The Air Purifier Blogs

Indoor air quality is a major health concern. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pollutant levels are two to five times higher inside the home than out. These pollutants include airborne particles and particulate matter such as allergens, lung irritants, gases, toxic chemicals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Indoor air pollution contaminates the air we breathe every day. Since you draw about 9 out of 10 breaths indoors, it’s easy to see why indoor air quality is a top health concern. You typically inhale about two tablespoons of airborne particles a day.

These pollutants put stress on your immune system, which can lead to other health problems. The effects of poor indoor air quality on an individual can vary greatly based on age and relative health. However, in general, poor indoor air quality leads to allergy symptoms, respiratory problems, and weakened immune systems. Children are especially susceptible to the health risks of polluted indoor air since their lungs are smaller and they have to take more breaths throughout the day. If you experience allergy symptoms or asthma attacks in your home, you may have poor indoor air quality. Other sources of IAQ problems may include poor ventilation, lingering odors, environmental changes like recent construction, new furniture, water damage, or a new pet.

Solutions to Indoor Air Pollution

The EPA suggests three basic methods for improving indoor air quality:

1. Control the source of air pollution.

2. Improve ventilation.

3. Purchase an air purifier.

Your first step should be an attempt to control the source of air pollution. If the pollution stems from something like mold, smoke, or chemical off-gassing, it may be possible to remove it from your home; this is most effective and lasting method of improving indoor air quality. However, some indoor air pollutants, such as dust and pollen, are too pervasive, and you can’t always get rid of the sources.

Better ventilation will improve your indoor air quality if the offending pollutant is a chemical or gas. In this case, bringing fresh air into the home can be very helpful. However, many indoor air pollutants originate outdoors, so opening a window on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city may not be the best idea.

The third step suggested by the EPA is to purchase an air purifier. With so many types and brands of air purifiers on the market, it’s pretty easy to find one that is well-suited to your home’s particular situation. Quality air purifiers can work wonders on IAQ. However, some popular air cleaners on the market are not very effective, and many air cleaners actually exacerbate some of the very problems they are meant to cure.

Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Thousands of different chemicals and proteins may be polluting your air. The most common complaints for allergy sufferers involve airborne particles like pet allergens, pollen, dust, mold, etc. These common allergens range in size from 0.3 to 100 microns, and they are small enough to be inhaled, but they’re too large to be easily exhaled. HEPA air purifiers represent the best method of removing common allergens.

Many other common indoor pollutants are simply household odors and gases. These pollutants include things like cooking smells, tobacco smoke, pet litter, and indoor pesticides. Such chemicals and odors can aggravate allergies and asthma.

Chemically reactive gases and VOCs are also responsible for poor indoor air quality. They are found in common household products like paints, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, and new carpets. They are especially harmful for the young, the elderly, and the chemically sensitive, and they can be hazardous to your health if they are present at high enough levels, or if your home is poorly ventilated. VOCs can cause symptoms like headaches, nausea, and throat irritation, and many VOCs are known carcinogens.

How Air Purifiers Improve Your Health

A good air purifier will rid your air of allergens, odors, chemicals, and many airborne disease-causing agents. Even if you’re not sick now, if you continue to breathe polluted air, you will experience detrimental health effects in the future. Many VOCs, for example, are known carcinogens that are likely to cause cancer after continuous exposure. When you purchase a quality air purifier, you will notice the difference. The air will smell fresher, and you will breathe better and sleep better.

