What should you look for in an air purification system?

The air purifier has undergone decades-long history to purify and enhance indoor air quality. Various health issues that are caused due to airborne particulates have resulted in advancements in air filtration technologies. Indoor air pollution increases with the increase in outdoor air pollution. It is vital to take more care of the air we breathe. Air purification can be made with different technologies and is of different types. It cannot be said that all air purifiers or air cleaners safely clean the air. There are several things that are to be considered for the best buy air purifier.

What Should Be Looked In An Air Purifier?

Before we understand various air purifiers in the market, it is important to have a better understanding of what makes an air purifier good. 

HEPA Filters Are Industry Standard

What is a HEPA filter?

HEPA means High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters capture airborne particles. It is made up of interlaced glass fibers that are tightly weaved into a maze-like structure such that very fine particles of a size that are larger than 0.3 microns. HEPA filters are the standard and most effective method for air purification systems. The operating principle of HEPA filters is very simple. It filters the contaminants from the air when the air passes through the filter.

Air purifiers have been used for over a century. The first air purification system appeared in 1823,  John Deane and Charles Deane invented a charcoal-based mask to assist fighters at that time from the smoke and other toxins from the burning structure. This technology was successful and was patented as ‘Smoke Helmet’

During the air 1940, the scientists of the United States Atomic Commission came up with the High- Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA). This technology was meant to protect the soldiers from atomic radiation in world war II and also protect scientists from the radioactive elements that are emitted from the lab. But HEPA filters did not filter radioactive elements.

Researchers successfully determined HEPA filters can potentially filter out many harmful pollutants. The HEPA filter was a great success on the Manhattan project for eliminating very fine particles.

HEPA filter technology helps reduce indoor air pollution and protects against heart and lung diseases. The U.S Department Of Energy defined that the filters sold by name “HEPA” must filter very fine particles of size 0.3 micron and effectively remove 99.97% of contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other airborne particles.

Many manufacturers have developed even more efficient filtration systems that build upon HEPA and are referred to as HyperHEPA that removes 99.5% particles that are smaller than 0.003 microns.

1. Not All Air Purifiers Are Designed Equally

As HEPA is a standard filter all manufacturers need to develop their filters to that standard. Strict guidelines followed to live up to such standards might reduce the security in HEPA. To market the best air purifiers as HEPA, the manufacturer should include the HEPA filter to that required standard as defined by the U.S. Department Of Energy. 

The design of the air purifier with HEPA filter is not tested for total efficiency. If the design of air purifiers that houses HEPA filters has any leakage or is not airtight then it reduces the efficiency of the air filtration. That means the contaminated air passing through the air purifier might leak out around the tiny openings, holes, cracks, or space around the  HEPA itself. This reduces the total efficiency of the air purification system that does not achieve the efficiency of HEPA.

It is vital to look for best air purifiers that are designed effectively to minimize or eliminate leakage. Best air purifier for home design with filter frame to guarantee the full efficiency of HEPA filtration media.

2. Concerned More About Gases And Odors?

HEPA filters are well known for their standard for filtering very fine airborne particles. But this HEPA filter does not take away harmful gases, chemicals, or odors that are present in the indoor air. 

Particles of very fine size can also be filtered but the indoor air that comprises gases, odors, and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can even pass through the densest HEPA filters. In such cases activated carbon filters play an important role.

How Do These Activated Carbon Filters Work?

• Fine granules of carbon material are exposed to high concentrations of oxygen.
• Numerous pores on the carbon surface increase the carbon surface exposed to the air.
• Air passing through the carbon bed absorbs the harmful chemical, gases, and VOCs from the air (i.e, the chemicals, gases, or smoke in the air form chemical bonding to the extensive charcoal surface area, and hence it is absorbed).

Activated carbon also absorbs gases and chemical pollutants from vehicle emissions and the combustion process.

In case if you are more concerned about gases, harmful chemical evaporates and odors then you need the air purifier designed with maximum activated carbon.

Elements Of A Good Air Purifier

• High efficient HEPA filter media for fine particle filtration
• Perfect design of air purifier with no system leakage and provides 100% efficiency of the HEPA filters
• Activated carbon filters for the removal of gases, harmful chemicals, and odor from the indoor environment.

Now you have a clear understanding of what to look for in an air purifier. Now we discuss what should be avoided in an air purifier.

What Should Be Avoided In An Air purifier?

There are many technologies used to purify indoor air effectively. The best air purifier for home removes particles and other pollutants from the air. But some air purifiers that generate harmful ozone are not acceptable by the human body. Air purifiers are bought to enhance health conditions. It is vital to consider what should be avoided in an air purifier.

Air Ionizers

Ionizers are one of the technologies that are used to purify the air. These ionizers generate negatively charged ions (anions) that attract the positively charged airborne particles. This causes the airborne particles to heavier and fall on the surfaces like ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, windows, and doors.

Researches suggest that ionizers effectively stop the growth of infectious mold, bacteria, or other microorganisms from spreading in sterile environments like dental clinics and hospitals.

Ionizers have two critical downsides,

• Ionizers don't  remove pollutants in the indoor air

Particles that are attracted by the negative ions are not removed from the indoor environment. The particles become heavier and merely stick on the surfaces nearby. If these particles are not cleaned immediately from the surface they might loosen and pollute the air again. These pollutants will enter our respiratory tract and might cause serious health issues.

• Ionizers generate harmful ozone

Ionizers can produce ozone that exceeds the acceptable level and will cause serious health issues. Ozone even at low levels irritates the respiratory tract. Ozone at higher concentration triggers asthma and severe situations lead to fatal.

It is better to avoid air purifiers with ionizers. They don't remove particles from the air and also produce harmful ozone that affects health.

Ozone Generators

Ozone is not good for your health especially indoor ozone build-up is very terrible. Ozone interacts with airborne particles or other gases present in the air and oxidizes them. Ozone generators remove particulates in the air by means of the oxidation process. It will take time to clean the indoor air completely. Ozone reacts with other particles and can introduce harmful ultrafine particles into the air that may in large affect the health. Ozone air purifiers are not recommended and banned by the health professionals as ozone level increases above-recommended levels it might lead to fatal.

UV Light Purifiers

UV light purifiers are usually used to kill the microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. UV rays that are produced with the germicidal wavelength will damage the DNA of the harmful microorganisms and deactivate them. These UV air purifiers do not remove any particles from the air. UV light can burn your skin and damage your eyes. Most UV purifiers block the light from the air purifier to prevent such irritations.

Conclusion

It is vital to check that your best buy air purifiers are made of a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter with the perfect design that does not provide any leakage and gets maximum efficiency of the filter. It is also vital to check that your best air purifier for home does not produce ozone or any other side effects.AerMax 500 - air cleaner is the best buy air purifier that comprises true shield HEPA filter and activated carbon filter that effectively removes particulates in the indoor that are larger than 0.3 microns. With IoT-enabled technology AerMax 500 -air cleaner provides the best indoor air quality monitoring system.