| "body"> | | | | cleaner for your home. |
| Purchasing an air purifier can be confusing, and | | | | Ozone Air Purifiers |
| you do get an awful lot ofinformation thrown at | | | | Ozone is created in nature by everything from |
| you when you visit the different manufacturing | | | | waterfalls to thunderstorms,and is responsible for |
| websites,don't you? How can you tell what's what, | | | | that fresh, clear smell after a heavy rain or storm |
| and why do we need air filters anyway? | | | | haspassed. It's nature's way of cleaning the air. |
| And how do air purifiers work? Is the air really | | | | Ozone air purifiers essentiallydo the same thing |
| that bad? Haven't we beenbreathing the same air | | | | indoors by artificially mimicking the natural process |
| for thousands of years? | | | | thatcreates ozone. |
| Yes and no. First of all, we've been breathing the | | | | Ozone molecules exist in the air all around us, and |
| same air for thousands ofyears, but we live in a | | | | will react with anyparticles they come into contact |
| symbiotic relationship with the plants around us - | | | | with, but are very unstable and tend to existin |
| thatis, we rely on each other to survive. We | | | | small quantities for short periods of time. |
| breathe oxygen to live, and give offcarbon | | | | Ozone air purifiers work by using electricity to |
| dioxide. Plants exchange carbon dioxide for | | | | generate more ozonemolecules, which have one |
| oxygen, effectively | | | | more oxygen (O3) than we normally have in the |
| "exchanging" the air in a healthy relationship with | | | | air (O2)around us. Since ozone is highly unstable, |
| us. This makes plants thefirst primitive air purifiers | | | | one of the oxygen atoms is alwaysinclined to |
| on earth, and explains why scientists are | | | | break away and find another molecule to bond to. |
| soconcerned about the ecological balance on earth | | | | This process causesa chemical reaction which |
| and the need for the survival ofrain forests and | | | | destroys odors and germs in the air and then |
| plants - they ensure our own survival as well by | | | | convertswhat is left of the molecules into |
| preservingoxygen in our atmosphere. | | | | harmless oxygen and CO2. |
| Nature cleans the air in other ways as well - | | | | There is some confusion between ozone air |
| ozone (positively chargedoxygen molecules) is | | | | cleaners and ionic air cleaners,but there are some |
| generated by waterfalls and thunderstorms. | | | | differences. With an ozone air purifier, the ozone |
| Ozone alsocleans impurities and particulates from | | | | that isreleased into the air will be unstable and |
| the air naturally. | | | | cause a reaction that will alter anddestroy certain |
| The Industrial Revolution and Air Quality | | | | germs, viruses, bacteria and molds. It does not, |
| The industrial revolution made great strides in | | | | however, have acollection plate where dirt or |
| everything but air quality. | | | | grime collects. |
| In fact, pollution such as emissions from | | | | Ionic Air Cleaners |
| automobiles, smog and pollution fromeveryday | | | | An ionic air cleaner also uses electrical charges to |
| chemicals like cleaning fluids, carpeting and paints | | | | alter oxygen atoms inthe air, like an ozone air |
| enter the airevery day. In industrial settings, air | | | | cleaner. But unlike an ozone cleaner, an ionic |
| purifiers clean the air before it isreleased into the | | | | aircleaner will rid the air your breathe of dust and |
| atmosphere in order to meet government | | | | pollen as well. |
| requirements. | | | | Ionic air cleaners negatively charge the air |
| Today's homes are also more energy efficient | | | | particles in a room, which willcause a magnetic |
| and cost effective, but to getthere they have | | | | attraction to occur. The positively charged |
| become much more "closed in." When they are | | | | particles in theair, such as dust, pollen and pet |
| this sealed up,indoor pollutants are shut in so that | | | | dander, will naturally be attracted to theseand |
| today's homes are actually two to fivetimes | | | | they will "cling" to each other, creating a sort of |
| more polluted than outdoor levels! Obviously, air | | | | magnetic bond. Particlesthat form into bonds like |
| purifiers are essentialto improving indoor air quality | | | | this become too heavy to remain suspended in |
| to combat the effects of this stale,recirculated air. | | | | the airand fall to the ground, where you will no |
| Beginning in the 1980's, medical practitioners began | | | | longer be able to breathe them intoyour system. |
| to take note of thedirect link between poor air | | | | Vacuuming and regular dusting can get rid of |
| indoor air quality and the increased incidence | | | | these particles. In today'sionic cleaners, there are |
