| u watch television late at night, you are probably | | | | the long run. |
| familiar with a filterless air purifier called the Ionic | | | | They use a collection grid to collect impurities, |
| Breeze. These systems have benefits and | | | | rather than a filter. The impurities stick to the grid |
| drawbacks. Lately, there has been some | | | | and are wiped off with a damp cloth. Once the |
| controversy over their safety. Some consider | | | | grid is clean and dry, place it back in the machine |
| them to be unsafe, while others swear by the | | | | and turn it on. |
| results. | | | | The filtration process leaves a fresh smsell in the |
| How a Filterless Air Purifiers Work | | | | air that many people find vitalizing. You |
| A filterless purifier works by giving the incoming | | | | won’t need to use air fresheners with |
| air an electrostatic charge. This charge also | | | | these systems. |
| charges particles in the air. The air is then moved | | | | They are nearly silent when running. This is great |
| past an oppositely charged collection grid. The | | | | for night time use. Some air purification systems |
| impurities in the air are attracted to the grid, like a | | | | can be very noisy and may need to be turned |
| magnet. The grid must be removed periodically | | | | off at night. |
| and cleaned of the impurities. This is easily done | | | | Drawbacks of Filterless Air Purifiers |
| with a damp cloth. Once the grid is completely | | | | The safety of these filtration systems was called |
| dry, replace it and turn the machine back on. | | | | into question a few years ago when Consumer |
| These systems can be installed on a forced air | | | | Reports gave the Ionic Breeze a bad review and |
| heating system to treat the whole house, or can | | | | called it hazardous. The reason is the ozone that |
| be purchased in portable units. | | | | is a by product of the purification process. Ozone |
| This process creates ozone in the air. If you have | | | | is a pollutant and can be irritating to people with |
| been outside after a thunderstorm, you have | | | | asthma or other respiratory disorders. Sharper |
| smelled natural ozone in the air. These systems | | | | Image responded by adding a component called |
| clean the air the way nature cleans the outdoor | | | | “Ozone Guard” which is said to |
| air. | | | | convert most of the ozone into oxygen. On a |
| However, some feel the ozone that is created | | | | later review, Consumer Reports still gave the |
| can be a health hazard, particularly if it is highly | | | | machine low marks, but said the ozone output is |
| concentrated. If you are using a portable air | | | | now in acceptable levels. |
| cleaner, be sure it isn’t too big for the | | | | These systems are more expensive than other |
| room in which it is being used. The square footage | | | | air purifiers. However, when you add in the cost |
| is listed on the box and in the owner’s | | | | of replacement filters, this price difference |
| manual. Another option is to run it for a while and | | | | diminishes over time. |
| then turn it off before using the room. | | | | The collection grid must be cleaned frequently. If |
| Benefits of a Filterless Air Purifier | | | | it isn’t clean, it won’t work. The |
| There are no filters to change with this type of | | | | frequency depends on the number of impurities in |
| purification system. Replacement filters can be | | | | the air. Homes with pets, smokers, a lot of dust, |
| expensive and not having one saves money in | | | | etc, will need more frequent cleaning. |