Information about Air Filters and Air Purifiers

There are so many air filtration and purification systems available it is hard to know which might be appropriate for you or your situation. Gathered on this page are several articles written by authorities in the field that might shed some light on the subject.

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ATRICLES

Home Air Filters: Knowing Which One to Choose

Air Purifiers: An Investigation of the Types and Their Benefits

Air Purifiers And Air Filters Can Help The Health Of Allergy And Asthma Sufferers

Ionic Air Purifier - Imitating the Natural Purifying Process

Air Duct Filters And Fighting Allergies

Home Air Filters: Knowing Which One to Choose
By Jonathan Chase

Since air filters are one of the bests tools for eradicating allergens from your home, more people are using them than ever before. The trick is to find the one that works best for you, depending upon your specific needs. Before going shopping, arm yourself with some facts, so that you’ll be more prepared to choose an air filter, rather than listening to various sales pitches from merchants who are interested in making a quick buck. Of the five major types of air filters, here’s a quick look at four of them – one type (the ozone air filter) is not environmentally friendly, and consumers are not encouraged to purchase filters of this type.

Mechanical Filters – One of the best types of mechanical filters is the HEPA filter, which forces air through a special screen that traps allergens such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander. If there are any smokers in the house, a HEPA filtered device will also trap smoke and other airborne irritants. Those devices which are unable to trap at least 90% of these particles are ineligible to qualify as a HEPA filtering device. When shopping for mechanical filters of this type, be sure that they truly meet HEPA filtering standards, and that you’re not purchasing a cheap imitation that will offer substandard performance.

Gas Phase Filters – This type of air filter is not used for the removal of allergens in the home, but rather for removing odors and other types of pollutants, such as gasses from perfume, cooking, paint or building materials. In a home that needs to eliminate allergies which are triggered by exposure to certain odors, this would be sufficient, rather than the HEPA filter, which is designed to remove absolute allergens that are not gas based.

Electronic Filters – Of the different types of electronic filters, the most effective at trapping allergens is the style which uses electrostatic precipitators with a fan. In the case of electronic filters, electric charges are used to attract and trap allergens and other contaminants. Strive to find one that includes collecting plates so that the particles are trapped within the unit. Otherwise, you’ll end up having to clean all of the surfaces within the home, because the allergens will stick to them. In the case of self-contained units that include plates, they’ll also need to be cleaned, but this is a much smaller task than cleaning all of the surfaces of the home’s interior.

Hybrid Filters – Simply put, these air filters offer a combination of those characteristics which are found in both electrostatic and mechanical filters. These may be preferred by those with allergens other than gas based contaminants, but offer trapping devices for containing allergens.

In addition to knowing the types of air filters, you’ll also need to consider things such as which types of contaminants will be removed from the air; the efficiency of the filter when compared to HEPA standards; whether the size of the air filter system will be large enough to continuously clean the allotted space at least every six minutes; the clean air delivery rate of the filter; whether the unit is silent or noisy; and how easy or difficult it may be to change the filter, when necessary.

When you approach the purchasing of an air filter system with this information in mind, you’ll be far more likely to come home with the one that can adequately clean your home’s interior with little or no fuss while eliminating the right types of contaminants that plague your family.

Jonathan Chase (a lifelone allergy sufferer) is the creator of http://www.home-air-filter-edu.com, which provides free information to individuals interested in air purification and reducing their allergy symptoms. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Air Purifiers: An Investigation of the Types and Their Benefits
By Mike Spencer

Considering the amount of irritants that are present in the air today, those who suffer from allergies and other breathing disorders are challenged to find effective ways to clean the air that they breathe within their home environment.

Not so many years ago, this simply meant making sure that the house was dusted regularly and that pets were bathed and brushed – outdoors – as often as possible, in order to cut down on the most common allergy inducing factors. Today, there’s far more at stake, when we consider the types of contaminants that are present in our environment as a result of pollution. Bigger challenges, then, require better tools for providing a solution – enter, the air purifier.

The cleaning of the air within your home can be accomplished in a variety of different ways. A simple, straightforward air cleaner is designed to reduce the dust build-up within the home, offering the benefits of cleaner air and less need to perform common household chores, such as dusting. These are electronic in nature and use a basic filtering system that’s designed to draw in, clean and re-circulate the air.

