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Below you will find our review of the Alen air purifier Model A350 . First off, this unit has already received high ratings from several organizations, including “Best Value” from Consumer Search. But, a cheap air purifier this is not. Adding to its reputation, the Alen A350 has also been rated 4 Stars by both Allergy Buyer’s Club and Amazon customers.

As you will discover further on, there are numerous benefits of owning an Alen air purifier.

Alen Air Purifier

Display  and Settings

The Alen A350 offers a digital display with simple, intuitive touch-button controls for your convenience. The unit has 4 speed settings (1=Low; 4=High) and uses a remote control, featuring a 12-hour, programmable, auto-off timer.

If you’re looking for a negative about this unit, the axiom “nothing is perfect” is as true for the Alen A350 as it is for everything else in life. The biggest “minus” is that setting the unit to High (4) results in some fan noise.

Although its noisy operation can be loud enough to keep someone from falling asleep at night, there is a work around solution if it seems too loud for you. Simply set the unit on High an hour or two before bedtime, then place it on a lower setting at bedtime.

Coverage

In contrast to a whole-home air purifier, the Alen A350 is a room air purifier. As such, its coverage extends up to about 800  sq. ft.; however, the unit’s optimal performance range is up to about half that, or 400 sq. ft. Depending on what fan speed you select (from 1-4), it achieves 4-6 air changes per hour.

(A note for allergy sufferers: ideally, you will want one unit for every 400 sq. ft. and should seek to achieve at least 6 air changes per hour; 4 changes per hour should be the minimum though.)

Efficient

For those who want an ozone safe air purifier with HEPA filtration, this unit features a manufacturer’s HEPA filter efficiency rating of up to 98%, meaning it is able to filter particles down to as small as .3 microns in size. As such an efficient unit, the Alen A350 will be effective against pollen, plant spores, pet dander and dust that may all be fluttering around inside your home and having a negative effect on your breathing.

This affordable HEPA filter efficiency unit also includes an LED filter change indicator light that lights up when it needs to be replaced (with continuous daily use, replacement intervals are about every 6 months).

Compact Design

With dimensions of 17.5″H x 18.5″W x 8″D, and weighing only 16 lbs., the Alen air purifier is perfect for single room applications, like a bedroom or an office. In fact, its space saving design is so compact, it can even be mounted on a wall, if desired.

Low Cost

There is a reason why the Alen A350 is the company’s best-selling air purifier – it is a great value for the money!

Among its numerous benefits, the unit offers very low operating costs with a three-in-one filter design: the Pre-filter/HEPA filter/carbon filter are all intertwined into a single piece. The advantages of this type of construction are that it is easy to maintain. The unit also uses low-cost replacement filters (about $60), so owning one of these units doesn’t drain your wallet.

Another cost-saving benefit is that the Alen air purifier is Energy Star rated and uses no more than 100 watts, so it is a very cheap air purifier to run day-in and day-out. (Actually, the manufacturer rates it at 100 watts; however, outside tests reveal the power consumption is even less, between 16-84 watts!)

Manufacturer and Warranty

The manufacturer, Alen Corporation, has a very good reputation in responding to its customers, probably because problems with the unit are so rare. Even so, the company offers a lifetime limited warranty on its air purifier, so if you ever experience a problem with your unit, simply call and ask for a replacement.

Summary

If you’re searching for a room air purifier, it’s hard to go wrong with the Alen A350 air purifier. It offers an excellent value compared to its cost and, while it is relatively inexpensive, it is not a cheap air purifier in the derogatory sense. In fact, if you search for yourself, you will discover that it will be hard to find a room-sized air purifier that combines the performance, quality, design and affordability of the Alen A350.

Finally, although we are an affiliate who gets paid from directing you to Amazon and others should you make a purchase, after reading the foregoing information, the wisdom of this decision is yours. Given the popularity and high ratings of the Alen A350 air purifier, however, you may find that buying one will help you breathe fresher, cleaner air regardless of where you buy!

Room air purifiers – clean the indoor air in your home or office & breathe easy.

Room air purifiers come in many makes and models so it is very important to compare air them before you make a purchase. With so many pollutants that fill the air, you should definitely shop around for room air cleaners in order to get one with a high rating to effectively clean all the harmful airborne dust particles in your home. When you consider all the great things that cleaning the room air can do, it won’t be long before you are purifying your own room.

