| Air purifiers are essential if you want to improve | | | | diffusion. The net result is that particles far smaller |
| your indoor air quality. Residential air cleaners were | | | | than the openings in the filter are trapped and |
| first introduced in 1963, by Klaus Hammes. Since | | | | removed from the air. |
| that time, there have been numerous | | | | When the term ozone air purifier is used, it is |
| improvements in their design and functionality. | | | | generally describing an air cleaner that creates |
| Today we have home, car, ionic, HEPA, ozone, | | | | ozone to disinfect the air or items within a room. |
| and personal purifiers. Each has its own set of | | | | However, ionic air purifiers produce ozone as a |
| benefits and features. | | | | by-product of creating and releasing ions into the |
| Air Purifier Types And Uses has cleaners that | | | | air. While ozone is a very effective disinfectant, it |
| remove a wide variety of pollutants and | | | | is also considered to be a pollutant as it has |
| contaminants from the air that we breathe. They | | | | harmful effects on lung function. |
| are especially helpful to people who suffer from | | | | Ozone was discovered in 1840 by Christian |
| allergies or asthma, although each and every | | | | Friedrich Schonbein. It has 3 atoms per molecule |
| individual will benefit from breathing clean air | | | | rather than the two found in oxygen. Ozone air |
| whether or not they have any breathing | | | | purifiers create ozone which, when generated, |
| disabilities. Purifiers are designed to remove | | | | seeps into crevices, carpets, drapes, furniture, and |
| everything from acetone to ammonia, vinyl | | | | under beds where normal air currents are typically |
| chloride to xylene, and pollen to dust mites. | | | | non-existent. When the extra oxygen atom splits |
| Ionic air purifiers work by sending out billions of | | | | off from the molecule, the disinfectant power is |
| ions (electrically charged particles) into a room. | | | | unleashed. These singular oxygen atoms quickly |
| Because of their electrical charge, these particles | | | | destroy bacteria, mold, and mildew. Laboratory |
| attach themselves to the pollutants in the air. The | | | | test have shown that ozone kills E. coli bacteria |
| charged particles then return to the purifier and | | | | over 3,000 times faster than chlorine, a very |
| are collected there, along with the pollutant that is | | | | popular and widely-used disinfectant. Because of |
| attached to the ion. | | | | its traits and how ozone works, ozone air purifiers |
| HEPA air purifiers work on the principle of filtration. | | | | are ideal for removing odors caused by fire and |
| HEPA stands for "high efficiency particulate | | | | flood damage. Ozone purifiers are so effective |
| absorbing" or "high efficiency particulate | | | | that major hotel chains use them to convert |
| arrestance". This type of air filtration removes | | | | smoking rooms into non-smoking rooms. |
| over 99% of dust, mold, pollen, bacteria and | | | | Remember, though, that ozone bothers human |
| other airborne particles. HEPA was initially a | | | | lung function. Ozone purifiers are primarily used to |
| registered trademark, and today has evolved into | | | | sanitize while humans are not present. |
| a generic term for highly efficient filters. Most | | | | When choosing an air cleaner, you need to |
| people wrongly assume that HEPA filters work | | | | consider what your largest concern with air quality |
| very similar to a sieve, whereby particles smaller | | | | is. Is it odor and bacteria from your pets? Is it |
| than the smallest opening in the filter are allowed | | | | pollen or mold? Or is it to rid the air of |
| to pass through the filter. This is incorrect. HEPA | | | | second-hand smoke. Deciding what type of |
| air purifiers work on three different principles of | | | | pollutant is your greatest concern is the first step |
| physics. These are interception, impaction, and | | | | in choosing the right type of air purifier. |