| ofconditions such as asthma, allergies and | | | | also fans that move the room air over |
| recurring colds and upper respiratoryinfections. | | | | negativelycharged metal collection plates that the |
| The development of a variety of improved, | | | | positively charged particulates willstick to. These |
| scaled-down air filtrationsystems for in-home use | | | | can be regularly cleaned by simply wiping them |
| soon emerged. | | | | with a softcloth. |
| How the Main Types of Air Purifiers Work | | | | Electrostatic Precipitators |
| One of the most commonly used type of air | | | | The original electrostatic precipitators were huge |
| purifier is also one of the firstdeveloped, and is | | | | monsters used to controlpollution emissions from |
| used in most hospitals and clean rooms. This is | | | | industrial plants. The waste by-products of a |
| the HEPAfilter. | | | | plantwere sent through large chambers that were |
| HEPA Filters | | | | charged by electrodes that acted asenormous |
| During the Manhattan Project in the 1940's, the | | | | collection plates to attract the oppositely charged |
| Arthur D. Little firmdeveloped the first HEPA | | | | waste products |
| filters in order to filter out very small particlesthat | | | | (such as dust, lead, sulfur, fly ash and other |
| had become contaminated by nuclear radiation in | | | | hazardous chemicals) from thematerials passing |
| atomic bomb testing areas. | | | | through, filtering out all harmful materials. |
| It was during this initial development that the | | | | Periodically,the precipitators would be "tapped" so |
| HEPA standards were set at 0.3microns, which | | | | that these materials could be dumped fromthe |
| could effectively capture condensed radioactive | | | | chambers into disposal units. |
| iodine. | | | | Home electrostatic precipitators also work on the |
| The filters at that time were called "absolute | | | | theory of using a negativecharge and a positive |
| filters," and not called HEPA | | | | charge to collect and retain particulates, however, |
| (High Efficiency Particulate Air) until the filters | | | | thecharge takes place within the air purifier itself |
| were marketed in the 1950's. | | | | rather than in huge chambers,and the dust and |
| Today these filters are used by hospitals, surgical | | | | particulates are captured on metal filters that can |
| wards, biopharmaceuticalresearch labs, micro | | | | be removedand cleaned or replaced, getting rid of |
| circuitry labs, and the aerospace industry for | | | | the need for a separate collectionchamber for the |
| theirexceptional ability to control dust and | | | | particulates. |
| particulates. | | | | Electrostatic Filters |
| HEPAs remove 99.97% of particles of 0.3 | | | | With electrostatic filters, a small static charge is |
| microns or larger. For even moreintense filtration, | | | | created that attractsairborne particles as they go |
| there is an ULPA, or Ultra-HEPA filter, which filters | | | | through a filter, capturing even thoseparticulates |
| out | | | | which are too small too be captured by the |
| 99.99% of contaminants pass through the filter. | | | | relatively loose weaveof the filter itself. Because |
| Obviously, something has to draw the air through | | | | of the looser weave, the air flow in |
| the filter, and with HEPAfilters this is a motorized | | | | anelectrostatic filter is very good, but the filtration |
| fan. This can make them noisy, which makes | | | | is very effective becauseof the electrostatic |
| them anannoyance to some people. A HEPA filter | | | | charge. |
| will need to be replaced every 12-18months, | | | | These filters do have to be carefully maintained |
| depending upon how it is used and the interior | | | | and cleaned at leastmonthly, and should be |
| environment of your home. | | | | replaced every year for peak effectiveness. As |
| For instance, if you have pets, especially cats or | | | | thefilters do become dirtier, the air flow will |
| dogs that shed a lot, you mayneed to change it | | | | become less efficient. |
| more frequently because of the dander. If there | | | | Finally, there are systems that combine two or |
| are smokers inthe house you will also need to | | | | more types of air purificationsystem. While these |
| change your air filter more frequently to | | | | are usually more expensive, they can be worth |
| ensureproper filtration. | | | | the price ifyou are looking for the best possible |
| However, for overall performance, nothing filters | | | | combination of features. For instance, anair purifier |
| out or eliminates moreparticulates than a HEPA | | | | that will kill viruses and bacteria like an ozone air |
| filter, so it is a matter of balancing cost, | | | | purifier, butwill also effectively filter out dust and |
| soundpreference and convenience against your | | | | dander with a HEPA filter. |
| relative needs when choosing the rightmodel of air | | | | |