| Similar to an ozone cleaner, an ionic air purifier also | | | | 50% and also diminish the airborne bacteria by |
| uses an electrical charge to alter oxygen atoms in | | | | 95%. |
| the air. There is often confusion between ionic air | | | | As compared to HEPA air filters, people who are |
| cleaners and ozone air purifiers. The main | | | | concerned about noise pollution in their homes |
| advantage of the former is that an ionic air | | | | may prefer air ionizers as they are generally silent. |
| cleaner will not only clear your home of odors and | | | | HEPA air purifiers make more noise as they use a |
| mildew, but also purge your air of dust and pollen. | | | | motorized fan to circulate the air to purify it. Ionic |
| What are ion air cleaners, exactly, and how well | | | | air purifiers, on the other hand, send out the ions |
| do they work? | | | | or activated oxygen to purify the air, and hence |
| The theory behind an ionic air purifier will take you | | | | are usually silent. Also, another advantage ionizers |
| back to your days in science class in high school. | | | | have over other purifiers is that its parts do not |
| Most common household pollutants carry a | | | | need regular replacement, as there are no |
| positive charge. These are too light to settle on | | | | physical filters. Even though most air ionizers don't |
| the ground or furniture, where they can be | | | | have a motorized fan, the ionization creates a |
| vacuumed or cleaned. They float about freely in | | | | faint breeze that helps to distribute the ions |
| the air that we breathe in our homes. What an | | | | throughout a room. Some are also outfitted with |
| ionic air cleaner does, is that it negatively charges | | | | screens or prongs that catch the particles of dust |
| the air particles in the room. Now, if you | | | | as they fall to the ground. |
| remember some high school science, you know | | | | Positive endorsements for the ionizer have come |
| that a positive charge and negative charge when | | | | from many quarters. In an epidemiological study, it |
| brought close together will experience a magnetic | | | | was found that repeated airborne infections of |
| attraction. And voila! As soon as the positively | | | | the bacteria acinetobacter in an ICU ward was |
| charged pollutant collides with the negatively | | | | totally wiped out with the installation of a negative |
| charged anion, they bond together, becoming too | | | | air ionizer. Through the year long study, the |
| heavy to remain airborne, and sink to the floor. | | | | infection rate fell to zero, disinfecting the air and |
| Thus they are out of harm's way and can no | | | | thereby stopping the transmission of the infection. |
| longer be inhaled. Regular vacuuming and dusting | | | | Thus, keeping in mind your concern over noise, |
| can get rid of these particles. | | | | reliability and cost of purchase and maintenance, a |
| According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, | | | | low-cost ionic air purifier is a reasonably wise |
| if properly used, these ionizers can lessen the | | | | purchase. |
| amount of airborne dust in the room by over | | | | |