Air Cleaner Technologies: Which is Right for You?
These days, air cleaners are practically essential, particularly if you suffer from allergies. These devices are highly useful for removing numerous impurities from the air. But with the various technologies available in a home air purifier, it can be difficult to determine which one you need. Each has its purpose, but some are more efficient than others. Following is a look at some of the different kinds of products available, as well as the benefits and disadvantages that you can get from each.
* Air cleaners with a cloth filter can trap most dust particles, but smaller pollutants will be able to pass right through.
* High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filters have the ability to trap 99% of the particles that are at least 0.3 micros in size. These come with replaceable filters which often prove to be expensive in the long run.
* Carbon models trap odors and particles in a carbon filter as air passes through. These are able to capture particles smaller than 0.3 micros; however, they’re more costly than HEPA models.
* Ozone units release ozone into the air. It’s very good at removing bacteria, odors and fumes from the air. But this model of filter isn’t able to get rid of allergens and pollutants from the air.
* If you want to remove mold and bacteria from the air, take a look at the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation models. However, heat extension is needed to be sure that they will be killed as they are highly resistant to heat. This is among the most costly styles because it can remove bacteria and mold from the air. Plus it will cost more to maintain.
Your purchasing decision needs to take into account more than the technology; you also need to consider the requirements of your situation. For locations such as the bathroom or kitchen, where odors tend to hang around, you might consider ultraviolet or ozone air cleaners. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation is the way to go for rooms where mold likes to grow, such as the bathroom or basement.
However, there might be different levels of needs in different areas of the house. To address this, it is best to adhere to the highest level of need. As well, you don’t want to rely completely on air cleaners. It is still important to make sure that the air is clean to start with. Make sure you have windows open on each side of the house in order to let fresh air circulate throughout your home.
As well, make sure that your walls are moisture resistant to avoid formation of mold. Rooms like the kitchen and bathroom need to have their walls cleaned frequently because of the higher moisture levels. Keep them dry as much as possible. Another means of discouraging the growth of bacteria is to make sure your mats and rugs remain dry.