In fact, it isn’t just the room that sometimes needs to have air air cleaners. Commercial office settings and shopping areas, where people often keep a purifier, are also popular locations. The air Hunter, especially, can clean the air in your home and/or work place. Regardless of the small size of the location, the best air purifiers for comparison are designed with a specific generator to meet the square footage requirements that you demand. They are perfect for large industrial spaces and small spaces that might benefit from a clean room of air.

If you suffer from allergies, it is important to purify the air as it can benefit you by removing the allergens and airborne contaminants that cause all types of asthma symptoms. When these airborne contaminants enter the purifiers, they are often destroyed by an ultraviolet light. The light creates a photochemical process that kills bacteria, viruses, mold, organic contaminants and other unhealthy gases. Air purifiers often utilize what are known as anti-microbial filters that house a form of carbon that will absorb chemicals, gases and literally clean the ozone! They are built to adhere to stringent levels of safety that insures the purity of the air you breathe.

For people who suffer from lung and/or respiratory problems and a lower immune system, it is best to visit airpurifiertips4u.com. They offer a good comparison of discount purifying machines. Compare air cleaners and discover how many models will effectively clean areas that are 1800 square feet or larger!

Some brands you might want to review include, Honeywell, Austin Air, True, Hunter, Holmes Products, Friedrich, Oreck, Biozone, Austin, AllerAir, Hamilton Beach and Sharper Image.

The best purifiers for comparison can be found online. In todays environment, where pollution and chemicals have become a common fact of life, making a thorough review to find the best model is a must. Think more seriously about getting a new air cleaner and you won’t be sorry you did.

Room air purifiers: rid your home of dangerous dust particles, eliminate odors and breath fresh air again

When you want to rid your home of that musky smell, room air purifiers just might become your new best friend! These awesome machines help to eliminate many of the common indoor air pollutants.

Room air cleaners can be found in many sizes, models and prices. Before you make a decision, you will want to do a little research to make sure you are getting exactly what are the best room air purifiers.

Many people mistakenly believe that because they are indoor, that there isn’t any of the air pollution that they would find outside. The truth of the matter is that even when you are indoor, you are surrounded by air contaminates. Indoor air pollutants that can be found inside include: dust, pet dander, smoke, allergens and odors. The best way to manage these pollutants is to enlist the help of a room air purifying and cleaning system, for your home or office.

A few things you should know:

• Hepa air purifiers – Hepa filtration systems are recommended for people who suffer from severe allerges and asthma symptoms
• Ionic air cleaners – Ionic air filters don’t require the use of a filter, to purify the indoor air in your home or office. These are not effective for room air cleaning, I suggest staying away from them even with the lower price.
• You should find out the square footage of the area or room your are trying to purify. An air purification system should be verified for a room size by the AHAM Clean Delivery Rate (CADR).
• look for a product with the AHAM seal. If the purifier doesn’t have that seal of approval then it does not follow the strict verification guidelines imposed by the AHAM.

Room air cleaning machines are made by many companies, including: Oreck, Honeywell, Hoover, Clear Flite and Air Oasis. The air cleaners designed to be used in a room posses a filter that works to attract and trap pollutants. The pollutants are then sent to a type of foam that capture the pollutants. Once the contaminates are trapped, they will not be circulated back through the air.

The features associated with a room air cleaner can include: quiet motor, active technology, HEPA filter, low electricity usage and they can be programmable. It is said that the very best of these air cleaners will be plate less and grill less.

The Sharp Air Purifier Review kicks off the first of our unique Air Purifier Review – 5-Key Factors Model.

We chose to start with Sharp Corporation partly because it is a company that is nearly a century old. In business, age and track record counts a lot.

Our introductory Sharp Air Purifier Review at Ezine.com sets out the history of Sharp as a multinational corporation and the chronological development of their unique ionic air purification technology.

Founded in 1912, Sharp has had a long track record of innovations that resulted from a culture of cutting edge technological research and development. This tradition resulted in the invention of the renowned plasmacluster ion technology in 2000. Recognising the potential of this technology in a world that is more and more concerned about health and environmental issues, Sharp has expended extensive time, effort and money to bring this technology into everyday appliances at home, at work, in the factory, on the road, rails and even in airplanes.

