Air contaminants and allergies have become a real concern for families. If you’re also concerned about the air quality around you, you should get an air purifier to clean and purify your indoor air.
The modern air purifiers remove contaminants from the indoor atmosphere and make it cleaner, fresher, and healthier. However, even the best air purifier cannot ensure good air quality on its own if not maintained properly. You need to back it up with regular cleaning, mopping, dusting, etc.
Even better! These anti-contaminants also make your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC System) more efficient.
Choosing the right indoor air quality technology for your home must not be random. As there is a wide range of choices available, from an air purifier with permanent filter to the latest UV purifier, it’s quite difficult to determine which one matches your requirements.
Here, we’ve listed the best types of air purifiers to help you choose the right air-cleansing option for your home.
HEPA Air Purifier
HEPA is an abbreviation of ‘High-Efficiency Particulate Air’. The HEPA air purifier features an automatic air filter. As the air passes through a very fine mesh, the filter traps all the dangerous particles. It prevents different pollutants, such as pollen, dust, mites, and even smoke.
You can check the filter for debris, dust particles and even tiny hair particles; this proves the effectiveness of a HEPA filter. HEPA filters are very long-lasting; however, you may need to replace these in two to three years.
Pros
Can remove or trap allergens as tiny as 0.3 microns
Ideal for people with allergy problems
Doesn’t create any by-products as compared to various other IAQ technologies
Cons
Can’t prevent allergens smaller than 0.3 microns
Not very effective in odor removal
UV Air Purifier
UV air purifiers are more recent and latest models that come with short-wave technology. It’s an ultraviolet light that deactivates floating allergens and microbes like bacteria, viruses, and mold.
As the air pushes through the air purifier and passes the UV lamps, the UV light damages the DNA of the micro-organisms and kills them.
Pros
Effectively deactivates mold, fungi, mildew, bacteria, and even viruses
Controls and prevents airborne pathogens that may cause allergies
Works silently to make air healthier and cleanser, without making any unnecessary noise
Con
Can’t remove dust particles, smoke, and various other airborne fumes effectively
Carbon Filtration Air Purifier
Carbon air filters used a simple mechanism. The air purifier allows the air to pass through a bed of activated charcoal to clean. They are highly effective when it comes to the removal of toxic gases, unpleasant odor, and various other pollutants.
Pros
Perform effectively at various temperatures and humidity levels
Efficiently remove unwanted odor, unpleasant smoke, and dangerous chemicals
Con
Not very good at removing dust particles
Ozone Air Purifier
Ozone air purifiers eliminate strong scents from the indoor atmosphere. They feature a special mechanism that produces ozone.
You may ask, what does ozone has to do with air quality?
Here is the answer. As a highly reactive gas, ozone oxidizes all the contaminants and allergens it interacts with. Eventually, it neutralizes those pollutants and leaves them harmless.
Ozone purifiers are best when it comes to removing odors. There is no way a pollutant can remain allergenic, odor-causing and toxic, after its encounter with ozone.
Pros
Effective against odors, bacteria, mold, and various chemical sources
Cons
Can deteriorate health; they may result in respiratory diseases
Releases a significant amount of ozone
Ionic Air Purifier
Next, the latest models, ionic air purifiers. These purifiers target pollutants by sending negatively charged ions in the atmosphere that are produced at a high voltage.
You may be wondering, why negative ions?
Air pollutants, such as bacteria, pathogens, dust, and many allergens are positive ions. The negative ions from an ionic air purifier attract them to create a strong bond.
Some of those resulting bonds become heavier and fall on the ground. The lightweight bonds get deposited onto the attached electrostatic plate.
Pros
The indoor air smells clean and fresh.
Doesn’t come with a fan, making them very quiet
Doesn’t require expensive filters to change or replace
Cons
Not a good option for people with asthmatic conditions
May release some volume of ozone gas as a byproduct, which is harmful
Final Thoughts
The air purifiers we shared have their merits and demerits. Simply, pick the option that gives you more benefits.
You can choose a HEPA air purifier to prevent allergens. On the other hand, go for UV air purifiers if you want to eradicate mold spores. Similarly, carbon filter air purifiers are the best option for eliminating any strong odor.
Another popular option is the combination of two technologies. Many people opt for HEPA air purifiers for germs, allergens and dust mites along with carbon filter air purifiers to eradicate different unpleasant odors.
