How Do Air Purifiers Really Work?

It seems incredible that a simple machine, roughlyAn air purifier should also contain several different
the size of a regular desktop computer, can helpfilters. This allows a single air purifier to address all
to remove airborne contaminants from the air inof the different airborne pollutants that may be
your home. This is exactly what air purifiers do,present in the air. Certain filters are effective at
and they produce visible results. Some peopleremoving large particles from the air such as dust,
continue to be skeptical as to whether air purifierspollen, hair, and other large molecules. These filters
are truly as effective as manufacturer's claimusually resemble screens and work in a similar
they are. The evidence and countless userfashion to nets, sieving particles out of the air.
reviews, however, make it difficult even forAnother set of filters works to eliminate odors
skeptics to continue to be skeptical.and airborne chemicals from the air. They
The Process In A Nutshellaccomplish this by absorbing and holding gases as
The entire process through which air purifiersthey pass through the air purifier. This helps to
clean the air is relatively simple. It begins with aremove any odor-causing gases and also harmful
mechanical fan contained within the unit. This fanchemical gases that may be present in the air.
spins to draw air into the air purifier, pulling the airFinally, there is a set of filters dedicated to killing
through the filters and allowing it to be cleaned.and removing biological organisms. This is generally
Previously, purifiers did not include fans, andbased around using heat or UV light to kill the
instead cleaned only air that circulated naturallybiological contaminants. Bacteria and viruses are
through the unit. This proved to be too ineffectivealso eliminated through this process, making the
and only allowed small volumes of air to beair that much cleaner and safer for the people
cleaned.within your home.
In front of the fan are several different filters,Problems
each of which has been designed to remove aSome people point out that certain purifiers
particular form of pollutant from the air. Thereencounter problems with ozone. Ozone is actually
are filters designed to deal with dust, pollen, odors,one of the filters that can be used to remove
hair, chemicals, mold, mildew, viruses, bacteria, andodors and chemical gases. Ozone consists of a
many more pollutants. The fan pulls the airform of activated oxygen, and can be harmful to
through these filters, and as it passes throughpeople when it is inhaled in significant amounts.
them, pollutants are removed. The air that comesWhile this may have been a problem with early
out on the other side of the purifier is clean andpurifiers, the purifiers on the market today have
relatively free of pollutants.addressed this problem. Ozone is no longer
Thanks to the fan actively moving air in and outallowed to escape from the purifiers, and it is
of the air purifier, the entire room also benefitskept inside the unit where it will not harm your
from increased circulation. Instead of remaininghealth. You should always do some research
stagnant, the air within the room moves as abefore you purchase any particular product,
result of the action of the purifier. This constanthowever, to see if other consumers have had
circulation of air benefits the health of whoever isany problems with it.
in the room.