| If you want better indoor air quality, then you | | | | (VOCs) and other chemically reactive gases. |
| need a quality air purifier. Air purifiers reduce the | | | | Activated carbon filters adsorb a wider spectrum |
| airborne allergens that aggravate allergies and | | | | of contaminants. |
| asthma. As dirty, contaminated air flows through | | | | AllerAir air purifiers use an activated carbon |
| the air purifier, fresh, clean air flows into your | | | | filtration system to effectively clean indoor air. |
| home. The type of air filter in an air purifier | | | | AllerAir models feature a cylindrical shape for |
| determines how the air purifier works - and how | | | | maximum air flow, an effective four-stage |
| well it works. | | | | filtration system, and a quiet fan. |
| HEPA Filters | | | | Electrostatic Filters |
| HEPA air filters set the standard for air cleaners | | | | Like Activated Carbon filters, Electrostatic filters |
| today. In the 1940s, the U.S. Atomic Energy | | | | attract pollutants. Instead of carbon, Electrostatic |
| Commission developed HEPA (High Energy | | | | filters use electrostatic charges to clean the air. |
| Particulate Air) filters in an attempt to filter | | | | Electrostatic charges are created by pushing air |
| radioactive contaminants. To be classified as a | | | | through a maze of static prone fibers. As airborne |
| HEPA filter, it must capture a minimum of 99.97% | | | | particles move past the static prone fibers, they |
| of pollutants at 0.3 microns. | | | | become attracted to the static charge and are |
| HEPA filtration captures particles 25-50 times | | | | captured within the filter. The particles remain on |
| smaller than the eye can see. The ultra-fine fibers | | | | collector plates until they are hand washed or |
| in HEPA filters capture microscopic particles | | | | removed by a HEPA vacuum cleaner. |
| through a combination of diffusion, interception, | | | | By using static electricity, you never have to |
| and inertial impaction. With smaller particles, | | | | worry about replacing the filters, as most |
| diffusion occurs when the random motion of the | | | | electrostatic air cleaners use collection plates to |
| particles causes them to collide with fibers. | | | | capture pollutants and can be cleaned easily. |
| Interception occurs when larger particles directly | | | | However, the collection plates must be cleaned |
| collide with a fiber. When a particle's inertia leads | | | | frequently to ensure effective air cleaning. Also, |
| to its collision with a fiber, this is known as inertial | | | | unlike HEPA filters, some electrostatic filters emit |
| impaction. | | | | ozone, a dangerous lung irritant that can trigger |
| HEGA Filters | | | | asthma and allergy symptoms, as well as other |
| You might have also heard of HEGA or High | | | | respiratory issues. |
| Efficiency Gas Adsorber filters. Specific to Austin | | | | Procuring an air cleaner that doesn't emit any |
| Air, HEGA filters must exhibit a minimum | | | | ozone increases the amount of truly clean air in |
| efficiency of 99.9%, per standards of the | | | | your home. Friedrich air purifiers have the best |
| Institute of Environmental Sciences, and use | | | | electrostatic filter on the market and emit minimal |
| "adsorber" filtration to filter out chemicals, gases, | | | | amounts of ozone. |
| and odors. | | | | Charged Media Filters |
| Adsorber filtration combines carbon or carbon | | | | Charged media filters also utilize electrostatic |
| zeolite pellets into a carbon cloth filter to trap | | | | energy. Made from synthetic fibers, the media |
| gaseous particles. Specific to the HEGA filter, the | | | | filter is charged through the manufacturing |
| adsorber filtration method must be designed, built, | | | | process and retains the charge during its use. This |
| filled and packaged to adhere to these specific | | | | charge attracts airborne particles, giving them an |
| standards. The HEGA air filter must also remove | | | | electrostatic charge before trapping them within |
| irritants like dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and | | | | the fibers of a conventional filter. |
| pet dander to be considered a HEGA filter. | | | | Charged media filters present relatively low |
| The Austin Air Allergy Machine Series include | | | | energy costs and are extremely efficient. |
| HEGA filtration. Austin Air discovered and | | | | However, as the filter becomes soiled, it becomes |
| developed the new HEGA technology, which | | | | resistant to the airflow, making it less efficient the |
| involves weaving carbon into a lightweight cloth. | | | | more soiled it becomes. Therefore, charged media |
| The Austin Air Allergy Machine is the ideal air | | | | filters must be changed regularly for peak |
| purifier for someone who wishes to remove | | | | performance. |
| gases, vapors, and odors as well as allergens and | | | | Charged media air cleaners are known for their |
| other particulate matter. | | | | energy-efficiency and quietness; however, some |
| Activated Carbon Filters | | | | of them may emit ozone. Blueair air purifiers utilize |
| Activated carbon filters remove gases, odors, and | | | | the best charged media filtration, don't emit |
| chemical toxins. Carbon, or activated charcoal, is | | | | ozone, and are extremely quiet and efficient. |
| treated with oxygen to open up the millions of | | | | Hybrid Air Filtration Systems |
| tiny pores between the carbon atoms. | | | | The Hybrid air filtration system maximizes its |
| The activated charcoal adsorbs odorous | | | | effectiveness through the use of multiple |
| substances from gases or liquids. The term | | | | technologies. Hybrid air purifiers use a combination |
| "adsorbing" refers to the way the pollutants | | | | of filtration methods, each filter adding to the |
| attach to the charcoal by chemical attraction. The | | | | overall effective quality of the air purifier. Most |
| large surface area of the activated charcoal gives | | | | effective air purifiers a use combinations of the |
| it thousands of pores for trapping pollutants. As | | | | filters listed above. |
| chemicals and pollutants pass the carbon surface, | | | | The combination of air filtration systems is the |
| they are immediately attracted and captured | | | | next revolutionary step to cleaner indoor air |
| within the filter. | | | | quality. However, each filter type presents its own |
| Some carbon filters are treated with additional | | | | unique sphere of air cleaning. It's important to |
| chemicals like potassium iodide or potassium | | | | determine what your air cleaning needs are and |
| permanganate which improve the carbon filter's | | | | to research and find the filter that will work best |
| ability to capture Volatile Organic Compounds | | | | for you and your needs. |