Home Air Purifiers – Information from the California Air Resources Board
Indoor air is full of contaminants and particles that can be harmful to residents. One of the most effective ways to remove these contaminants from the indoor air is to remove the sources that may be causing the pollution to exist. Sometimes removing the source inside a home can mean getting rid of a pet or even moving to a different home. Since removing the source of contaminants may not always be an option for a homeowner or resident, there are other ways to keep the indoor air safe and clean. One of the best ways to clean the air is with an air purifier. An air purifier has the ability to rid the air of dangerous particles and toxins that may be causing sickness or allergic reactions in the residents living in the home.
Home air purifiers may not be able to remove all particles from the air but can have a direct effect on some of the toxins that can cause sickness. Portable air cleaners are able to remove airborne particles that may be present in the air of a single room. If the particles or dust settles on solid objects, however, the home air purifier will not be able to reach these toxins and they will stay in the room. There are small models of air cleaners for rooms that are smaller in size or larger units that are able to handle a larger sized room. Home air purifiers are either equipped to remove particles or gases and some have the ability to remove both from indoor air.
Air cleaners that are designed using mechanical filters or electronic technology can perform particle removal. Mechanical home air purifiers are units that can draw the indoor air through a metal or fibrous filter that is designed to trap the particles. The filter is able to catch these particles with its different sized pores. There are many different types of filters that are used in air cleaners. Some of these filters may be pleated, flat or round and all can have different levels of efficiency. However, the home air purifiers that use mechanical filters to remove particles are always at least at a medium efficiency and are very effective at eliminating these contaminants from the air. Electronic purifiers use a different type of technology in order to clean the air of particles. The three types of electronic air cleaners are electrostatic purifiers, ionizers and hybrid air cleaners. Electrostatic purifiers pull the air into the unit and give the particles a charge. The air is then drawn through collection plates that carry an opposite charge and attract the particles to stick to them. Ionizers, also known as negative ion generators, give particles a charge and cause them to stick to the nearest solid object, which may be a wall or furniture. These types of air purifiers are not as effective as the other electronic or mechanical purifiers because the particles are not eliminated but are simply moved to another location. They can easily become airborne again and transferred back to the objects in the room. Hybrid purifiers are units that use both mechanical filter technology and electronic technology in order to clean the air of particles. O-zone emissions may be present from the use of electrostatic air purifiers and negative ion generators. High levels of ozone may be harmful but the ozone emissions can generally be controlled as long as the parts of the air purifiers are kept clean and replaced as the manufacturer suggests.
Although indoor air may be full of contaminants and toxins, there are many ways to reduce the amount of particles in the air. Air cleaners can remove particles, gases or both from the air in a single room. Although they may not be able to remove 100% of the particles or gases that are present, they can make the indoor air safer and easier for residents to breathe in. Home air purifiers can help homeowners to be assured that the residents living in the home will stay healthy and not breathe in contaminated air. When eliminating the source of a certain toxin is not an option, a home air purifier can solve the problem of polluted indoor air.
Home Air Purifiers – Information from the California Air Resources Board – As Reported by ClearFlite Air Purifiers writer Kelly K.
