| There are many different types of air cleaners on | | | | Electrostatic filters use the principle of opposite |
| the market, including hybrids of the various types, | | | | poles attracting, thus pulling particles into the |
| but all fall under two broad headings, arrestors | | | | charged plates designed to collect and hold |
| and non-arrestors. Under these we can find the | | | | air-borne contaminants. |
| five most popular: High Efficiency Particle Arrestor | | | | Non-Arrestors |
| (HEPA)/mechanical air cleaners, ionic air cleaners, | | | | Ionic air cleaners, also known as electrostatic air |
| ultra-violet air cleaners, ozone air cleaners, and | | | | cleaners, produce an electric charge that forces |
| electronic air cleaners. | | | | air borne particles onto furniture, walls and other |
| Mechanical and electrostatic air cleaners are | | | | surfaces, thus effectively removing them from |
| arrestors, and the others are non-arrestors. | | | | the air you breathe. These are only available as |
| Arrestor air cleaners work by attracting the | | | | portable units, so they are ideal for residential |
| pollutants into the filter thus trapping them. | | | | purposes. Ionic air cleaners release ozone into the |
| Non-arrestors work by either killing the pollutants, | | | | air so they should be used with care. |
| bacteria, molds or by causing them to stick to | | | | Electronic air cleaners, purify the air by utilizing an |
| charged surfaces. | | | | electric current to trap air-borne pollutants. These |
| Arrestors | | | | types can also be installed in central heating and |
| HEPA filter air cleaners were developed to | | | | air-conditioning systems. |
| capture radioactive dust in the environment so as | | | | The main purpose of ultra-violet air cleaners is not |
| to protect scientists during WWII. The technology | | | | to remove particles from the air, but to kill |
| has been refined for modern use in both homes | | | | bacteria and molds. It does this by pulling the air |
| and businesses. HEPA filters can trap most | | | | inside where the bacteria and molds are zapped |
| allergy-causing agents: dust mites, cigarette | | | | by the powerful ultraviolet rays. |
| smoke and chemical odors to name a few. | | | | Hybrid devices use a combination of any of the |
| Mechanical filters can be portable or centralized. | | | | above filters to clean the air. There are single |
| Centralized systems are installed inside central | | | | room air cleaners as well as cleaners that work |
| heating and air-conditioning systems. | | | | for the entire house. |