But what impressed more than pedigree was that Sharp, amongst its competitors, seems to take pains in being transparent with information. Not perfect but enough to stand out. Whilst we are disappointed in not being able to get Sharp to respond to our survey questionnaire based on our unique Air Purifier Review – 5-Key Factors Model, we are still impressed with the abundant amount of information that they have made publicly available.

Sharp Air Purifier Review – Unusual Insight of Marketing Strategy

What can be more transparent than revealing the marketing strategy for Plasmacluster Ion Technology? Amazing! On 16 January 2009, Sharp explained its phased marketing approach as follows:

(a) Phase I

Focus on research and development resulting in the rollout of Plasmacluster Ion technology in air purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, cyclonic vacuum cleaners, washers/dryers and LED lightings.

(b) Phase II

Working with 13 academic research organizations around the world, Sharp aimed to boost confidence in this technology by demonstrating its efficacy against a total of 27 pathogens and harmful substances, including airborne viruses, allergens, mold and adsorbed odors.

(c) Phase III

Sharp is now moving towards demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology in actual living spaces.

As of 16 January 2009, Sharp is working with 24 different companies with a view to incorporate Plasmacluster Ion technology. These include whole house air conditioning system, commercial air conditioning and heating duct systems for hotels and hospitals, smoke control systems, car air conditioners, railcars, elevators, toilets, electric bathroom heater/ventilator/dryer, gas fan heater, mist sauna, air sanitizer, etc.

What will follow in our Sharp Air Purifier Review includes an overview of their patent-pending Plasmacluster Ion technology, a chronicle of the “academic marketing” that Sharp has developed almost to an art and their plans to take this to the next level.

It will come as no surprise if it is Sharp’s undeclared aim to dominate the ionic air purifier industry. With their cutting age technology that is continually being improved and their flair in academic marketing, it will be no surprise that they will succeed.

It is also our belief that somewhere, someone is already working on producing the first scientific peer review in the air purifier industry. It will not surprise us that the most logical candidate will be Plasmacluster Ion technology.

If and when the debutante scientific peer review is announced, it will have 2 stunning impacts. First, Sharp’s already skyrocketing Plasmacluster Ion product sales will get a huge boost and the fleet-footed will pounce on Sharp shares! Second, the scientist’s name will be plastered on each and every piece of the millions of Sharp’s marketing literature!

To recap, our full Sharp Air Purifier Review of several articles will cover the following aspects:

(1) Safety – in relation to the reactive agent (2) Safety – in relation to unintended by-products (3) Efficacy – the reactive agents work in the lab (4) Efficiency – the reactive agents work in the real world (5) Scientific Peer Review.

When you wish to buy a smoke air-purifier, ensure that it has: a filter designed to remove smoke; multilevel filtration to remove not only smoke, odor, and gases, but also fine particulate contaminants; a motor with permanent split capacitor rated for continuous high revolutions per minute (RPM); at least a 3-year warranty; a HEPA filter. Some recommended smoke air-purifiers are given below.

White Kaz Honeywell HepaClean Air Purifier Model: HHT-011

This model offers a three-stage filtration process to clear air of up to 99% of microscopic particles such as mold spores, pollen, pet dander, smoke and dust. The filtered air then enters an ionizer, which provides additional cleaning and air-freshening. This model is great for small rooms and is ideal for a bedroom, nursery, office, kitchen, or your smoking den; 3-year warranty.

Blueair 403 HepaSilent Air Purifier This is an Energy Star 3 air-purifier featuring HEPASilent technology, five times air change/hour for 365 sq. ft., a 240 CADR rating, and a 10-year warranty.

Whirlpool Air Purifier Whispure 510

This brand is specially designed for large rooms, bedrooms and offices. It features a true HEPA air purifier that can filter dust, pollen, dander, mold spores, allergens, smoke, and fabric fibers in your air.

The Surround Air XJ-3800 Air Purifier is a state-of-the-art air cleaner that provides optimal air filtering and purification

Its sleek and futuristic design sets it apart from the competition, but appearance is not the air purifier’s only strong point; below are the purifier’s features and the benefits you will get from them.

