Air purifiers are devices used to remove contaminants from the air. They are especially beneficial for individuals who have allergies or asthma and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke in an environment. Commercial grade air purifiers can be found as either small stand-alone units or larger units that can be attached to an air handler unit (AHU) or to an HVAC unit found in medical, industrial and commercial industries.
Recent scientific findings are revealing that poor air quality can be a contributing factor to some forms of cancer, respiratory illnesses and pulmonary infections and illnesses. Air purifiers are capable of capturing and reducing the concentration of airborne contaminants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust mite feces and smoke particles that can act as allergens triggering allergic reactions in sensitive people. Additionally, with technological advancements, air purifiers are becoming increasingly capable of also capturing a greater number of bacterial, virus, and DNA damaging particulates. Air purifiers are also great at reducing the need for frequent room and area cleaning of dust.
When shopping for air purifiers, consumers should look for quality of construction, ease of use, economical filter replacement costs and performance rates. The best air purifiers on the market usually include reasonable filter replacement costs and service life, no ozone exposure, high volume clean air, easy assembly and excellent warranties. Also, before purchasing an air purifier, consumers should also be aware of the total air purifier cost, what they really have to pay for up front and how much it will end up costing them in the long run to maintain.
While air purifiers are beneficial to air quality improvement and health, other aspects of air cleaners such as hazardous gaseous by-products, noise level, frequency of filter replacement, electrical consumption and visual appeal are common concerns for consumers.
In terms of ozone production, most air ionizers produce low amounts. The same goes for noise levels. The noise levels for most purifiers are low compared to other home appliances. Filter replacement and electrical consumption are the major operation costs for any purifier. Filters come in many types and can be cleaned by water, by hand or by vacuum cleaner. Others need to be replaced every few months or years. Some purifiers are even certified as energy efficient.