Air Purifiers 101 - Frequently Asked Questions

What is an air purifier?
An air purifier is an appliance that reduces the concentration of airborne contaminants in a designated area according to the specifications of the particular air purifier. An air purifier is a device that cleans indoor air which is helpful to people who suffer from allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity and other respiratory related symptoms.

What kind do I need?
The type of air purifier you need depends on the size of the area to be cleaned and what you are trying to remove from the air within that area.  Is it pollen, dust, smoke, chemicals? We carry an air purifier for every need and for a variety of room sizes.  If after reviewing our website you still cannot decide then just pick up the phone and call ClearFlite Air Purifiers toll free at 800-497-8263. You may email your questions to Customer_Service@airpurifiers.com. The ClearFlite Air Purifiers team of air purification specialists will be happy to assist you in choosing an air purifier that will help you.

What is an air cleaner?
An "air cleaner" is another term for an "air purifier". Both are designed to remove indoor air pollutants and particulates. When these types of appliances first came on the market, they were typically called air cleaners, but in recent years, they are primarily referred to as air purifiers.

How do they work?
There are portable room air purifiers, designed to clean a specific size room, and there are whole-house installed air purification systems that work with the HVAC system in a home. Portable room air purifiers are the least expensive way to significantly reduce indoor air pollution.
Portable room air purifier models are typically categorized based on their cleaning technology: HEPA filtration, electrostatic precipitation, and negative ion generation. Some air purifier brands use a combination of these technologies. There are also air purifiers which are designed just for chemical removal. In addition to airborne particles some air purifiers also have technologies which remove viruses, bacteria, fungi, volatile organic compounds, odors, and some gaseous chemicals. Activated carbon blends and a variety of other substances may be used to capture gases and odors. Ultra-violet light is sometimes used. See the ClearFlite Air Purifier Product Matrix to determine what kind you need based on the problem you have.

HEPA Filtration
Air purifiers use fine sieves that filter particles from the air circulating in a room. As air flows into the air purifier, the finer the sieve used, the smaller the particles it traps, even microscopic particles. Depending on the technology used, some air purifiers can also trap gases and odors, along with particles. Different technologies have been developed over the years. Microns are the standard unit used by scientists to measure particles in the air and this standard is also used by the manufacturers of air purifier products. Typically air purifiers have one or more "air filters" within them in which the pollutants are trapped.

For many years, HEPA filters have been used in air purifiers to filter particles. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are well proven filtration devices and continue to be enhanced by many manufacturers. The benchmark for air filters, HEPA filtration guarantees the air purifier will trap 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns. The human eye can't see a particle smaller than 10 microns so many of the particulates captured cannot be seen, particularly bacteria and viruses. The filters found on room air conditioner models capture only large particles greater than 10 microns. For the smaller particles like dust, smoke, chemicals, pollens, asbestos, etc, HEPA filtration is needed.

The HEPA filtration component is essentially an accordion of very, very fine paper-like filter material. The material is loaded in an accordion or zig-zag fashion so that a very large surface area becomes available for air to be pushed through by the air purifier fan. Over time, the HEPA filter will become full and the air flow will no longer be able to move through the filter so requiring disposal of the used filter and the installation of a new one. HEPA filters typically last a number of years.

The more times the air in a room passes through an air purifier with HEPA filtration, the cleaner the air will become. For the air purifier to be effective it is important that it have the cleaning capacity for the size room in which it will be used. The specifications on the product will indicate what size room it is designed to clean.

Electrical Attraction
Electrical attraction is another technology used by air purifier appliances to trap airborne particles. There are three types of products that use this technology: electrostatic precipitating cleaners, electret filters, and negative ion generators.

Electrostatic precipitating (also called "electronic" air purifiers) draw particles into the unit via a fan and charge them with a series of high-voltage wires. Several plates (the precipitating cells) carry the opposite electrical charge and attract the contaminants as they pass by the plates thus trapping them. They are typically not as effective as HEPA, removing 95% of airborne particles instead of 99.97%. Electret filters use synthetic fibers to create static charges to attract particles. Negative ion generation is a technology that is sometimes used as the sole cleaning agent, or in conjunction with HEPA filtration. Negative ions are emitted into the air which attach to the positively charged particles in the room, clump together and settle out of the air onto a surface.

A type of technology available which should not be used for air cleaning around humans or animals is ozone technology. Ozone is a lung irritant that is emitted from ionic air cleaners, many of which have been taken off the market.

Why do we need air purifiers?
Although the studies vary depending on the federal agency or group which has done them, it has been proven time and time again that indoor air is often dramatically more polluted than outdoor air. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and other U.S. government agencies can be contacted for the most recent numbers. Indoor air pollution comes from a variety of sources like pets, plants, mold spores, fungi spores, house dust mites, chemicals used in grooming and cleaning, off-gassing of carpets, furniture, and upholstery, and particles from the outdoors such as pollens. The list of things that make indoor air unhealthy to breathe, especially for babies, children, and the elderly is long and growing. The reasons are yet to be determined, but in recent years there has been a dramatic rise across the planet of people reporting the onset of seasonal allergies in their lives for the first time. Indoor air purifiers can help people to sleep better and to deal more effectively with environmentally induced stresses such as seasonal allergies.

