| If you are in the market for an air cleaner, you | | | | home appliances such as refrigerators, room air |
| have probably looked at air cleaner reviews to | | | | conditioners, humidifiers and room air cleaners. As |
| compare features such as cost, square footage, | | | | a member of this organization, a manufacturer |
| filter make-up and more. Wading through the | | | | has allowed their air cleaners to be tested by an |
| information can sometimes be daunting as there | | | | independent third party laboratory to give the |
| are so many abbreviations and undefined terms | | | | consumer an unbiased overview of product |
| leaving you unsure about what the real | | | | effectiveness. |
| advantages are for any of the cleaners. Below | | | | CADR Clean Air Delivery Rate |
| are 5 of the most common terms found in air | | | | If the manufacturer of your air cleaner is a |
| cleaner reviews; what they mean, and how they | | | | member of the Association of Home Appliance |
| benefit you.dB Decibels of Sound | | | | Manufacturers (AHAM), The AHAM seal will |
| A decibel is to sound as an inch is to size. Decibels | | | | appear on the back of the box and will always list |
| are the units of measurement used for sound. | | | | three CADR numbers - one for tobacco smoke, |
| Silence is measured at 0 dB, a whisper is | | | | one for pollen and one for dust. The CADR |
| measured at 15 dB, and conversation is measured | | | | indicates volume of filtered air delivered by an air |
| at 60 dB. How much sound you want your air | | | | cleaner. The higher the tobacco smoke, pollen and |
| cleaner to emit is a personal preference. Some | | | | dust numbers, the faster the unit filters the air, |
| like a cleaner that gives off white noise, | | | | making them more effective in literally clearing the |
| particularly in the bedroom, because for some it | | | | air. |
| facilitates sleep. Others, prefer an almost silent | | | | CADR 2/3 Rule for Tobacco Smoke |
| cleaner. These ranges should help you determine | | | | According to the Association of Home Appliance |
| how the air cleaner you choose will sound. | | | | Manufacturers, choose an air cleaner with a clean |
| CFM Cubic Feet per Minute | | | | air delivery rate that is at 2/3 the size of your |
| Cubic feet per minute measures air flow, | | | | room. So a room measuring 120 square feet |
| specifically how much air passes a stationary point | | | | would require an air cleaner with a clean air |
| every 60 seconds. The greater the air flow an air | | | | delivery rate of at least 80. Placing this cleaner in |
| cleaner is able to produce, the more room air | | | | a smaller room would mean the air would be |
| changes your cleaner is able to make, resulting in | | | | cleaned more often and faster. |
| less pollutant build up. | | | | Understanding these terms, and the benefits they |
| AHAM Association of Home Appliance | | | | afford you will help insure that you find the best |
| Manufacturers | | | | air cleaner for you, your family, and your lifestyle. |
| This organization verifies the testing results of | | | | |