![]() A single micron is 1/1,000,000 in size, meaning that these filters can remove microscopic elements – everything from pet dander to microbes.Īnd the best part is, unlike air purifiers which make claims that are impossible to test, HEPA filters have specific standards that they need to meet so you can be sure that they actually work.Ī close-up of a HEPA filter. HEPA filters can remove particles as small as an incredibly tiny. They’re based on an old standard that ensures they can remove 99.97% of particulate matter from the air. This way their surface area is increased. Those thin fibers are woven into a dense mesh and pleated material. Instead, they use a filter made of densely packed thin fibers to remove particulate matter from the air as it moves through when drawn in by fans. These types of air purifiers don’t release any byproducts. The most reliable air purifiers are those that use High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. They’re proven to be effective and some major brands have documented effectiveness, based on the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) lab testing standards. If anything, they prevent sickness and make the air around you safer and healthier to breathe. In fact, they make your air less prone to causing sickness or allergies!Īir purifiers that are filter-based are safe and cannot cause sickness or headaches from their use. These types of products work by simply filtering air, and don’t add any unsafe by-products into the air you breathe. Which air purifiers are safe and effective?Īir purifiers that are safe and don’t cause the symptoms of sickness, headaches, or other irritants are those that use a filter and do not produce ozone. In that case, they’re generally safe and can’t make you sick or cause issues, but they’re simply not effective and are not worth the money in my experience. ![]() Some types of electronic air purifiers, like air ionizers, may release small amounts of ozone as a byproduct. This means that air purifiers that depend on releasing ozone, called ozone generators, should be avoided. While ozone can help remove odors from your home, it takes levels that are unsafe for humans to do so. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is very clear that ozone is a lung irritant and they don’t recommend introducing ozone-creating products into your home. Ozone molecules cause a number of symptoms like irritated and uncomfortable passageways, headaches, pain and coughing, and more. The side effects depend upon the amount of ozone you’re exposed to.īasically, ozone molecules are unstable and when breathed in they can affect your respiratory system. Ozone is inhaled when you’re in an enclosed room with products sold as “air purifiers” which are actually ozone generators. The big problem, however, is that at safe levels it’s very ineffective.Īt ozone levels where the generator does make a difference, they’re not supposed to be used when humans are nearby as it’s a health hazard. The idea is that the ozone molecules will bond with and trap unwanted elements in the air. It’s produced when electricity affects oxygen atoms in the air, which can recombine into molecules with 3 (instead of 2) atoms. Ozone is that odd, “fresh” scent you may have smelled outdoors after a lightning storm or from a model railroad set at Christmas time. The problem is that ozone isn’t safe at high levels, and these products aren’t as effective as a HEPA purifier. These then can sometimes bond with, and affect, airborne contaminants and odor-causing substances. The basic idea is that safe oxygen molecules are split (often using a high voltage electronic circuit) and free oxygen atoms re-combine into unstable ozone (O3) molecules. Ozone is a by-product of products sold as purifiers that affect oxygen molecules. What a mess! Which types of purifiers are good and bad, and why? The basics of ozone The ozone emitted by those types of air purifiers is the same as any other kind of ozone – and just as much of a problem.īad products can give good products a bad name due to the confusion and having consumers misunderstand how safe, effective purifiers really work. In those cases, they’re advertised as creating an effective air cleaning air molecules (ozone) that is safe and naturally occurring in nature, but this isn’t the case. Some products out there like ozone generators are sold as “air purifiers” when in fact they’re hardly effective and can cause problems. One thing you might hear about air purifiers is that they produce ozone or a by-product under different names (like “ions” and so forth). A lot of it is either misleading, factually incorrect, or just plain confusing. ![]() ![]() Why do people think air purifiers cause sickness?īecause they’re such a popular product, there’s a massive amount of information and different terms used out there.
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