Air purifiers are a bit more complex, in that they are specifically designed to eliminate pollutants such as pollen and other airborne irritants, in addition to the dust that the air cleaner removes from the environment.

These purifiers are available in a number of sizes, including the portable version. In this case, the air is drawn to the bottom of the cleaner and is then pushed upward through an aluminum mesh filter. This is where the pollutants are trapped before the air is moved on to the next phase of the process.

An electronic cleaning cell (two-stage) is the next stop for the airflow, which ionizes dust particles that are invisible to the naked eye and cleans them from the air. From there, the air is diverted to an activated charcoal filter which deodorizes any odors that may remain before the air is re-circulated.

An electronic air purifier should be placed in an area where the highest amount of family traffic takes place, though it can be installed in any room of the home. Complete with a two-speed fan that can typically clean an area of up to 300 cubic feet when on the highest setting, this type of air purifier would be ideal for a room that measured 20’ x 30’.

As economical as it is useful, an electronic air purifier doesn’t require any special wiring, and uses less electricity than that of a 100-watt light bulb.

The electric air cleaner is utilized by placing it in the central duct system, and cleans the air through the process of electrostatic precipitation. Basically, this just means that when the furnace blows smoke and other contaminants into the air, they are forced into a filter, then a charging station that provides charges from tungsten wires.

From there, any remaining particles are forced into a collection area, where they’re trapped and washed away by the cleaning process. Charcoal filters are in position to eliminate any leftover odors from the air, which is then forced out into the home for re-circulation.

Depending upon the design of your home, your economic constraints and the level of allergies that your family members possess, there’s a system that will work for you. Once the air in your home is properly cleaned and purified, you’ll all be breathing much easier.

Copyright 2005 Mike Spencer

Considering the amount of irritants that are present in the air today, it’s hardly surprising that more people are suffering with breathing problems and allergies. But when it comes to finding an effective air purifier it’s literally a jungle out there. 1st For Air Purifiers reviews the different types of air filtration systems and explains the benefits of each. Arm yourself with the facts about air purification systems here: http://www.1st-for-air-purifiers.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Air Purifiers And Air Filters Can Help The Health Of Allergy And Asthma Sufferers
By S.A. Smith

Indoor air pollution in the form of dander, dust and pollen particulate matter can be a real irritant for suffers of asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. In addition to removal of all direct irritant sources and minimizing the irritant containment materials in your house, you should also consider the indoor ventilation and filtration system of home.

Environmental control is the key to reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens. Keeping a clean house free of dust, dander, smoke, pollen, and other airborne particulate matters will help to reduce the irritation and effect on family members with respiratory difficulties. Air cleaners, filters and hepa filters can play a role in helping to control or reduce the exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens.

Several health authorities have recognized that certain types of air filtration systems can be beneficial in reducing the amount of airborne particulates in a room. The American lung association recommends using a hepa air filter purifier for the bedrooms of asthma suffers. The Mayo clinic recommends an air particle filter for household ventilation systems. Ionic filters and hepa filters have been endorsed or recognized by the Asthma and allergy foundation of America (AAFA) and the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

Selecting the wrong type of filtration system could exacerbate the problem by agitating and circulating the existing particulate matter throughout your house, so it is important to do your research thoroughly. Ionic air filters do not create high airflow patterns to clean the air and simply rely on negative ion attraction to collect the airborne particulate matter. They have demonstrates to have decent capture rate of airborne allergens and irritants like pollen, dander, tobacco smoke and dust and can help improve the quality of your indoor air environment. You can read more the ionic air filtration process at http://www.air-purifiers-review.com/ionic-air-cleaner.htm.

Air filtration systems should not be considered as a solution for any respiratory condition, nor as a reason to ignore sound medical advice and guidance about the removal of irritant sources and allergen habitats from your household. They are also not a substitute for thorough and regular cleaning of your household environment. Selecting the right air purifier system can help complement and enhance your efforts to reducing airborne particulate matters, as well as maintain a healthier indoor breathing environment.