How do we know an air purifier is working?
A day or two after you have installed an air purifier, the room should be cleaner. Breathing should be easier. Morning congestion and allergy symptoms should be lessened. The air in the room should no longer feel heavy. Some air purifiers have electronic monitors which signal when the filter should be changed. Once an air purifier owner has changed a filter and seen how disgusting they are, one becomes a believer.

Are there side effects to an air purifier?
In a quality, non-ozone producing air purifier, there won't be any side effects other than improved health. The air purifiers that ClearFlite Air Purifiers sells only emit clean air into the room. They do not emit anything that gives off an odor (such as ozone) or puts any chemicals into the air. The bad stuff is removed and clean air is exhausted. That's it. For people who are chemically sensitive, it is important that the air purifier unit itself be constructed of materials which won't off-gas. ClearFlite sells only products which clean the air, not make it worse. There are poor quality air purifiers on the market however, which either have such insignificant filtration that they remove very little, or emit harmful ozone.

Do air purifiers cost a lot to use?
There are two issues: power consumption and filter changes to this question. Generally, the high quality air purifiers use a minimum of electricity. They are engineered to be energy-saving. New very eco-friendly models are available which use extremely low wattage.

Different brands vary as far as filter changes go. Some air purifiers have monitors which indicate when the filters should be changed, some manufacturers stipulate the number of months a filter should last, some filters are very large, some are small. In general, the HEPA filters last a number of years, the gas and odor, or activated carbon filters will need to be changed sooner. It is important to change a pre-filter (which gets the larger pieces of dust and dander) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Each brand ClearFlite sells indicates the longevity of the filters on that brands webpage. All models come with the filters. Replacement filters are listed for re-ordering when the filters the unit comes with are used up. See ClearFlite Air Purifiers matrices of Filter Life for each brand.

Do I need filters or filterless air purifiers?
Although filterless air purifiers sound like the best idea because they would be cheaper to operate, there are several considerations. First, they typically do not work nearly as well as air purifiers with HEPA filtration. Two, people tend to procrastinate on cleaning the filters, thus their effectiveness is greatly diminished.

Filterless air purifiers use electrostatic precipitation technology which has limited use since faster moving air can prevent the particles from adhering to the charged plates inside the air purifier. Large particles such as dust and dander can be collected on plates that are kept clean but do not work well on smaller particles found in smoke, molds, and chemicals. Some electrostatic air purifier models produce harmful ozone as a by-product although the amounts produced may be so minimal that a direct connection to harm may not be verifiable. However, since there are many quality air purifiers available that are ozone-free, there's no good reason to use one that produces any ozone.

An air purifier which effectively removes the toxins that are causing the owner problems is the best kind. In "real life" it is best to have an air purifier with the appropriate filters for the allergens or chemicals that need to be removed from the indoor environment. Clearly, there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to effective indoor air cleaning. The higher quality air purifiers have long lasting filters which can be quickly and easily changed.

How many air purifiers do I need?
If the budget allows it, an air purifier in the bedroom and one in the area in which the occupants spend most of their time are recommended. It is particularly important to sleep in a clean room. The respiratory system slows down at night and it can be more difficult to breathe easily. The cleaner the sleeping room, the better. Room air purifiers can be moved from room to room, however, busy people tend not to do it, so it is best to designate an air purifier for the bedroom and one for the main living area. In a very large space, it will be more effective to put multiple small units rather than one large one. That will enable the owner to operate the air purifiers at lower, thus quieter, speeds.

Will an air purifier clean my entire home?
A whole house air clean such as the IQAir Perfect 16 installed air cleaning system will clean your entire home. IQAir has created the best whole house air cleaner on the market, in ClearFlite's estimation. If budget constraints preclude an installed system, then room air purifiers in key rooms on each floor of the home or office is the best way to go.

What if the air purifier doesn't work?
If an air purifier is chosen carefully so that it fits the job, and is the right size for the area it will clean, and if it is a quality brand, such as those ClearFlite sells at airpurifiers.com, there is a very high probability that the air purifier will be effective. If it does not work, it can be returned. ClearFlite Air Purifiers website at airpurifiers.com has over 460 pages of information on air cleaning, plus our sales reps are trained air cleaning professionals that can answer any question. ClearFlite's policy is and always has been to sell the right product for the application, not what's in the warehouse or what makes more money. This policy has kept our customers happy since for well over a decade and kept our returns to a minimum.

Does an air purifier come with filters?
Yes, every air purifier purchased from ClearFlite whether from our site at airpurifiers.com or by phone contains the filters. Replacement costs are listed on our site for future orders when the filters the unit comes with need to be changed.

Are the air purifiers brand new?
ClearFlite Air Purifiers only sells brand new air purifier products on our site at airpurifiers.com. We do not sell refurbished models, nor do we sell demo models.

When do I run the air purifier?
The air purifiers carried by ClearFlite Air Purifiers are designed to run continuously. They clean most effectively and operate most cost effectively when they are left alone, rather than turned off and on.

