Home Air Purifiers: Are the UV & Germicidal Options Worth It?

Indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For allergy sufferers, asthmatics and people sensitive to dust, indoor air can cause respiratory problems. Air purifiers offer a way to reduce airborne particles and dust in the home but what type of air purifier is the best choice?

Air purifiers can be free-standing or designed to be attached to your furnace. There are several different types of air purifiers including Ionic, Ozone Generator, Carbon, HEPA and UV.

Ionic and Ozone Generator air purifiers have some significant drawbacks. Ionic purifiers charge particles and use static to draw airborn particles out of the air. They can be effective on allergens, bacteria and some odors. However, not all ionic purifiers capture the charged particles leaving these pollutants charged and attracted to interior finishes and furniture. Ionic air purifiers can also emit ozone causing many consumer advocates to advise against them.

Ozone generators claim to eradicate chemicals in the air. However, the EPA has warned that little proof exists that these can do so without producing unhealthy ozone levels. Ozone is itself a pollutant and can trigger respiratory illness. For this reason, ozone generating air purifiers should be avoided.

Carbon air purifiers can be used to effectively remove chemicals, smoke and odors but do little to reduce allergens and dust. Instead of investing in a carbon air purifier, it’s better to eliminate the source of these pollutants by eliminating indoor tobacco smoke and choosing low-VOC finishes and cleaners.

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) air purifiers capture dust and allergens then filter these pollutants through a screen. They can be used in rooms as stand alone units or attached to the furnace of forced-air systems. In homes that use forced-air, a HEPA filter attached to your HVAC system can be an effective way to cut down the amount of air borne dust and pollutants in your home. However, they are only engaged when air is being conditioned and moved through the furnace ducts.

Stand alone HEPA air purifiers are a good choice if air borne allergens are your main concern. They are fairly inexpensive and can be moved around throughout the home to capture dust, pollen and other allergens. While they can be effective at removing some bacteria they don’t remove germs or viruses from the air.

There are strict regulations for HEPA products. In order to be classified as HEPA, a product must remove 99.7% of 0.3 micrometres airborne pollutants. Some manufacturers label their products as “HEPA-type”, “HEPA-like” or “99% HEPA” but these do not adhere to true HEPA standards.

UV air purifiers are effective at removing germs and viruses. The short-wave ultraviolet light acts as a germicide that kills disease causing micro-organisms like bacteria, germs, viruses and mold. They can remove some allergens but don’t rely on filtering technologies so by itself, UV technology isn’t sufficient to clean the air of particulates.

Some UV air purifiers are hybrids that use HEPA and or carbon technologies to trap allergens. These air purifiers often have high CADR (clean air delivery rate) - the volume of clean air they produce per minute. The combination of technologies addresses most indoor air pollution concerns.

Costs and Considerations

Prices for basic HEPA air purifiers start under $100 for small, table-top models. For a unit designed to clean a 200 square foot space consumers can find models for around $200. Larger, multi-feature models can cost around $1,000.

UV systems and hybrid air purifiers (HEPA/Carbon or UV/HEPA) start a little higher in price between $400-600. If you’re considering a HEPA in this price range it’s worthwhile to give UV hybrid systems a look as they can help clear not only allergens but also disease causing micro-organisms.

If your budget is under $400, a HEPA air purifier is your best choice. The germicidal and mold killing features of more expensive UV units can be useful, but these pollutants can also be controlled by eliminating moisture and humidity problems in the home. Allergens such as pollen are difficult to keep out but molds and germs can be prevented.

When looking at various air purifiers, the CADR is an important consideration. This will help you determine the unit’s capacity, the volume of air it will clean and the appropriate size unit for the space you want to clean.

Pay particular attention to ozone emission. As mentioned before both Ionic and Ozone Generator air purifiers emit ozone making them a concern. It’s not always clear that a hybrid air purifier uses ionic technology. Some manufacturers refer to electrostatic precipitators (ESP) instead. However it is presented, this process does produce ozone even if only low amounts and inside the unit. Personally, the idea of an air purifier that could potentially produce a hazardous air pollutant is an oxymoron so I’m not a big fan.

HEPA and UV air purifiers are the simplest and offer a way to effectively combat indoor air pollutants without ozone or other unwanted side affects. Both of these types of air purifiers incur operational costs for switching out bulbs and cleaning or changing filters.

When you’re researching different models pay attention to filters. Consider how and how often they need to be cleaned or changed. Find out the cost of replacement filters these can be as much as $100 each and the cost and frequency of replacement will help you determine the cost-effectiveness of the model. Replacement UV bulbs and carbon filters can also run around $100.

Are the more costly UV air purifiers worthwhile? They can be if you are concerned with germs or mold. However, in order to get an effective unit that also removes allergens you are likely to spend several hundred dollars. HEPAs offer simple technology and are more affordable. When used in combination with other indoor air quality strategies that eliminate chemicals and moisture problems they can meet most needs.

*Note: The information in this article is general advice and not meant as a substitute for personal guidance from a financial advisor, real estate professional or legal counsel. Although the author is a licensed realtor, the advice given in this article does not constitute any client contract or agreement between the author and the user. The author is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your decisions.