Air Purification Technologies

HEPA Air Filters

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter removes airborne particles like pet dander, mold spores, and dust, capturing 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. Out of every 10,000 particles that pass through the HEPA filter, only 3 can escape if the filter is certified HEPA. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends HEPA air purifiers because they’re highest current standard in air filtration. If you suffer from allergies, a HEPA filter is a necessary requirement for an air purifier. When looking at a HEPA filter, consider aspects like the size and quality of the filter medium. Top HEPA filter brands include Austin Air, Allerair, Blueair, Honeywell, IQAir, NQ Clarifier and Amaircare.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon removes gases, odors, and toxic chemicals. Carbon is “activated” by treating it with oxygen, which opens up millions of tiny pores, creating a surprisingly large surface area. (One pound of activated carbon can have a surface area of 60-150 acres!) Chemicals, gases, and odors stick to the carbon and are adsorbed by its huge surface area, bonding to the surface through chemical attraction. The more carbon there is, the more gases and chemicals it can adsorb. Impregnated carbon has been treated with an additional chemical, typically potassium iodide or potassium permanganate. These chemicals are known as chemisorbents, and they improve the carbon’s ability to handle VOCs and chemically reactive gases.

Electrostatic Filters

Electrostatic filters use some kind of electrostatic charge to attract pollutants. Electrostatic precipitators are air cleaners which charge particles as they pass over an electronic cell and trap the particles on oppositely charged collector plates. The advantage of electrostatic filters is that there are no filters to replace; the disadvantage is that the effectiveness of the air cleaner decreases very rapidly as the collector plates fill up with particles. Unless you are willing to wash them frequently, electrostatic filters may quickly become ineffective. Also, some electrostatic filters may generate unsafe levels of ozone, a powerful lung irritant. The Friedrich air purifier, previously ranked as the top air purifier by Consumer Reports, uses an extremely efficient electrostatic filter.

Charged Media Filters

Another type of filter which relies on electrostatic charge is the charged media filter. Charged media filters charge particles before collecting them in a traditional filter. They can trap very small particles, since they combine a filter and a charge. They can also run more quietly and economically, since the fan does not have to work as hard to draw the particles through the filter. However, like the example above, the charged-media filters lose their efficiency pretty rapidly, and some require frequent and expensive filter changes. These types of units can emit ozone, but the better ones on the market do not. If you are going to purchase this type of air purifier, make sure that it does not emit ozone. The best air purifier in this category is the ultra-quiet Blueair air purifier – and Blueair air purifiers do not emit ozone.

Ionic Air Cleaners and Ozone Generators

Ionic air cleaners operate by drawing in particles and ionizing them (giving them a negative charge). Then the particles are released into the room, where they are attracted to positively charged surfaces like walls and furniture. Since the particles are never really collected by a filter, they stick to surfaces and make your house dirty; moreover, the particles can be dislodged and re-enter the air by simple movements like walking or sitting. Most ionizing air cleaners generate ozone, which is a documented health hazard and lung irritant.

Another type of machine sold as an air cleaner is an ozone generator. Obviously, these types of machines are not recommended. The EPA has published several documents discouraging the use of ozone generators as air cleaners. Not only do they create a health hazard by emitting high levels of ozone, but they are also ineffective at cleaning the air.

Do smoky cigars, lingering pet odors, or strong fumes pollute the air in your home? Although odors and foul smells are a natural part of life, they don’t have to be a part of your indoor air!

Anyone with small children, pets, or a smoker in the house knows all too well that room deodorizers and air fresheners only mask the smell temporarily and don’t solve your real air cleaning needs. In fact, many of them release toxic chemicals into the air (not good!). To gain fresh, clean air, the odors in your home must be neutralized and cleaned completely. Odors like strong cooking smells, chemical fumes, and tobacco smoke are particularly dangerous for people suffering from asthma and allergies. As the air reaches the lungs, these bothersome odors and fumes trigger allergic reactions.

When deciding which air purifiers will be most effective against household odors, first consider the amount of air each air purifier can effectively process. The CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate, is used to measure the overall effectiveness of an air purifier and is tested and certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

As air cycles through the air cleaner, the CADR measures the volume of air actually moving through the system, and the percentage and size of the particles being removed. CADR tests for pollutants like tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. These tests determine, in cubic feet per minute (CFM), how effective the air cleaner is at removing specific pollutants.

