| ronic air cleaners clean the air without a filter. | | | | Portable units are sold online or in home appliance |
| Most contain a collection grid to attract the | | | | stores. These are intended to be used in one area |
| impurities. These must be cleaned regularly. You | | | | of the home at a time. You can purchase more |
| can purchase these systems to clean one room | | | | than one, or move the unit from room to room |
| at a time or have a whole house system installed | | | | throughout the day. Products are labelled |
| to keep every room clean. | | | | according to the square footage they cover. |
| As the air passes through the machine, it is given | | | | Make sure the one you are using is sufficient for |
| an electrical charge. This also charges the | | | | the area where it is being used. One that is too |
| impurities in the air. The charged particles are then | | | | small won’t be effective. On the other |
| attracted to an oppositely charged collection grid, | | | | hand, if it’s too large, you will have a high |
| which acts as a magnet for the particles. Some | | | | level of ozone in your house. |
| have no collection grid. In this case, the particles | | | | Negative Ion Generators |
| attach to the walls, floors and furniture in your | | | | Negative ion generators have no collection grid. |
| home. These must be removed by dusting or | | | | The walls, furniture and other surfaces of your |
| vacuuming the room. | | | | home become the collection grid. You will notice a |
| For the system to work properly, the collection | | | | film on your furnishings and may see soot like film |
| grid must be kept clean. This is easy to do with a | | | | on the walls. This will need to be cleaned away by |
| damp rag. If your home is very dusty or you | | | | dusting or vacuuming. |
| have pets, you will need to clean the grid | | | | Safe Use of Electronic Air Cleaners |
| frequently, possibly several times each week. If it | | | | This type of air cleaner has come under fire |
| isn’t kept clean, the grid will stop | | | | recently, due to the ozone that is produced as a |
| attracting the particles and won’t clean | | | | by product of the electrostatic process. Ozone is |
| the air in your home. | | | | considered a pollutant and high levels of ozone in |
| A separate pre filter on the system can help | | | | the air in your home can be an irritant. It is |
| reduce the amount of impurities on the collection | | | | particularly a problem for people who suffer from |
| grid. The pre filter removes larger particles. This | | | | asthma or other respiratory or lung disorders. |
| helps reduce the amount of particles that become | | | | To reduce the risk associated with ozone, |
| attached to the collection grid and you | | | | consider running the air cleaner when the room is |
| won’t need to clean it as often. The pre | | | | not in use. For example, run the system in your |
| filter must be changed regularly to keep it | | | | bedroom in the early evening. Turn it off about an |
| working properly. You will have the added | | | | hour or so before you plan to go to sleep. Run |
| expense of purchasing replacement filters. | | | | the machine in the kitchen or other living areas at |
| Types of Electronic Air Cleaners | | | | night and turn it off first thing in the morning. This |
| Whole House Air Cleaners | | | | will allow the ozone in the air to dissipate before |
| Whole house air cleaners can be installed on your | | | | you enter the room. |
| forced air heating system. You will need to hire a | | | | If your system has a high and low setting, run it |
| heating contractor to install the system. Whole | | | | on the low setting. If odor is a problem, run it on |
| house systems help clean the air in every room | | | | high when the room is empty and air out the |
| of your home. A large collection grid attracts the | | | | room before you enter it. When the room is |
| impurities in your home. You will need to clean the | | | | occupied, use only the low setting. A separate |
| grid frequently to keep it working properly. | | | | hepa filtration system can help remove some of |
| Portable Units | | | | the excess ozone in the air. |