Choose the Best Air Purifier

The basic concept of all these air purifiers is the same, to remove contaminants from the air and to make air as cleaner and ‘purer’. Keeping the air pure of all air contaminants is very important in the health-care industry such as hospital.

1. Filter Air Purifier
- Also known as air cleaner.
- Usually filter is installed between air return duct and the furnace. Commonly used filter materials are foam, cotton, fiberglass or synthetic fibers.

2. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Air Purifier
- HEPA air filters are filters that meet the standard of removing or trap particles that are 0.03 microns and larger.
- Thus, it does not remove chemical fumes, gases, cigarette smoke, odors, viruses, or germs. These operating shortfalls can be counteracted by combining the work of a HEPA air purifier with air purification product, such as an ionizer, or an ozone generator.

3. Ionizing Purifier
- Also known as Negative Ion Air Purifiers.
- These air purifiers use a method called corona discharge to create charged molecules called ions.
- This extra electron is inserted to the air by using high voltage needle. When this extra electron touches a new element(air particle), the charge from this electron will be transferred to the air particle. This particle will stick to the next available solid item when it touches. As the particles clump together, they get heavier and eventually they settle out of the air.
- The particles could easily become loose and circulate the air again.

3. Absorber/Carbon Air Purifier
- Used ‘activated carbon’ that acts as a filter for odor, toxin removal and as chemical sieve.
- Heat is used to produce Activated carbon by removing impurities in the carbon so there are places for impurities from your air to reside when it is used in an air purifier.
- This purifier used the similar concept used traditionally by the Chinese where charcoal is place at the shoes racks to absorb smell and humidity.

4. UV Light Air Purifier
- Used UV is to kill organisms such as bacteria and viruses. It achieves this by disturbing the DNA of the organism at a molecular level.
- These two wavelengths, 185 nm and 265 nm of UV light that are best absorbed and thus most effective at killing microorganisms.

5. Ozone Purifier
- It works by altering molecules of oxygen and turn them into ozone 0₃.
- It is good for removing odor and killing mold.
- Ozone is also know as toxic gas because it is not a stable molecule and will react/oxides to other chemical in the air and form new compound that can be hazardous.
- Beware that exposure to ozone can bring asthma symptoms and it may scar the human lungs.

1. Efficiency of the air purifier - Percentage of the air suspended particles/pollutants that it can be removed.
2. Noise level – the noise level must be a low as possible.
3. Maintenance – Easy to operate. Easy to get filter replacement. Low maintenance cost especially in filter changing.

Conclusion, look for air purifier that is effective, low maintenance and built to last.

Most of the homes and buildings are tightly sealed and do not have a proper ventilation. Poor indoor air quality can lead to a variety of health problem. Moreover, outdoor air is also contaminated with smoke and dust. Contaminants in the air are not only irritating but it can be dangerous. By knowing these facts, air in indoor and outdoor are no longer safe for us and this is why we need air purifier.