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Home Air Purifiers Buying Tips
by Kathryn Whittaker
If you are looking to buy a new home air purifier, check our
tips that will help you make an informed decision.
Air purifiers have become an essential component in many
households today. Home air purifiers filter out
allergy-provoking substances, such as dust mites, chemical and
organic odors, pet dander and plant pollen. These devices are
especially good when a person has a suppressed immune system
and is more susceptible to infections. It’s a proven fact that
home air purifiers help in such medical conditions as allergy,
asthma, and hay fever.
A home air purifier draws in air, filters out the dust, pollen,
bacteria and scent molecules, and then emits the clean scentless
air into the room. The air would not be completely pure and
sanitized, but it would contain significantly less dust
particles and allergens.
There are several types of filters used in home air purifiers.
Filters with added activated carbon ? similar to the one used
to treat food poisoning - serve as pre-filter, which captures
large particles. Then, HEPA filter absorbs small particles.
Some purifiers add a natural organic filter that neutralizes
volatile compounds from household chemicals or smoke.
Less common filter types used in home air purifiers are
electrostatic or ion filters that attract particles by static
electricity and therefore can create unnecessary electric
tension in the household. Hybrid purifiers employ more than one
particle-collecting method. The fairly new method used in home
air purifiers is ozone filter that filters the air and purifies
it with ozone. However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission warns that ozone generators can be harmful to people
affected by asthma. Many experts think that ozone is generally
ineffective against air pollution.
HEPA-certified filters are most common in home air purifiers.
The next generation of filters is ULPA (ultra-HEPA) filters
that remove close to 100% of particles. Uncertified HEPA-like
filters have proved to be less effective.
All homes and offices have different air conditions which
depend on the age of the building, materials used in the
construction, and a number of plants nearby. That’s why is
impossible to predict the effect of home air purifier on the
overall air quality. In general, dust and pollen particles are
usually filtered, at least as much as tobacco-smoke particles.
When choosing an air purifier, look at the Clean Air Delivery
Rate (CADR). This rate indicates how many cubic feet of air is
cleared of airborne particle. Smoke is considered a smallest
particle, dust is medium and pollen is the largest one. The
higher the CADR rating, the less time your new air purifier
needs to remove particles from the room.
Even though air purifiers can become a holy grail for many
allergy sufferers, experts suggest that no one should rely only
on air purifiers while trying to keep the air at home healthy
and clean. The best strategy to achieving breathable air in
your home would be to use an air purifier along with natural
window ventilation.
Please Visit http://www.air-purifier-guide.org/airpurifier/
for more information
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