Features of the Surround Air XJ-3800

• Easy to use
• Seven air- filtering systems
• Air quality sensors
• Quiet system settings
• 30-day risk-free warranty

• Multi-filtering system. While the competition uses a respectable two or three-way filter system, this air purifier uses seven. Specifically these are: an electrostatic dust collector, a UV lamp capable of killing germs, a HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter that absorbs chemicals and odors, and a photocatalytic filter.
• Efficient. This air purifier is guaranteed to remove 99.97% of contaminants from the air within a space of up to 600 square feet- making it extremely useful for a wide variety of locations.
• Promotes healthy living. People with allergies and respiratory illnesses will experience less discomfort with the use of the Surround Air XJ-3800 Intelli-Pro Air Purifier. Wit it you are promised nothing but clean and pure air to breathe.
• Intelligent monitoring and reporting. The device has a cutting-edge monitoring system that gives you easy-to-read and instant data about its performance. There are also a set of lights that will tell you how clean or contaminated the air is. You will also be able to identify which contaminant is present in the air, whether they be dust, odor, or allergens thanks to sensors specifically calibrated to detect these.
• Reminds you when it’s time to clean. The air purifier’s Intelli-Pro Filter Indicators will alert you when it is time to clean or replace filters to ensure continued optimal function.
• Noiseless operation. You can set up the air purifier to run at Quiet setting, in fact this is the setting you’ll be using most of the time. For the infrequent times you do need to set the device to its highest settings, it will only emit a bit of sound.
• 30-day risk free guarantee. You can try using this air purifier for thirty days. If you are not satisfied with its performance you will be able to return it an get your money back.
• Warranty. This air purifier is covered with a warranty that allows you to have it repaired or replaced free of charge for the first three years.

Pros Of The Surround Air Purifier

• Accurate air quality sensors
• 30-day warranty
• Multiple filtering power system
• Low-cost maintenance
• Completely safe ionizer

Click Here To Buy The Surround Air XJ-3800

Cons Of The Surround Air Air Purifier

The air purifier’s UV light indicator is always on and with no easy means to turn off. This may become an annoyance to people who like to sleep in total darkness. What you can do to avoid this is to plan where to put the device. If you do not like lights on when you go to sleep, you can just position the purifier in such a way that you won’t see the indicator light.

Our Verdict On The Surround Air XJ-3800

The Surround Air Air Purifier is fantastic machine that’s chock-full of features at a very reasonable cost. You will not regret buying it.

Why HEPA Air Purifiers Are The Solution To Bad Air

HEPA filters came about during World War II when the Atomic Energy Commission developed them to stop radioactive energy. That has to be a powerful filter, and you can use this same technology in your home to stop the most harmful particles in your air from destroying the quality of your life. Today, HEPA filters are everywhere, and used on many new models of appliances that require filters. Of the appliances that use them, HEPA air purifiers and vacuum cleaners make the best use of this important filter technology.

Why HEPA is Healthier

What’s the big deal, a filter is a filter—right? Wrong. While HEPA gets a lot of hype as an allergy prevention filter, it has many benefits beyond preventing allergy attacks. A HEPA filter will catch the smallest particles that bigger filters will miss. These include some of the most harmful particles in the air around you including bacteria and mold spores.

Additional Support from HEPA Filters

You’ll notice, as you search for air purifiers, or other appliances that use HEPA technology, they are not single filter machines. The HEPA is not meant to work alone. It is such a tight filter, that it would clog too easily if the larger debris in the air were filtered through it. When searching for an air purifier you need to make sure that there is at least one, but usually two additional filters that trap larger particles before the air goes through the HEPA filter.

Easy Care

HEPA style filters are easy to care for. Because they are the last line of defense, and are not responsible for catching the big, heavy particles they don’t get dirty fast and usually last two or more years between changes. However, it is important to note that you want to make sure the HEPA system in the unit is coated with an anti-bacterial agent so that it kills the harmful elements that get caught in it. That way you get rid of the health risks instead of trapping them in the air filter to live.

Sneeze Relief

Of course, the reason these filters are so commonly associated with allergy relief is that they are a powerful resource for anyone who suffers from allergies or asthma related problems. The other filters in your air purifier will usually trap hair and even dander, but a lot of junk can escape the bigger filters. Nothing gets through the HEPA, so even if dander or hair does manage to work free of the initial filters, it will get trapped by the HEPA and your air will be clean.

