Room Air Purifiers - FAQ
5 Facts You Must Know Before You Buy a Room Air Purifier That Promises Allergy Relief
Room air purifiers have become hot ticket items in stores across the country and it's no wonder. Thousands of Americans suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments that would be greatly improved through breathing pure air. Room air purifiers are a fantastic and all natural way to relieve some of your worst respiratory and allergy related symptoms. Unfortunately, not all of the products that claim to be air purifiers are effectively cleansing the air in your home or office of allergens that aggravate your symptoms. Even more disturbing is the fact that some of these so called "air cleaning" devices actually contribute to the level of harmful chemicals in the air that you are breathing by releasing ozone as a byproduct of their operation! When you are shopping for a room air purifier, you need to be educated regarding the difference between HEPA air purification and ionic air purification. Buying smart means finding the air purifier that fits your needs and knowing that your choice is effective and safe for you and your loved ones.
One type of room air cleaner that has recently come under fire for its inefficiency and dangerous byproducts are ionic air purifiers, also known as ionizers. Ionizers are electrostatic precipitators. What that means is that these machines electrically charge airborne particles. The ionizers have oppositely charged metal plates that trap the airborne particles. This process produces ozone as a byproduct. Ozone is a super-charged oxygen molecule. Ionizers are usually burnished and narrow. The process that the ionizers go through to "clean" the air is extremely quiet which is why they have become so popular. Ionizers also give off a pleasant odor. While operating, the device creates a fresh and clean smell that consumers equate to the effectiveness of the machine. It smells clean so the air must be clean. What is astonishing about this scent is that it is actually ozone that owners are smelling! That pleasant and clean smell is a pollutant that can harm your lungs, damage your respiratory system and even exacerbate symptoms in those suffering from asthma!
How dangerous is ozone? In large quantities it can cause a wide variety of negative side effects that range from irritation to premature death. Ozone exposure in large cities has been linked to an increase in premature deaths. This is a serious concern because the vast majority of people that buy room air purifiers for their homes or offices have done so expressly because they already suffer from a respiratory or allergy related health complication. Room air cleaners are supposed to be a natural form of treatment, not a symptom aggravator. Additionally, in recent tests many air ionizers failed to adequately cleanse the air of pollen, dust, mold and other common household allergens. So, they are not working effectively and they are emitting ozone while they fail to rid the air of pollutants. Millions of Americans have purchased an ionizer for their homes or offices. These ineffective machines have inundated the market. What that should tell you is just because people buy it doesn't mean it works. Trust the experts. Our senses can sometimes fool us. Thankfully, there is an effective and safe alternative to ionizers.
Knowledge is power. Make sure that you make a powerful and informed decision when you invest in a room air purifier. There are a lot of choices out there and some of them are all smoke and mirrors. Here are the 5 things that you should look for in an effective and safe room air purifier:
- HEPA filter: The HEPA air filter is highly recommended by allergists and respiratory therapists. HEPA filters or High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance filters do not produce ozone as a byproduct and they rid the air in your home of 99.97% of airborne particulates all the way down to 0.3 microns in size (which is 1/300 the width of a human hair). HEPA filters are the primary filtration system for hospital clean rooms, bioengineering facilities and isolation wards just to name a few. The best air purifiers feature a medical grade HEPA filter, and are recommended by physicians, the American Lung Association and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Experts trust this filtration system in environments where they can't afford to be wrong. You should too. The number one thing to know before you buy a room air purifier is make sure that it has a true medical grade HEPA filter.
- Activated carbon: Activated carbon is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen. This treatment opens up millions of miniscule pores between the carbon atoms. As a result the charcoal becomes extremely porous and has vast surface areas. These pores become bonding sites and are used to adsorb chemicals and gases from the air. Chemicals pass by the surface, attach themselves to one of the many pores and are trapped, thereby extracting them out of the air that you breathe. Activated carbon is a great and natural way to cleanse your breathing air. Make sure that it is a component in your chosen room air purifier filtration system.
