| We all want to do everything we can to ensure | | | | pollutants, requiring replacement of filters, |
| that the air we breathe in our homes and office | | | | electrostatic or electronic cleaners work in a |
| environments is clean and healthy. Luckily, there | | | | slightly different way. These units contain |
| are now dozens of consumer products now on | | | | electronically charged plates that impart an ionic |
| the market that work to filter air and reduce the | | | | charge to floating air particles, causing them to be |
| presence of indoor pollutants. These air cleaners | | | | attracted to the plates (remember high school |
| may be purchased as portable units that fit easily | | | | science class?) and forced through what is known |
| you're your living space, or in the form of in-duct | | | | as foam pre-filter. |
| systems to be installed as part of your HVAC | | | | You won't have replace the plates contained in |
| system (the industry abbreviation for your | | | | these units, but you will have to wash them |
| heating, ventilation and air conditioning system). | | | | periodically to clean them of debris and buildup. If |
| With such different types and so many products | | | | you don't, you run the risk of the particles getting |
| available for us to choose from, how to decide | | | | re-re-released into the air. A clean and |
| which is best? Let's take a look at the basic | | | | well-maintained unit will keep down the amount of |
| categories of air filtering devices and what each | | | | dust, mold, and bacteria in your home |
| group offers: | | | | environment. |
| HEPA Filters | | | | Cleaners with Activated Carbon |
| HEPA stands for "high efficiency particulate air," | | | | Filter and electrostatic cleaners grab offending |
| and a HEPA filter is basically a sieve that collects | | | | particles from the air, but a different technology is |
| offensive particles so they won't circulate in the | | | | needed in order to rid your living space of odors |
| air. HEPA filters are highly effective, trapping | | | | and invisible chemical contaminants. That's where |
| nearly one hundred percent (99.97%) of pollutants | | | | carbon comes into the picture-some air cleaners |
| down to a size of .3 microns (to give you a sense | | | | are sold with mats of activated carbon, which |
| of scale, a human hair is about 70 microns in | | | | pulls these teeny molecules out of the air to keep |
| diameter). | | | | it squeaky clean. Note that many electronic filters |
| These filters are so good at cleaning air that they | | | | do contain carbon filters. |
| are often considered the most efficient of all | | | | Charcoal Filters |
| filtration units. But don't rush out to buy one | | | | A charcoal filter, or any air cleaning device that |
| yet-there are a few important factors to | | | | contains a charcoal filter, can be very useful if |
| consider. HEPA filters need to be replaced | | | | you battle unwanted odors in your home |
| frequently, which makes sense when you | | | | environment. This is because charcoal is a porous |
| consider that they function by trapping | | | | substance with a great capacity for trapping |
| contaminants. Depending on the cost of filters and | | | | gases with offensive smells. Charcoal, when used |
| the frequency with which you need to change | | | | in a filter, may be treated with chemicals in order |
| your particular model, this can be an expensive | | | | to enhance its ability to eliminate odors from the |
| choice. Moreover, HEPA filters are good at | | | | air. |
| cleaning the air within small spaces, but they are | | | | Hybrid Filters |
| not a home-wide solution. Of course you could | | | | Simply put, hybrid filters are filters that are |
| place a filter in each room, but this may not be | | | | combinations of multiple types of air filters. For |
| practical. | | | | example, a popular type of hybrid filters involves |
| Still, if you want a great bang for your buck, | | | | both an electronic charge, as described above, as |
| HEPA filters are a terrific choice and very, very | | | | well as a pleated fabric to capture and collect |
| effective. Just keep the above considerations in | | | | particles in the air. This can be a good all-around |
| mind when choosing one (or several) portable | | | | solution to your clean air concerns, but just be |
| filter units for your home. | | | | sure to keep the filter itself clean, otherwise it |
| Pleated Filters | | | | won't function properly. |
| These may also be called "media" filters. They are | | | | In making your decision, choose based on the |
| similar to HEPA filters but are pleated, or folded, | | | | amount of space you wish to treat, as well as |
| with the result that they are substantially less | | | | your largest areas of concern. For example, if you |
| effective. A pleated filter will trap as little as half | | | | smoke or live in a place where the air has been |
| the particles as a HEPA filter, but it will do well | | | | exposed to smoke, you may wish to use a filter |
| with containing larger particles. So, for example, if | | | | that removes odor as well as particles. If dust is |
| your main problem is dust, this may be a good | | | | your main concern, then a pleated filter may do |
| choice for you. | | | | the job for you. Whatever you choose, you will |
| Electrostatic/Electronic Cleaners | | | | be well on the way to a healthier and happier |
| Whereas HEPA filters physically block and remove | | | | home environment! |