Finding The Right Air Purifier

Looking for the best air purifier at a price you can afford? You'll want to start your search by considering options from leading makers of air filters and purifiers, including Oreck, Honeywell, General Electric, Holmes, Hunter and Bionaire. A good purifier doesn't have to break the bank, either - reliable models are available for under $100.

Why buy an air purifier, anyway? First and foremost, for your health! A good purifier can remove contaminants in the air that could otherwise lead to some serious health problems and medical bills. For asthmatics and allergy sufferers, air purifiers are one of the best ways to reduce exposure to materials that could bring on an allergy or asthma attack, such as pet dander, dust, plant pollen, spores from mold, and other indoor allergens. The alternative is extensive and frequent housecleaning, which can be an exhausting and difficult regimen to maintain.

Air purifiers also remove second-hand smoke from the air, creating a safer atmosphere for non-smokers who share a household with smokers. This is especially important for children of parents who smoke, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke.

A key measurement to look for when shopping for an air purifier is its CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rating, which specifies how effective it is in filtering the air of impurities. The higher a purifiers CADR number, the better it is at cleaning the air.

Air purifiers use a number of innovative technologies to filter undesirable contaminants from indoor air. HEPA purifiers use an extremely fine filter to remove particles as small as .01 microns across. Ionizing purifiers use electrically charged mechanisms to generate ions, charged particles which bond with impurities, causing them to be attracted to a collection plate with the opposite charge - just like a magnet attracts metal objects. UV purifiers use intense ultraviolet light to kill pathogens in the air such as bacteria, mold, and viruses, rather than filtering them out. Ozone purifiers emit ozone gas, an oxidizing chemical that destroys impurities via a quick chemical reaction. Before choosing an ozone purifier, however, you should be aware that ozone in significant concentrations can also post a health hazard. Most other types of purifiers on the market use variations on these mechanisms to either filter, attract, or destroy contaminants in the air.

Once you've done your research and decided on an air purifier model, you should have no trouble finding a great deal at shopping sites like Amazon and eBay. With plenty of experienced and efficient online merchants to choose from, your new air purifier is just a few clicks away!