| Are ultraviolet air purifiers the right choice for you | | | | capacity of the machine. The difficulty of balancing |
| and your family? The promise of germ free air | | | | high performance particle filtration and sterilization |
| that saves you from unwanted illness seems too | | | | is why some top quality manufacturers do not |
| good to pass up. But is a UV air cleaner a good | | | | offer an ultraviolet option. |
| investment in your health? Before you buy, why | | | | In these high performing units separate |
| not take the time now to see if these five issues | | | | sterilization is not considered necessary since the |
| are successfully addressed by your air purifier? | | | | HEPA filter can trap particles down to 0.01 micron, |
| Five Issues Affecting Performance and Your | | | | the size of viruses. If microorganisms are being |
| Satisfaction | | | | filtered out of the air why add sterilization? |
| - Is the UV light strong enough? | | | | Some have concerns that HEPA filters are a |
| - Are germs exposed long enough? | | | | breeding ground for trapped microorganisms, but |
| - Do you sacrifice either particle removal or | | | | this hasn't proven a problem in over sixty years |
| sterilization in HEPA filter UV air purifiers? | | | | of commercial and industrial use. In any case, you'll |
| - Is UV sterilization necessary or just an extra | | | | find top quality air purifier manufacturers treat |
| expense? | | | | their HEPA filters with antimicrobial agents. |
| - Can UV light damage the HEPA filter, causing | | | | Certain manufacturers that offer UV as an option |
| premature failure? If you prefer including UV | | | | bathe the HEPA filter with UV light. This kills |
| sterilization with air purification and want a system | | | | microorganisms trapped by the filter and thus |
| that balances these concerns then I've included a | | | | alleviates consumer concerns about breeding |
| few models you might like at the end of this | | | | germs in the filter. |
| article. | | | | However, there is concern about what UV light |
| Two Keys to UV Effectiveness - Dosage and | | | | will do to the HEPA filter. HEPA material can |
| Exposure | | | | become brittle and break up over time when |
| Ultraviolet light is proven to sterilize | | | | exposed to UV light. This can shorten the life of |
| microorganisms like bacteria, mold and viruses. Of | | | | the HEPA filter and require more regular filter |
| course, this is under controlled conditions. First, a | | | | changes. |
| contaminated surface is directly exposed to UV | | | | In short, when considering HEPA filter ultraviolet |
| light with enough intensity - the dosage. Second, | | | | air purifiers you want a high enough dosage to |
| the light irradiates the surface for a long enough | | | | deliver sterilizing/killing power at the reduced |
| time - the exposure. | | | | exposure time of the top air flow rate. You also |
| Is it possible to get the same results inside an air | | | | want the filter to be either protected from |
| purifier? With microorganisms speeding through it | | | | damage by the UV light by concealing it away |
| at a rather high rate, you have to wonder | | | | from the light or by being constructed of |
| whether they are exposed to UV light long | | | | materials relatively immune to UV damage. |
| enough to be sterilized. | | | | A Few Good Ultraviolet Air Purifiers |
| Obviously more sterilization will occur at lower fan | | | | Here are a few examples of air cleaners I'm |
| speeds but that reduces the volume of air being | | | | confident will work for you wherever |
| treated. Ideally, you want an air cleaner with | | | | microorganism control is needed: |
| sufficiently strong UV light (high dosage) to | | | | - Alen A375UV Ultra HEPA |
| achieve sterilization at the top air flow rate. | | | | - Allerair (almost all models are available with UV |
| Combining HEPA Filters And UV Sterilization | | | | option) |
| If you are trying to remove particulates while | | | | - NQ Clarifier |
| sterilizing germs then HEPA filter UV air purifiers | | | | - Airfree Air Sterilizers |
| are the way to go. However, getting enough | | | | - Germ Guardian Hygia 6.0 |
| dosage and exposure raises it's head again. Not all | | | | - Germ Guardian UV-C Air Sanitizer |
| HEPA air purifiers with UV light supply the dosage | | | | - Secure Air 1200 Tabletop UV Air Sanitizer Some |
| necessary to sterilize microorganisms. | | | | of these are UV sterilizers only with no other |
| Reducing fan speed in these air purifiers may | | | | filtration and some are HEPA air purifiers with UV |
| increase sterilization but lowers the air cleaning | | | | added. |