4 Basic Types of Air Purifiers

Recommendations of air purifiers seem to be based more on the appearance, features and the cost of replacement filters. All these criteria may be important, but the model of air purifier that you are getting should be your top priority. There are basically four main types of purifier available in the market now. It is essential that you evaluate the different types and get the model that works best for your household.

HEPA air purifiers use High Efficiency Particle Arresting (HEPA) filters to trap particles and it comes with a fan that can force air to pass through the filter. It is one of the popular choices among the other models of purifiers as many users have reflected that HEPA air purifier is the most effective. In addition, these models do not produce ozone that is harmful to children, elderly or people with asthmatic problems. Due to the fans inside the unit, you might experience some noise when it is switched on, but you can also look for quieter HEPA air cleaners if you are unable to stand the noise.

Electronic ionizers are another kind of air cleaners that work through an electronic process. This process includes reversing the charge of particles that are present in the air. These charged particles are attracted to collection plates fitted in the air purifier as well as to nearby surfaces such as walls or furniture. To completely remove them from your surroundings, you will have to vacuum the surfaces that are collected with those particles in order to prevent the allergens from reappearing in the air. One disadvantage of using this kind of purifier is that it emits a small amount of ozone.

UV purifiers use ultraviolet light to neutralize the contaminants. This light is excellent for eliminating bacteria, dust mites or mold spores if these particles are exposed long enough under the light. In order for the UV purifier to be effective, these units have to consist of a filter and a fan. There are also certain safety and health concerns over the use of UV purifiers in the household environment.

Ozone generators are the least recommended type as they have little or no effect in cleaning the air. Using these ozone generators will not remove any allergens from the air. Instead, they produce large amounts of unwanted ozone that can cause damage to human health in the long run. Although ozone itself can remove strong odors, they have been banned in certain countries due to its harmful effects.