Home Air Purifiers Performance – Information from the Environmental Protection Agency
Simply purchasing and running home air purifiers is not going to make a home's indoor air purifier. There are many factors a consumer should look at when purchasing an air cleaner and many tasks he or she should perform to be sure the air cleaner is working at its best ability. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has gathered information on specific types of air purifiers that are available. The EPA recommends the use of an air cleaner to help remove particles and contaminants from the air. In order for the device to run with its utmost efficiency, it must be kept clean and equipped with working and effective parts. The EPA has researched and compiled information on how to choose the most effective air purifiers and how to keep them running at top performance.
Air cleaners are used in the home to remove contaminants and pollutants from indoor air. There are many different types that specialize in removing particles, odors or chemical fumes from the environment. Activated carbon, alumina or other types of special media can be added to an air cleaner in order to eliminate specific odors or gases from indoor air. The effectiveness of home air purifiers at removing the specific harmful particles of these odors and fumes is unknown. However, these types of gases and fumes are a health issue and definite harmful contaminant of indoor air that need to be dealt with.
There are many different types of air purifiers including electronic and those containing mechanical filters, hybrid types and ion purifiers. Electronic purifiers use electrostatic technology in order to attract particles from the air. With the use of a charge and static electricity, the charged particles are stuck to collection plates inside the unit. Mechanical filters are used in air purifiers in order to filter the particles from the contaminated air. Hybrid air purifiers use two types of technology combined in order to eliminate particles from the air. They generally contain not only a mechanical filter but also the ability to charge the particles and have them stick to the collection plates. Ion technology is a debatable technology that is used in some air purifiers. The effectiveness of ion technology is not great because it attracts the particles from the air and has them stick to solid objects in the room by using an electronic charge.
Some of the most important factors to consider when a consumer is choosing an air purifier are the efficiency, effectiveness and performance of the air purifier. The efficiency of a unit is shown by what percentage of particles are removed as they move through the device and the volume of air the air purifier is able to handle. The effectiveness of the air purifier can be measured by the size of the room that needs to be cleaned and the square footage of room that the air purifier is able to clean. The performance of the air purifier can be maintained by keeping the filters and parts clean. The performance of an air purifier may be lacking when it is close to time for periodic maintenance.
There are other factors that are of importance for the consumer to have knowledge of before purchasing an air purifier. Maintenance costs, such as how much money the owner of the unit will need to pay yearly to replace filters, may need to be considered. The cost of the energy used to run the air purifier may also need to be considered before purchasing an air purifier. The air purifier may also make noise while it is running that can become bothersome to residents of the home. The amount of noise that is made on different settings by an air purifier should be taken into account before purchase.
The EPA provides the public with advice and research on the factors to look at before purchasing an air purifier. This advice can be very helpful to assist a consumer in making the correct choice of air purifier for his or her home. The efficiency of an air purifier and the maintenance of the parts of the unit are important things that need to be looked at by the consumer.
ome Air Purifiers – Information from the EPA – As Reported by ClearFlite Air Purifiers writer Kelly K.
