| More people are starting to realize the benefits of | | | | well as you would like. And if the room is smaller |
| an air purifier in their home. This machine takes | | | | than suggested, the appliance might take up too |
| the air within a room and filters out airborne | | | | much space or be excessively noisy. |
| contaminants. As a result, the room stays cleaner, | | | | Does the air purifier fit where you want it? These |
| dust on furniture is reduced, and unpleasant odors | | | | appliances are not exactly tiny, so you will need |
| from tobacco smoke, cooking activity, and pets | | | | to think about size and shape in relation to the |
| are banished. Perhaps most importantly, there are | | | | room. The manufacturer may recommend placing |
| fewer allergens and harmful bacteria circulating in | | | | the unit at least 3 feet from furniture or walls in |
| the air for you to inhale. Some allergists even | | | | order for it to work properly. You might be able |
| recommend air purifiers to their patients for relief | | | | to find a wall mounted purifier that takes up less |
| of troublesome allergy and asthma symptoms. | | | | space in the room. Some models are small |
| Although there are several excellent products on | | | | enough to sit on a table or desk. |
| the market, there are also some pretty worthless | | | | How loud is the air purifier? Most machines running |
| ones. You should be especially wary of the air | | | | on the lowest speed are easy to tune out. On the |
| purifiers you see on TV. Here are a few pointers | | | | highest speed, the noise level may be comparable |
| to help you choose a good home air purifier. | | | | to an air conditioner or fan. If the sound interferes |
| Does it have an approved HEPA filter? Although | | | | with conversation or TV watching, you can set |
| some models rely on non-HEPA filters or use | | | | the unit on low while you're in the room and then |
| water as a filter, they are not recommended for | | | | turn up the setting when you leave. Don't waste |
| people who need cleaner air for health reasons. | | | | time trying to find an ultra-quiet air purifier - if you |
| Only the HEPA filter is certified to remove 99 | | | | do come across one, it will be useless. |
| percent of airborne contaminants that pass | | | | What kind of maintenance is required? Find out |
| through it. In addition to the HEPA filter, the | | | | how often the filters need to be cleaned or |
| appliance should have a charcoal or activated | | | | replaced, as well as the associated costs. A good |
| carbon prefilter that helps to eliminate common | | | | feature to look for is some kind of light or |
| household odors and prevents the main filter from | | | | indicator that tells you when the filters need to be |
| getting clogged up. | | | | changed. |
| What size of room needs cleaning? An air purifier | | | | An effective air purifier is a valuable addition to |
| is designed to work most efficiently in a specific | | | | any home. Most people like to place one in the |
| space. The model you choose should be large | | | | living room and one in the bedroom to get the |
| enough to fully process the air in the room 5 or 6 | | | | most benefit. If you've never had one, you may |
| times an hour. That's not to say that you can't | | | | not realize the difference it can make in your |
| use the machine in a larger or smaller room than | | | | health and comfort. Use these pointers to choose |
| suggested. But if the room is larger than | | | | a quality product, and within 24 hours, you'll be |
| recommended, the air might not be cleaned as | | | | appreciating a cleaner, fresher environment. |