Where do I place the air purifier?
If you have a place that is the source of a pollutant (such as an area where someone smokes or where the cat lays most of the time), place the air purifier near the source of the problem. Otherwise, it can be placed anywhere in the room if the room is the size the air purifier is designed to clean. Most air purifiers should not be placed flat against the wall, but it depends on the model. It is generally best that the air purifier be open to the air all around it.

How do I get replacement filters?
You may order replacement filters from ClearFlite's web site at airpurifiers.com or by calling 800.497.8263. You may sign up for our filter replacement program by emailing us at Customer_Service@airpurifiers.com ClearFlite will typically ship the replacement filters within 48 hours. All of the brands ClearFlite carries are made by well established companies. You do not need to worry about buying filters in advance.

How do I know when to change the filters?
Filter changes depend on the brand and the model. Some brands have electronic indicators which tell you when to change the filters. Some manufacturers designate a time period that the filter is intended to last. See the Filter Life matrix for general guidelines per brand.

Is it hard to change the filters?
The different brands vary in design, so it depends on the brand. In general, the air purifiers are designed for quick and easy filter change without tools. Replacement filters come with instructions. Help is also only an email or phone call away.

Where do I begin in figuring out what kind I need?
The place to begin is in becoming clear about the problem you are trying to solve. Air purifiers vary greatly in their effectiveness for different problems. Some are better at removing particles, some are better at removing chemicals, some do a better job removing mold. For general purpose air cleaning, all of the air purifiers sold by ClearFlite at airpurifiers.com do a good job or we would not carry them. Many of our customers complain of "morning congestion" which can be remedied by keeping a HEPA air purifier in the bedroom. There are excellent small models for bedrooms. A moldy basement would require an air purifier that can remove both the airborne mold spores and the musky odor. A home with pets will need an air purifier that can get the dander, a home with a smoker will need an air purifier with lots of activated carbon. Determine the problem, determine the best technology for the problem, measure the room in which the air purifier will go, and choose the right model for the room size. Never hesitate to ask ClearFlite Air Purifiers for help.

Which air purifier is the best…top of the line?
ClearFlite Air Purifiers does not believe in a cookie cutter approach when it comes to cleaning the air in your environment. The air purifiers we sell at airpurifiers.com are all made by well established companies with integrity and are high quality, but the best air purifier is the one that solves your problem. We recommend that you start with our Product Matrix which lists each health issue and indicates the air purifiers that will help with it. We have the highest customer satisfaction with the IQAir brand, although it is also the most expensive brand.

How do I get rid of mold?
ClearFlite Air Purifiers receives more questions about mold than just about anything else, other than seasonal allergy relief. Airborne mold spores are extremely small and can pass by the cilia in the sinuses. They are too small to be exhaled, so they can become lodged within the lung tissue of the body. Mycotoxins , the product of mold metabolism, are even more toxic. It is important to remove concentrations of mold in the home if possible. Although an air purifier will remove the airborne mold particles, if the mold is embedded in surfaces in high concentrations, it should be professionally removed. An air purifier in the bedroom is very necessary if mold is causing a health problem. The musty smell in basements can be removed with an air purifier that is designed to remove mold. Fortunately, a good HEPA air purifier with activated carbon will remove the wide variety of toxins including mold spores.

How do I get rid of dust?
Although dust particles that can be seen by the human eye are aesthetically unpleasant, they are not as much of a health issue as the smaller particles which get past the body's barriers. That is not necessarily the case when it comes to "dust bunnies" which can be composed of dust mites and their fecal material, skin cells, mold spores, pollen, and other nasty items. It is important to clean and vacuum regularly to get the dust bunnies and clumped dust particles. However, the minute you begin to clean, particles become airborne. It is helpful to run an air purifier on the high speed as cleaning progresses. Running an air purifier continuously will help keep the dust down too.

Will an air purifier help with my pets?
A quality air purifier will help reduce the pet dander and odor associated with pets. It will be especially helpful if it can be placed near where the pet spends a lot of time. Cats lick their fur and the saliva dries to a fine dust which becomes airborne, birds shake their feathers, and the super fine dust becomes airborne. Pets also track in allergens from the outdoors which can be removed by an air purifier. The odors associated with urine can also be removed by an air purifier with activated carbon or other absorbent media.

Are air purifiers loud?
The decibel level of an air purifier varies with the speed. Most are fairly loud on the highest speed. It is wise to run the air purifier on high when you're not in the room. The highest speed will enable it to pull the air in from the farthest areas of the space. On the lower speeds, air purifiers are much quieter. Some brands are better designed for quiet operation than others. In general, silent air purifiers don't move much air and don't do much good.

Why do you review brands that you don't sell?
At ClearFlite Air Purifiers we try to offer customers as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions. We have over 460 pages of information on our site. It is an old one - we were one of the first air purifier companies on the web in 1996 - so we've gathered a lot of material over the years. You can learn just about everything you need to know by spending some time on our site. Our corporate philosophy and sales policy is to sell the correct air purifier for the application, or in other words, the air purifier that will best solve the problem, not the ones we have most of in stock or the ones we make the most money on. By selling the right product for the application, and selling quality products, we get very few returns.