CADR results are recognized as accurate and impartial measurements by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association. Although some manufacturers use the air exchange rate to qualify their air cleaners, it is not comparable to the CADR tests. Air exchange rates only indicate the total volume of air that is processed by the air purifier in a given time and does not account for the particles being filtered or the overall effectiveness of the air purifier. Ensure that your air purifier has been tested and certified by the AHAM for optimal CADR results to guarantee that you will receive an air cleaner that has the ability to remove airborne contaminates, odors, and fumes.

Air purifiers utilize various methods of filtration for neutralizing and cleaning the awful odors in indoor air. Activated carbon filters are the most widely used type of filter to remove gases, odors, and chemical toxins. The carbon that is contained in activated carbon filters is basically charcoal. When charcoal is treated with oxygen, millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms are created, enabling the activated carbon to adsorb odorous substances from gases or liquids.

The term “adsorb” refers to the process by which the material attaches itself to the charcoals by way of chemical attraction. Large surface areas with tiny pores of activated charcoal attract odors, gases, and chemical toxins, and the pores trap these impurities. As the carbon filter becomes full with airborne contaminants, the charcoal becomes less effective, requiring replacement. Impregnated carbon filters contain an additional chemical (a chemisorbent), allowing them to eliminate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as well as odors and fumes.

Many AllerAir air purifiers are especially equipped to remove VOCs, offensive odors, smoke, and smog. With an optional UV light to kill bacteria and sterilize the air, AllerAir air purifiers are comprised of an all-metal housing that does not produce off-gassing or ozone. AllerAir air purifiers offer heavy-duty air cleaning for industrial or residential settings.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, by definition, are required to filter at least 99.97% of all airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, and pet dander. However, the size, material, and construction of the HEPA filter media will determine the amount of particulates that will be filtered. If the filtration media is too small, some ultra-fine particles like foul odors and chemical fumes can be missed.

To tackle odor control, HEPA air purifiers usually combine the HEPA filter with additional filtration systems. Manufacturers like Austin Air combine the HEPA filtration technology with their own carbon/zeolite filter to effectively remove airborne pollutants and lingering odors and smells. The carbon/zeolite filter is impregnated with potassium iodide for enhanced removal of chemically reactive gases, providing your home with air that’s free of allergens, toxins, and odors.

Charged Media filters are also effective against nasty odors. Through the use of electrostatic energy and synthetic fiber filters, many charged media filters can collect particles as small as 0.1 microns. The media filter, made from synthetic fibers, is charged through the manufacturing process and attracts airborne contaminants electrostatically before trapping them inside the fibers of the filter.

However, charged media filters lose their charge frequently and become less effective after every use, requiring a filter replacement to regain efficiency. In fact, some charged media filters emit ozone, a dangerous lung irritant that pollutes your air and should be avoided by allergy and asthma sufferers.

Some charged media filters like Blueair air purifiers offer optional smoke, odor, and gas removal filters. Known for their stylish and sleek design, Blueair air purifiers offer low energy consumption and easy-to-replace filters. With either a Smokestop filter or a particle and gas filter, Blueair air purifiers remove 99.97% of particles at 0.1 micron, and they don’t emit ozone.

Like charged media filters, electrostatic precipitators use electrostatic charges to safely clean air and neutralize odors. As air is pushed through many static prone fibers, electronic cells charge airborne particles and capture them inside of collector plates. As electrostatic precipitators don’t require filters, you don’t have to worry about replacing the filters. Simply wash the collector plates and insert them back into the air purifier for fresh, clean air.

Although some electrostatic precipitators emit dangerous levels of ozone, the Friedrich electrostatic air purifier emits only a trace amount, and it’s the best deal for your money. Friedrich electrostatic air purifiers have been tested and certified by the AHAM to outperform 99% of competing air purifiers at removing pollen, dust, and tobacco smoke. Proven effective against aerosols, odors, and fumes, Friedrich air cleaners provide an affordable solution to your polluted air.