VOC Control

VOCs are the tiniest particles in your air, but they are also the most destructive. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, and your home has them no matter how hard you work to keep it clean. VOCs are caused by gas emissions, chemicals and even common items like markers and printer ink.

Bacteria are also considered VOCs, and you don’t even have to be “sick” to bring in these nasty particles. They can travel into your home on your clothes and shoes and live in the air for months waiting to strike and make your family sick.

IEST (Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology) sets up the filtration standards for the filtration industry. The best HEPA filter units trap over 99.97% of all particles including VOCs. It is important to pay attention when you buy an air purifier with a HEPA filter that it uses the highest quality filter. Any filter that traps at least 85% of the particles in the air is designated as a HEPA filter, and there are 5 levels of HEPA designations (H10, H11, H12, H13 and H14).

You need to find a purifier that is and H12 or better with H14 being the best you can get. An H12 will trap 99.5% of all particles in the air. An H14 will stop 99.97%, but you will pay more for the highest levels of HEPA filtration, and the replacements will cost more as well.

Whether you buy an H12 air purifier or an H14, they will improve the health of your home, and also help control harmful or just obnoxious odors that are common in homes, so you’ll not only feel better you’ll enjoy your home more.

What is UVGI Air Purifier?

Air purifiers are required to clean indoor air.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said that indoor air has much higher levels of pollutants and irritants as outdoor air—two to five times higher. The agency has also listed indoor air as one of the five largest environmental risks to public health. Clearly, an indoor air purification system is necessary. But with all the options available, how do people choose an air purification system that is right for them? Why not go with the type of system that is used in hospitals and other medical facilities? Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) air purification, when used correctly, results in a whopping 99.9% reduction of microorganisms in the air.

What is Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation?

Put simply, the UVGI air purifier uses ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms. It has been known for years that ultraviolet radiation kills many types of microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi, mold, viruses and other bothersome microorganisms have less UV protection than humans do. Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation, and at short wavelengths, UV radiation destroys bacteria and other pathogens. UV radiation kills microorganisms by destroying their DNA: the radiation breaks the molecular bonds in their DNA, and it also destroys nucleic acids, the “building blocks” of DNA.

Who uses UVGI?

UVGI air purification has been used for years in medical facilities. That fact speaks volumes about how effective this technique is for getting rid of air-borne pathogens. The United States government has also adopted UVGI air purifiers for all government buildings. In addition, Center for Disease Control has supported the use of UVGI air purifiers, and the Air Institute of Respiratory Education advocates the use of UVGI as well. Clean-air advocates say that UVGI should be used everywhere—schools, office buildings and public buildings are major sources of respiratory disease, and the system will benefit private residences as well.

Sick Building Syndrome.

Airborne pathogens are thought to cause a condition known as “Sick Building Syndrome.” According to the EPA, this is when the occupants of a building have health problems that seem to be related somehow to the building, “but no specific disease or cause can be identified.” People who suffer from “Sick Building Syndrome” report relief when they leave the building. Again, many people say that UVGI should be used in ALL buildings. The UVGI air purifier in places of employment will increase the general health and well-being of employees, and it will also decrease absenteeism.

Need to use UVGI correctly.

As the Environmental Protection Agency states, effective killing of airborne microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi requires a much higher UV exposure than is present in the typical residential unit. The solution, according to Calu Tech, is to buy a system with 24,000 or more micro-watts. Also, since stand-alone room purification units only clean the air they “catch,” it might be a good idea to use a unit that is placed in a ventilation duct, thus purifying the air of the entire house.

In order to realize the most reduction in indoor-air contaminates, the Food and Drug Administration and others say that the technique is not a replacement for a regular air-filtration system; UVGI needs to be used in conjunction with an air-filtration system. This is because UVGI air purifier only removes microorganisms from the air, leaving things like pet dander, pollen and chemicals. Also, UVGI air purifier by itself leaves dead mold spores in the air, which can still cause allergic reactions.

