| Shopping for an air purifier can be quite a | | | | carbon provides the best results) that can |
| balancing act. While you want to get the most for | | | | eliminate gases, odors, and chemicals is needed. |
| your money, you also don't want to spend | | | | And a medical grade HEPA filter will take out |
| money unnecessarily. This can be tricky, but by | | | | pollutants as small as .3 microns including bacteria |
| avoiding the following 5 features it can be done. | | | | and viruses. |
| No Filter-Avoid purifiers that do not have filters. | | | | One Speed-A purifier that only allows you the |
| The filtration technique to attract particles that | | | | option of on and off gives you zero flexibility in |
| must then be removed by you is time consuming | | | | your filtration level. Sometimes, depending on |
| at best, and puts you in direct contact with the | | | | what's happening in your home, you need to take |
| very pollutants you are trying to remove. Choose | | | | out pollutants faster because their coming at you |
| a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) filter | | | | faster. High, medium, and low settings are |
| instead. | | | | essential to give you the most control over the |
| This is the technology that the medical | | | | rate at which your air is cleaned. |
| community uses in hospitals to insure clean air, | | | | Limited Hours of Operation-Read the fine print, as |
| and removes particles down to .3 microns. It is | | | | some cleaners can only operate for a certain |
| able to eliminate pollutants such as household dust, | | | | number of hours each day. Stay away from |
| dust mites, mold and mildew spores, and pet | | | | these. Pollutants don't stop and neither should your |
| dander. And because it is able to remove such a | | | | filtration. Choose an air purifier that has a split |
| wide variety of pollutants you address all your | | | | capacitor motor that is designed to run 24 hours |
| filtration needs because a cleaner with a HEPA | | | | a day every day, and can do it effectively and |
| filter will remove them all. | | | | economically. |
| One Filter-This is a sure sign that the cleaner will | | | | Limited Warranty-This is an indication of the |
| need frequent filter changes. For many | | | | manufacturer's limited confidence in the cleaner's |
| manufactures replacing the filter is not an option. | | | | ability to last. For you this will translate into |
| If you do not replace it at the specified intervals, | | | | spending more money in maybe a year or even |
| you forfeit your warranty. So you are locked into | | | | less time. Opt for a hefty warranty of 5 years. |
| spending a certain amount of money every | | | | A 5 year warranty on the purifier and a 5 year |
| several months. These costs can add up quickly. | | | | filter warranty are both indications that the |
| A better choice is to choose a purifier with 4 | | | | cleaner is well built, and should any problems occur |
| filters. A large particle pre-filter will remove dust, | | | | the manufacturer is willing to repair them. Most |
| hair, and pet dander. The medium particle pre-filter | | | | times when there is a hefty warranty you very |
| will remove mold, spores, and pollen. And since | | | | seldom have to use it, which is truly an indication |
| many pollutants are gaseous, an inner filter (and | | | | of money well spent. |