S.A. Smith is a freelance editor, writer, and contributor to the Air Purifiers Review resource site, and can be reached at http://www.air-purifiers-review.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Ionic Air Purifier - Imitating the Natural Purifying Process
by Matt West

The modern housing trend has enormously denied you the ecstasy of inhaling purely fresh air. You feel energetic and truly alive in a clean environment. If you ever had the chance of thriving near or around mountains, rivers lakes and trees, you would feel the air of these regions is less polluted. The locale is richly endowed with negative ions that act as purifying agents. To get the same purifying effect you can have ionic air purifiers in your well-insulated home. Ionic air purifiers belong to the group of air purifiers with a unique technology of using ions to trap the pollutants.

In natural surroundings, air is filled with thousands of negatively charged ions that attach themselves with the positively charged dust particles and create a type of natural ionic air purifier. When this technique is used in homes, the ionic air purifiers emit innumerable number of negatively charged ions that stick to the dust particles and form a heavy mass. This becomes too heavy to float in air and settles down on the ground. In this way, it wards away the dust particles from reaching your respiratory tract.

A study conducted by the American College of Allergies states that bad air causes about fifty percent of illnesses. By using ionic air purifiers, you can bring adequate check on such health hazards. The purifier gathers dust on metal plates that are quite easy to clean. It has added advantages like easy affordability and effectiveness. The purifier has a different working mechanism from the traditional air filtration techniques. It harps on the principle of electrostatic attraction and brings the unwanted contaminants to surface area to remove them. Its greatest advantage lies in its capacity to cleanse considerable volumes of air. Thus, you can create room size air-purification through it rather than only a small space.

Your ion air purifier is effective in neutralizing cigarette smoke, viruses, bacteria, chemical fumes, etc. unlike an ordinary electronic air cleaner. It has brought adequate relief for patients suffering from respiratory irritations, depressed immune system and emphysema. It is equally effective in removing the ultrafine particles of the size of 0.01 microns.

While you may think your ionic air purifier as the remedy for treating every indoor air pollution, things may not be exactly so. You cannot treat the problem of odor through your ionic air purifier. Further, it is active in removing dust particles from the air but does not have an effective collecting mechanism for these particles. You can counteract these few minor weaknesses of the purifier by combining its duties with another product used for purification. Ozone generators and HEPA air filters can serve the need quite well. Negative ions are one of nature’s tools that help to revitalize your soul. Thus, an air filter using negative ions not only cleanses the air but is good for your mental and physical health as well. You can rightly choose an ionic air purifier for your home and office when you plan to purchase it.

Matt West is the Web master of an Air Purifiers review website. At his site you can find free articles on Ionic, Oreck, Living Air Room Purifiers. Please visit our Ionic Air Purifier webpage to learn more.

Air Duct Filters And Fighting Allergies
by Duane Johnson

Allergies are an unpleasant fact of life for many today. The symtoms are all too common including, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, breathing difficulties, skin inflammations, and more. A true allergy sufferer knows how difficult it is to deal with these symptoms on a daily basis.

If your allergy is to airborne elements, you are really at the mercy of changing winds, weather, and seasons too when you are outdoors. There isn't much that can be done to control the outside environment, but there is plenty that you can do to try to control the allergens in the air when you are indoors.

There are several tools at the allergy sufferer's disposal to help, but some of the most effective are air purifiers that can help scrub the air of allergic compounds and remove the allergy causing contaminants.

Air duct filters are another valuable weapon in the arsenal for cleaning the air you breathe. Either used by themselves or in tandem with other air cleaners such as air purifiers, they can help rid the air of the following:

Dust, pollen, allergens

Pet dander, dust mites

Harmful bacteria, viruses

Pet odor removal: dog, cat, etc.

Mold / mildew removal

Cigar / cigarette smoke

Air duct filters are very easy to install and yet very effective in what they do. They are designed for use in any HVAC venitilating system to provide central air purification for your home, business or commercial building. They are perfect for small and large ventilating systems in homes or businesses, and industrial use in ventilating systems including; industrial odor removal, gaseous fume removal and biological decontamination.

As with other air purification products, air duct cleaners are usually specified to clean the air within a certain area or space. Their results are best achieved when used within the specifications set for each filter.

Air duct filters are another way that allergy sufferers can begin to take back their life and break free from from allergy symptoms.

About the Author

Duane Johnson - All About Home Air
Purifiers is a site that provides free information, tips, and resources for finding the best home air purifiers, commercial air purifiers, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers to help improve your health.