Related Sponsors

Types of Air Cleaners

Home » Home Health » Air Cleaners » Types of Air Cleaners

There are three main types available in today’s market. Many models use a combination of the techniques available:

• HEPA Air Purifiers – HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particle Arresting. This type of air cleaner uses a fan to pull air through a filter. This is considered to be the most effective form of air purification. The HEPA purifiers have the advantage of not producing ozone. However, they tend to be noisy and generally run in price from $200.00 to $700.00.
• Electronic Ionizers – Use an electronic process to reverse the charge of particles found in the air and attach them to objects in the home. You then need to dust and vacuum your home to prevent the allergens from being redistributed into the air. Some models of electronic ionizers can produce a small amount of ozone.
• Ozone Generators – These models do not remove allergens from the air. They simply produce large amounts of ozone, which neutralizes strong odors in the air, which according to the EPA is a health threat.
• Combination Models – A combination model uses several pre-filters with a fan to pull air through the machine and trap allergens. It also uses an electrostatic ionizer to charge the remaining particles, which then attach themselves to collection plates found within the unit.
• Allergen Filters - These filters are inserted into your forced-air system to replace your regular filter in the return duct. These filters cut down on the airborne dust and pollen but are not effective in cleaning the air from smoke. They are normally made of a pleated fabric that traps dust and need to be replaced about four times a year.

Next Page: Air Cleaner Considerations

Related Air Cleaners Articles