Benefits of the Living Air Purifier
In this time of increased air pollution, living air purifiers are a wise investment in personal health. Undoubtedly, these machines, designed to rid the air of potentially harmful contaminants can greatly improve the quality of one’s life. Living air purifiers are particularly beneficial to individuals who suffer from chronic respiratory disorders. These machines can aid asthmatic individuals who experience negative reactions to the presence of smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust, and/or mold spores in the air. The presence of an air purifier can also eliminate unpleasant odors.
Availability of the Purifier
A high quality air purifier will cost at least $40.00 for the initial investment, although prices can rise as high as $300.00. Some purifiers feature filters that can be vacuumed cleaned, while other filter models must be washed. Retail locations such as Sears sell both the air purifier and the accompanying filters that will need replacement over time.
Noise level, shape, size, physical attractiveness, mobility, weight, and the frequency of filter replacement are all critical features to consider when making the decision to invest in a living air purifier. Another important factor is the effectiveness of the purifier in certain room sizes. Every air purifier has a recommended room size range. If you choose to utilize the living air purifier in a larger room than what is recommended, the effectiveness of the product will significantly decline. For example, the inexpensive Bionaire HEPA Air Cleaner with Independent Ionizer functions best in a room of 110 sq. ft. or less. The small Sharper Image Ionic Breeze 3.0 Compact Silent Air Purifier, on the other hand, weighs seven pounds and is ideal in far smaller rooms.
Examples of Living Air Purifiers
As mentioned, consumers may be influenced by several factors when shopping for a living air purifier. For this reason, consumers are urged to view the potential purchase in person. This allows you to gain a greater appreciation for the effectiveness and daily appeal of the product. The Kenmore 335 CADR True HEPA Air Cleaner will cost nearly $300.00. The large size of this air purifier causes it to be ideal in rooms as large as 20 x 20 ft. Well-ranked by the noted publication Consumer Reports, this Kenmore model features three speed controls, is extremely quiet while in use, and is streamlined in its physical design.
Another popular model is the Honeywell 50250 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier. This compact purifier weighs 23 pounds and is designed for use in large rooms. Its filter can be cleaned with a vacuum. Users have noticed it is particularly effective in reducing the presence of pollen, pet dander, and dust in the air. This unit also features a charcoal pre-filter and a warning light that indicates when the filters require cleaning or changing.
As you browse the living air purifier markets, do enjoy the diversity of the market. Take charge of improving the air quality of your home or office.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Do Air Purifiers Really Work?
It's a great question. It's also is a fairly general question. A simple, general answer is "yes." A better answer is "it depends." A specific answer is a little trickier. I will give a three part answer in this article. First, I will define the word "work" from the question to help clarify the answer. Secondly, as with many things in life, all air purifiers are not created equal, so generalizing is problematic. And finally, a quick reality dose on what to really expect from your air purifier.
The word "work" needs clarification. All air purifiers do something. The worst of them do little more then consume electricity. The word work here should mean "clean the air." Again, this statement is a little general. Cleaning the air can be further defined as the ability of a given air purifier to remove air pollutants such as particles, odors, gases, volatile organic compounds, and microorganisms. A poor purifier at work would be one that removes almost nothing from the air. An excellent purifier at work would remove almost all of the air pollutants from the air. Research what your air purifier will remove and compare with other brands to get additional validity.
There is a wide spectrum of consumer air purifiers available in the marketplace ranging in price from under $20 to over $5000. Price is not the only factor that determines the ability of a given air purifier to clean the air, but it is a good initial indicator. If you are only willing to spend $20-$200 do not expect too much. These purifiers generally will provide minimal cleaning. The $200-$800 range includes many good models, a few excellent models, and some fairly poor models. If you spend over $800, you are not guaranteed a great cleaning, but generally you get what you pay for. In most cases I recommend the middle price level of $200-$800. After you decide on your price range, do some research. Compare at least three models from three different brands before you make a final decision.
For some people the question really is "how do I know my air purifier is working?" For many of us, answering this question is difficult. If you place a decent air purifier in a polluted room you will notice the difference over time. If you place a decent air purifier in an average room, you may or may not notice the difference. If you place a decent air purifier in a clean room, it will be hard to notice the difference. The reality is that we may or may not actually see or notice any difference even though the purifier is doing a great job. My best advice is to make a list of everything you can think of relating to your current air situation. Make the list before you buy the new air purifier. Your list could include smells you notice, particles you see, known contaminants you have, and how you and your family feel. Then after you get your new air purifier and run it for awhile, look back at your list and see if any of the conditions have improved. Improvements may be difficult to quantify, so make the list and look for small changes.
The truth is air purifiers do work and a good air purifier does clean the air. Do some research and compare enough models until you feel convinced you are picking the right one. Do not be fooled by good marketing and do not think that all air purifiers are created equally. Do the right amount of research and you will get an air purifier that will serve you well for many years.
A retired air purifier industry insider, Tom Pardee currently writes articles and maintains a public website enhancing awareness of indoor air pollution and common air purification solutions. In-depth research information can be found at his website:
http://www.how-to-choose-the-best-air-purifier.com
The word "work" needs clarification. All air purifiers do something. The worst of them do little more then consume electricity. The word work here should mean "clean the air." Again, this statement is a little general. Cleaning the air can be further defined as the ability of a given air purifier to remove air pollutants such as particles, odors, gases, volatile organic compounds, and microorganisms. A poor purifier at work would be one that removes almost nothing from the air. An excellent purifier at work would remove almost all of the air pollutants from the air. Research what your air purifier will remove and compare with other brands to get additional validity.
There is a wide spectrum of consumer air purifiers available in the marketplace ranging in price from under $20 to over $5000. Price is not the only factor that determines the ability of a given air purifier to clean the air, but it is a good initial indicator. If you are only willing to spend $20-$200 do not expect too much. These purifiers generally will provide minimal cleaning. The $200-$800 range includes many good models, a few excellent models, and some fairly poor models. If you spend over $800, you are not guaranteed a great cleaning, but generally you get what you pay for. In most cases I recommend the middle price level of $200-$800. After you decide on your price range, do some research. Compare at least three models from three different brands before you make a final decision.
For some people the question really is "how do I know my air purifier is working?" For many of us, answering this question is difficult. If you place a decent air purifier in a polluted room you will notice the difference over time. If you place a decent air purifier in an average room, you may or may not notice the difference. If you place a decent air purifier in a clean room, it will be hard to notice the difference. The reality is that we may or may not actually see or notice any difference even though the purifier is doing a great job. My best advice is to make a list of everything you can think of relating to your current air situation. Make the list before you buy the new air purifier. Your list could include smells you notice, particles you see, known contaminants you have, and how you and your family feel. Then after you get your new air purifier and run it for awhile, look back at your list and see if any of the conditions have improved. Improvements may be difficult to quantify, so make the list and look for small changes.
The truth is air purifiers do work and a good air purifier does clean the air. Do some research and compare enough models until you feel convinced you are picking the right one. Do not be fooled by good marketing and do not think that all air purifiers are created equally. Do the right amount of research and you will get an air purifier that will serve you well for many years.
A retired air purifier industry insider, Tom Pardee currently writes articles and maintains a public website enhancing awareness of indoor air pollution and common air purification solutions. In-depth research information can be found at his website:
http://www.how-to-choose-the-best-air-purifier.com
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