier continuously for optimum performance. Most air purifiers have high and low settings. Even if you go on vacation, we recommend that you keep your air purifier running on low. Otherwise, you'll return to a house full of polluted air! If you are concerned about your electric bill, find out how much energy an air purifier uses before buying it. Typical HEPA air purifiers can use anywhere from 50 watts on low to 200 watts on high. For comparison, a typical lamp uses about 60 watts, while a typical computer uses about 365 watts.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
Avoid ozone generators and ionizing air cleaners. These air purifiers create ions that attract pollutants; however, many of the pollutants are released back into the air, often times leading to dirty spots on nearby walls. Besides the fact that they don't do a good job of cleaning the air, ozone generators and ionizing cleaners also emit ozone. Ozone, a main component of smog, could potentially lead to a serious asthma attack.
Moreover, David Peden, researcher at the Center of Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina, has examined how ozone exposure might exacerbate the allergic response of people who are allergic to dust mites, and his results suggest that ozone worsens the asthmatic response. The EPA has warned consumers against using ozone generators, and Consumer Reports recommends against the newest Ionic Breeze Quadra, despite the addition of OzoneGuard, a device meant to eliminate some of the dangerous ozone emitted by the Ionic Breeze.
Consumer Reports points out: "Our air-cleaning tests show that the Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard does a poor job of removing smoke, dust and pollen particles from the air when new and after 500 hours of continuous use" and "the Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard still adds ozone to the air."
How to Buy the Best Air Purifier
The air purifier market is vast and riddled with confusing and often misleading advertising schemes. If you're shopping for an air purifier, then you should first consider what kind of pollutants you're trying to eliminate. For example, if you have problems with cigarette smoke, then you'll want to make sure your air purifier has the ability to eliminate fumes, VOCs, and other gases. You may also want to consider the following factors before buying an air purifier: the area coverage (make sure the square footage listed for the air purifier is about the same or slightly greater than the square footage of the room where you intend to use it); the ACH rating (Air Changes Per Hour-this number lets you know how frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air in a given room); the CADR (the Clean Air Delivery Rate tells you how much air is purified and how well it is purified); the price; how often you have to replace the filters and how much they cost; the noise level of the air purifier; energy usage; whether it emits ozone; extra features (like a filter change indicator light); the manufacturer's reputation; and the warranty.
Visit achooallergy.com to learn more and browse a large selection of top brand air purifiers.
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