| What are the considerations for and against | | | | Thus, you must clean the collection plates as |
| buying an ionic air purifier? In just one minute, let | | | | frequently as daily to weekly. |
| me reveal the most important ones. | | | | The second most important drawback is that an |
| An ionic air purifier works by using high voltage to | | | | ionic air purifier will generate a fair amount of |
| negatively charge particles entering the machine. | | | | ozone. Ozone is that pleasantly sweet, after the |
| These ionized particles then pass over a series of | | | | rainstorm odor most people associate with fresh, |
| oppositely charged metal collection plates. The | | | | clean air. |
| particles are attracted to these metal plates, | | | | Unfortunately, ozone is a powerful irritant that |
| resulting in the collection of particles as small as 0.1 | | | | deadens the sense of smell, damages the airways |
| micron. | | | | and induces asthmatic symptoms. It also |
| There are no filters to replace and it works | | | | increases sensitivity to allergens as a result of its |
| silently, the major reasons consumers love them. | | | | action as an irritant. |
| There are numerous drawbacks to this type of | | | | The main advantages of an ionic air purifier are |
| air purifier. One is that as the collection plates' | | | | there are no expensive filters to replace and |
| surface area becomes covered their ability to | | | | quieter operation than HEPA air purifiers. On the |
| attract additional particles decreases until the | | | | down side, ozone is emitted and there is a steady |
| plates are cleaned. In a good unit you may start | | | | reduction in efficiency as the collection plates |
| out at an efficiency of 80% and degrade down to | | | | become dirty requiring you to perform cleaning |
| as little as 20% in as few as three days. | | | | more often than most people are willing or able. |