- High Capacity Pre-filter: This important component will increase the life of your filter exponentially and thus, increase your profit return on your purchase. The high-capacity pre-filter traps larger visible particles from the air such as dust. By removing larger particles before the air reaches the sensitive HEPA filter, the pre-filter does some prep work for the HEPA so that it can work to its full potential for an extended amount of time.
- Does not produce ozone: If your filtration system is known to produce ozone as a byproduct, trade it out and upgrade to a safer and more efficient product. Ozone is hazardous to your health as well as the health of your loved ones. Make sure that your room air cleaner of choice is helping your family rather than contributing to the problem.
- No off-gassing of chemicals: Some room air purifiers are constructed in a way that promotes the off-gassing of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs are chemicals that vaporize with ease. This vaporization process brings gas pollutants into your home via the very air that you breathe. Be sure that you know that the room air purifier that you are using or are contemplating purchasing is not prone to produce VOCs.
With all of the choices out there and all of the potential that exists to make the wrong choice, it is daunting to even think about choosing a room air purifier. Fortunately, there are a few brands out there on the market already that meet these 5 criteria and that have received tremendous amounts of praise from the private and professional world. If you are looking for a room air purifier that is effective and safe, keep an eye out for these companies. Their products are tested, trusted and reliable.
IQAir air purifiers: IQAir purifiers come highly recommended by practicing physicians and the complete product line meets our 5 listed criteria. This product line comes to us from Switzerland so each individual room air cleaner is held to the strictest of Swiss made standards. This room air cleaner line has an array of extra features that make IQAir the #1 ranked company in the air purifier industry. Each IQAir room air purifier comes with a filter monitor that will alert you when a new filter is needed, a variety of fan settings so that you can adjust the purification process to fit your needs, and a design that lends itself to efficiency. Each model features a remote control, an automatic timer, and a fan that delivers at barely above a whisper. This product line includes room air purifiers for everyday use by anyone who suffers from asthma, allergies or respiratory complications, as well as for those seeking to protect their well-being and prevent lung and immune damage. In addition, IQAir offers purifiers that rid the air of particulates as well as odors, models that attack all of the aforementioned in addition to chemicals and gases and even a room air purifier that will eliminate bacteria and viruses creating a clean room environment.
Austin Air purifiers: Austin Air purifiers are highly ranked in the air purification industry. This popular room air purifier brand receives this ranking time and time again from the praise of private owners and also by regulated tests. Austin Air products are all in-house made in the USA under the direct supervision of the owner. Austin Air room air purifiers are backed up by a 5 year warranty and are made entirely out of steel. They are easy to use and transport (on casters and light weight) and each and every one features an incredibly quiet and efficient fan. Their product line runs from room air purifiers for your home or office, Jr versions of their more popular models for small rooms, purifiers for your infants as well as specialized room air purifiers for allergy sufferers, pet owners and those suffering from MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity). The best part is that all of their air purifiers come complete with a 5 year warranty! This product line has something for everyone and with the right selection, their purifiers are guaranteed to fit your specific needs and bring relief and peace of mind to you and your loved ones.
Amaircare: The Amaircare Roomaid Portable Air Purifier is designed for home or office spaces under 250 sq. ft. This specific model meets all of the above listed criteria. It is a compact model that packs a serious punch. This model also offers the option of an adapter that you can purchase so that you can use it in your car! Now you can enjoy clean air while on the go.
All of these companies are trusted suppliers for private consumers, corporate businesses, hospitals, the military and federal governments. Make sure that you make the right decision when purchasing a room air purifier. It can be an overwhelming and seemingly complicated decision. If you adhere to the 5 guidelines recommended above, you are sure to select a HEPA room air purifier that will prove safe and effective for you and your family. All of these products can be found and purchased through Clean Air Plus at www.cleanairplus.com. Make an educated decision because clean air is one of the most important things in life. It is one of the easiest ways to improve your health and help to ensure continued good health for years to come.