| If you want something done right, do it yourself! | | | | motor. Some leak like sieves due to poor |
| Nothing could be truer when rating air purifier | | | | construction. Any air not going through the filter is |
| performance. Trustworthy reviews are scarcer | | | | air not being cleaned. Look for an air purifier proud |
| than Dodo birds. So here is a ten point checklist | | | | to verify total system efficiency like the IQAir |
| to help you do your own air purifier rating. | | | | HealthPro series. |
| #1 Determine the Type of Air Purifier | | | | #4 Air Changes per Hour |
| This is simple enough. There are six types widely | | | | For greatest health benefits you need 4 to 6 air |
| marketed as air cleaners. Here is the bottom line: | | | | changes per hour. This should be measured on |
| - HEPA uses a specialized filter capable of | | | | some speed other than high. High is always the |
| removing particulates down to .01 micron. This | | | | noisiest speed. So unless you're fine with the |
| includes mechanically or chemically produced dusts | | | | sound of a hurricane in your home, find one that |
| and mists, biologically produced allergens and | | | | exchanges the air sufficiently at a lower speed. |
| pathogens like bacteria and viruses. The 0.3 | | | | #5 Filter Costs |
| micron size often stated in ads refers to the | | | | Air purifiers with separate pre-filters, main filter |
| Most Penetrating Particle Size. It only allows a | | | | and gas phase carbon filter usually cost less in the |
| mere three in ten thousand of these particles | | | | long run than those with fully integrated filter |
| through. | | | | systems. Long filter life will also reduce your long |
| - HEPA Type: Maybe as good as 95% HEPA | | | | term costs. |
| performance, maybe as bad as 50%. Who | | | | #6 Filter Changing Ease |
| knows? Real data is hard to find. If you don't | | | | Most air purifier manufacturers make it easy, but |
| know what you're getting, why buy? Steer clear | | | | there are some that require tools and a major |
| of anything labeled something-HEPA or | | | | disassembly operation. Top quality doesn't have to |
| HEPA-something. | | | | be complicated as proven by IQAir air purifiers. |
| - Electret Type Electrostatically Charged Fibers | | | | #7 Filter Change Indicator |
| make the best furnace filters you can buy. When | | | | Why change the filter if you don't have to? Then |
| used in an air purifier, like the 3M Ultra Clean, they | | | | again, running a clogged filter isn't doing you any |
| do a good job. Unfortunately effectiveness | | | | good and may stress out the motor. The best |
| declines steadily and they should be replaced | | | | way to know when the filter needs changing is by |
| every three months. A low initial cost is offset by | | | | a pressure sensitive switch that detects when |
| filter replacements over the life of the unit. Good | | | | increased backpressure against the filter indicates |
| for allergies but compare lifetime cost against the | | | | clogging. You can find this system in the IQAir |
| better HEPA units. | | | | HealthPro series. |
| - Electrostatic Precipitators: Initial efficiencies lie in | | | | #8 Gas and Odor Removal |
| the 50% to 80% range, similar to HEPA-type | | | | Many manufacturers have a pathetic carbon |
| filters. Unfortunately plate loading can reduce | | | | impregnated fiber pad. These few token ounces |
| efficiency by as much as 80% in as few as three | | | | of activated carbon can't remove much. You need |
| days. Regular maintenance cleaning is a must. | | | | many pounds of activated carbon. Special |
| Ozone is produced, often at dangerous levels. | | | | treatments with catalysts and chemisorbers can |
| Avoid them. | | | | enhance gas removal ability. Make sure it targets |
| - Ionizers use high voltage to electrically charge | | | | the pollutants of greatest concern to you because |
| particles causing them to "static cling" to | | | | each carbon blend is focused on different chemical |
| something. Unfortunately they cling to walls and | | | | contaminants. |
| furniture producing the dreaded "black wall effect." | | | | #9 The Warranty |
| The EPA thinks they may also cling to your lungs. | | | | Good air purifiers last. Most top models come with |
| Avoid them. | | | | no less than a five year warranty on all parts |
| - Ozone Generators are banned in Canada, all but | | | | including the motor. I've seen eight and ten year |
| banned in California, and are very much | | | | warranties from companies like AllerAir. Their |
| discouraged by agencies like the EPA. Ozone | | | | record proves their air purifiers really do last this |
| sickens and kills. Reject utterly. | | | | long and longer. I have an AllerAir 5000 that's |
| #2 Size Matters When It Comes To The Filter | | | | going strong after five years. |
| More filter surface means less resistance to air | | | | #10 Return Policy |
| flow, thus more air flow. More particles are | | | | Most top quality air purifier manufacturers have a |
| captured with each pass. Room air is cleaned | | | | 30 day return policy. Some, like IQAir allow up to |
| faster. The filter lasts longer before replacement. | | | | 60 days. This isn't for defects. You have a |
| #3 Total System Efficiency | | | | warranty for that. This is to allow you time to |
| Just because it has a HEPA filter doesn't mean its | | | | personally test the air purifier and see if it satisfies |
| nearly 100% efficient. Some air purifiers bypass | | | | your needs. Don't consider any air purifier you |
| air to help reduce backpressure and cool the | | | | can't test and return. |