| What are the considerations for and against | | | | since the media is not as fine. It will continue to |
| buying a charged media electrostatic air purifier? | | | | filter larger particles better than an ionic air cleaner |
| In just one minute, let me reveal the most | | | | because the media is small enough to not need |
| important ones. | | | | the attraction of opposite charges used for |
| A charged media filter is one that collects particles | | | | smaller particles. |
| by static charge. Using this technology it is possible | | | | The main advantage is that you can clean a very |
| to collect particles as small as 0.1 micron. | | | | large volume of air quickly with low air resistance. |
| An example would be the 3M Filtrete media many | | | | This means you don't need as powerful a fan and |
| people use in their furnace and HVAC systems. | | | | there will be much less noise produced. The Ultra |
| The Ultra Clean 3M air purifier uses this same | | | | Clean 3M air purifier mentioned earlier can be very |
| media and is a good example of a relatively | | | | quiet while still having a clean air delivery rate 13 |
| inexpensive but highly effective electrostatic air | | | | times greater than the more expensive Sharper |
| purifier. | | | | Image Ionic Breeze. |
| These filters start with an efficiency as high as 90 | | | | The main disadvantage to this type of |
| percent. But as the surface becomes clogged with | | | | electrostatic air purifier is the cost of filter |
| particles efficiency decreases. The greatest | | | | replacement, typically recommended every 90 |
| efficiency loss is in the smallest particle sizes since | | | | days. And of course the gradual efficiency drop |
| the electrostatic charge is used up with each | | | | as the filter becomes dirty means that your air is |
| particle capture. | | | | a little less clean with each passing day. But for |
| These filters do not work like HEPA filters and | | | | many people they do provide good allergy relief. |
| cannot remove microscopic particles mechanically | | | | |