So if you’re trying to rid your home of disgusting odors, noxious gases, or foul fumes, don’t spray air fresheners that will only contribute to your indoor air pollution. Instead, freshen your air with a quality air purifier. Your nose will appreciate it!

In the environment, there exists both positive ions (called posions) and negatively charged ions (called negions). These atoms have really strong results on human biology, both negatively and positively impacting us. It seems through popular belief that positive ions would have positive effects and negative ions would have negative effects, however, the opposite is true. Negatively charged ions mixed with oxygen molecules have been shown to have benefits on human health.

Documentation proves that negative ionizers clear the air of dust, molds, bacteria, soot, pollen and other household odors. This results in helping to aid people with allergies, asthma, and other common ailments. Air ionizers have also been reported to be helpful to people with SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder which causes depression, by regulating hormone levels. Listed below are a few more benefits of introducing ionizers into your place of residency:

Decreased respiratory rate (indicating a relaxed state)
Decreased blood pressure (not a substitute for medical therapy)
Produces a feeling of well-being
Decreased skin temperature
Acceleration of the conversion of succinate to fumarate (increased metabolism)
Stimulation of cytochrome oxidise activity
Decreased blood sedimentation rate (ESR- a sign of inflammation and is normally elevated in disease states)
Increased ciliary activity (allows our body to clear pollution we breathe in)
Increased resistance to infection
Suggested adjudicative therapy in chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, migraines, insomnia, wound and burn healing, asthma, hay fever, emphysema, bronchitis and more

Here are a few purifiers you can check out online. They have all received rave reviews and I have checked and double checked them.

Smoke Relief:
IQ Air Health Pro Compact Air Purifier $250
This might be one of the smaller more compact systems available when it comes to allergy and asthma type systems, but it is still a high performance particle control systems. This is a terrific purifier for smaller houses and makes it more convenient for small apartments and offices as well. The Health Pro effectively removes every type of air pollutant with the same high efficient as the larger models. The Hepa filters are certified to remove 99.5% of all particulates!

Allergies & Asthma
BlueAir 501 $250
This is a great system for anyone that is living with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions, or for anyone that just wants clean and breathable air! The smaller 501 was rated 6th by Consumer Reports and has been a long time contender in air purifiers. The value in this system also adds to its quiet operation, low energy use, and steel construction that is easy to maintain. The filter needs to be replaced every 6 months.

Mold & Bacteria
Sunbeam Portable Ultrasonic Pest Repeller And Air Ionizer $33.00
The SB600-2 ultrasonic pest repeller and built in ionizer eliminates pests by emitting waved of ultrasonic signals that pests hate! This item is however, safe to use around birds, dogs, cats and reptiles. Warning do not use around domesticated pets such as rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils or other rodent type pets! The compact system is great for home or office use, simply plug the system into a standardized electrical outlet.

Using negative ionizers or negative ion generators can greatly benefit you when used in your home, office or auto shop. These products are inexpensive to run, and don’t require monthly filter changes. There are several quality items to choose from when buying an ionizer such as Oreck, Sunbeam, Sharper Image and Honeywell. There is absolutely no reason for someone to not have an air purifier or ionizer in their home nowadays. Between the different pollutants and the way people are so highly susceptible to allergies nowadays, this ionized air purifier product should be a household item that is used every single day. If you would like to, you can visit the following places for more information on ionic air purifiers:

Wikipedia
Amazon
eBay
Allergy Buyers Club

You can also visit the following websites for reviews on different Ionic purifiers available on the market to consumers and businesses:
Consumer Search
Air Purifiers
Smarter Guide

If you’re looking for a good dog air purifier here are some things to think about. Consider your lifestyle and how much time you have for maintenance, consider square footage and make sure that the square footage that the purifier will clean matches the space that you want to clean, and most importantly the purifier you choose needs to have the following 5 features that will make it a really good dog air purifier.

Is Low Maintenance–Opt for low maintenance and a long filter life so that filter changes and general maintenance are kept to a minimum.

