Air purifiers can be pretty pricey. That is definitely apparent when you look at top brands such as IQAir which have a cost range of $500-$1000.00. Air purifiers also have additional costs of upkeep which come from the replacement filters. These replacement filters that need to be changed once or twice a year can cost another $200.00.

To save on the costs of owning an air purifier, some people are opting to purchase air cleaners that do not have filters. A filterless air purifier is also known as an electrostatic air purifier or sometimes called an ionic purifier.  These may be a bit pricy with the upfront cost but without having to purchase filters, it actually is a cheaper option in the long term ownership.

The reason why these purifiers are popular is because the consumer saves on not buying replacement filters because the electrostatic purifiers do not use traditional filters to purify, instead they use static electricity to attract charged particles to their electroplate. The particles them cling to the plate and are removed by the consumer when washed. Sometimes these plates can easily be washed by inserting in them into the family dishwasher.

It would seem that electric electrostatic purifiers would be the ideal solution to save costs but are they as effective as filter purifiers? Now these electrostatic purifiers actually have a slightly higher percentage of purifying your home of allergens and pollutants with a 99.8% which is slightly more than filterless air purifiers. This alone would seem like the major advantage over filter type models but there are some drawbacks to having electrostatic purifiers in your home.

The first concern of why these purifications may not be as effective is because you have to clean the electroplates more often in order to prevent clogging. Unfortunately, when you clean these plates you actually put yourself at risk of contact with the pollutants and allergen particles.

Another concern with electrostatic purifiers is that some models lose their effectiveness overtime due to the washing of the electroplates.

Some experts are concerned with the ozone and ions that are released in the air due to this type of system. The concern is that contact with humans and animals could have adverse side effects.

While a filterless air purifier may seem to perform better than filter types, they may not be the best solution for your home. Make sure to read up on any electrostatic models you are considering owning.