Cleans Adequate Square Footage–Your dog, particularly a big dog, needs space and will probably be allowed to go where you go-which is all over the house. Even if you have a small dog, its going to want to go where you go; so make sure the cleaner you choose covers a large amount of square feet so that it can adequately clean the area that your dog covers.

Removes Dog Hair and Dander–Dog hair and dander are synonymous with having a dog as part of the family. Dog hair is easily seen, dog dander (not so easily seen) is dead skin that is constantly being shed by your dog when it shakes, run, licks your face or wags its tail. The purifier you choose should be able to remove dog hair and dander with a filtration process that uses large particle pre-filters. Read the description carefully to make sure it will remove both hair and dander.

Removes Dog Odor Including Urine Smell–Whether you have a puppy who isn’t quite house broken, a dog who loves to roll in things you’d rather not smell in your house, or an older and much beloved dog who sometimes makes mistakes, the salty dog smell, urine smell, and other not so nice smells happen. Even if your dog is young and frisky now, hopefully you’ll spend many happy years together, and if and when mistakes happen you’ll have a purifier that can handle it. So the filter in your purifier needs to be one that is specifically designed to remove odor-including urine odor.

Has a High Efficiency Rate–If a purifier is to keep up with the dog hair, dander, and odor it needs to be efficient in a big way. A high efficiency particle arresting or medical grade HEPA air purifier is efficient by definition as it removes 99.97% of airborne pollutants down to .3 microns. This means that if there are 10,000 pieces of dog hair, dander and odors lingering in your air, it will remove 99,997 of them. This is the same technology used in hospitals to insure clean air.

You already have a good dog, and making sure the air purifier you bring home has these 5 features will mean you’ll have a really good dog air purifier as well.

If you suffer from asthma triggered by pet hair, fur, or dander and you also have a pet, short of the heart break of giving your pet away, you need to keep the level of these pollutants low by filtering your air continuously. Using a heavy-duty, portable air purifier is a cost effective, efficient, and convenient way to clear the air. Following these 5 tips will yield the best results when deciding on an air purifier that will provide the best results.

Sized Correctly for Your Space–First, measure the space that you need to filter. Include ceiling heights in the total square footage. Most cleaners give square foot cleaning capacity based on 8 foot ceiling height. If you have cathedral ceilings or spaces that open to a second story, be sure to factor this area as additional space when figuring the total square footage of your area. Then be sure to choose a purifier that is designed to be effective in your size space or greater for best results.

Capable of Eliminating Dander–Pet dander ranges in size from .5 to 10 microns so it’s important to choose a cleaner that has a filter that is dense enough to trap particles that small. Simply pulling the air through a filter whose pores are big enough to allow these sub-micron pollutants to pass through will simply send them out into the air again to cause you problems. Read the fine print to make sure that the inner filter is designed to trap these sub-micron particles rather than allowing them to escape.

Can Filter a Variety of Irritants–Even though pet dander may be the main culprit with your asthma, there are probably other airborne irritants that exacerbate it. Since you are considering filtration, opt for a cleaner that will remove other pollutants that have been shown to aggravate asthma such as household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pollen, bacteria and viruses in addition to the pet dander.

Is Portable–Once you’ve found a purifier that gives you relief, you’ll want to take it with you whether it’s to your bedroom, your office, or to another apartment or home. In-home filtration systems are often expensive to install and maintain, and if or when you decide to sell your home, the potential buyer may see it as more of a liability than an asset. On the other hand, a portable air purifier can go where you go, whenever you go.

Uses HEPA Technology–High Efficiency Particle Arresting or H.E.P.A. technology is the same technology that hospitals use to insure clean air. By definition this technology removes airborne pollutants down to .3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. This means that for every 10,000 particles of dander, dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses and other irritants floating in your air, it will remove 99,997, keeping your air fresh and virtually free of the culprits that have been shown to cause the most problems for those who have asthma.