With indoor air quality being so terrible just about everywhere, homeowners should take control of the air inside their house. A UVGI air purifier may prevent illness by killing airborne pathogens. Significantly, UVGI systems are used by medical facilities, and now by the U.S. government. They would be a great addition to residences as well. EPA-approved and proven to kill 99.9% of airborne pathogens when used correctly, a UVGI air purification system would be a great investment. Home owners should make sure, however, that they buy a system with sufficient UV exposure. Used in conjunction with a more traditional air filter, UVGI air purifier promises to make the air inside a home as clean and as irritant-free as possible.

An ultraviolet air purifier can rid the air of germs as well as other allergens.

The UV air purifiers have always been popular in the market for their power to sterilize the surrounding air. They are generally installed into air-conditioning systems of homes but are also available as portable units that will purify the air in a decent-sized room. These are usually a lot more economical and work wonders for any allergy sufferers in your family.

How Ultraviolet Air Purifier Technology Works

We know that exposure to sunlight has many benefits but in addition, certain UV wavelengths have the power to destroy micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses – mold spores included. An ultraviolet air purifier utilizes the shortest UV wavelength of concentrated light to breakdown the contaminants and kill germs. This form of UV light can be harmful if exposed to us and can damage both our skin and eyes severely.

For the larger whole house UV air purifiers, the light lamp that produces that ultraviolet lamps need to be replaced around once a year to keep it efficient at killing any contaminants. This UV lamp is normally installed near the main air filter of the air-condition or central heating system in order for it to be potent. The potency is also reduced if a lot of dust or dirt settles on the ultraviolet lamp, therefor regular professional maintenance will be necessary.

UV air cleaners these days do not only utilize the power of ultraviolet light to clean the air, as this may not be sufficient. Most air cleaners these days will make use of other air purification technologies such as an efficient HEPA air filter. The HEPA filter is capable of filtering out the tiniest of allergens and prevent contaminants such as pollen, smoke and dust from ever reaching your nose – something an ultraviolet air purifier just will not do.

Many non-UV air purifiers in the market work well initially but after a while, mold as well as other organisms and contaminants may build up on the air filter and may actually thrive there. This is exactly why having ultraviolet bulbs to sterilize the filter is so important. Many people who have utilized UV air cleaners whether portable, or installed into their homes, have noticed a significant reduction of allergy symptoms. Thus, when you combine both the HEPA and a UV lamp, what you get is an extremely potent air cleaner unit.

There are many very good UV air cleaners available these days and they all do a relatively good job at purifying your air. So ultimately, your options come down to brand popularity, price as well as reliability. The following are a couple of the UV air purifiers that have received the best feedback.

Popular Makes Of Ultraviolet Air Purifiers

HFD-135 Honeywell Air Purifier

Honeywell air purifiers are amongst the most raved about brands when it comes to home air cleaners and also present the most value for money. They are also the most recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers by medical professionals because of their easy to replace, high-tech air filters. Honeywell air cleaners are quickly gaining in popularity because they really do work well when it comes to purifying air. The HFD-135 is no exception. This UV antibacterial air purifier comes with 2 ultraviolet bulbs to more efficiently remove allergens. The HD135 is a little portable unit that works quietly but powerfully, with 3 speed settings so you can adjust your preferred level of air circulation in your room.

It comes in an all black, barrel-style casing and although it’s on the large side, its odd form presents no problems in fitting it into corner of any room. It’s very easy to regularly maintain this ultraviolet air purifier all on your own by removing the filters and giving it a good rinse. This unit has no issues and many who use it tend to leave it running all day without problems. The Honeywell HFD-135 air purifier comes complete with a 5 year warranty to boot. Highly recommended!

Surround Air XJ-3800 Intelli-Pro Air Cleaner

The Intelli-Pro is another popular model for homes. It boasts a super quiet air purification unit with UV as well as HEPA filter technology. The other beneficial features the XJ-3800 has to offer is that it is very efficient with energy and have a power-saving feature to lower your electricity bills, should you choose to leave this unit running 24/7.

The Intelli-Pro also comes with ionizer filters to help trap dust particles better, as well as carbon filters to not only detoxify the air but also to remove any unwanted odors such as tobacco, cooking and pet smells. The ionizer within the Intelli-Pro is rated as a 100% safe and does not produce ozone as some other brands of air cleaners do.

The Pros? The Surround Air XJ-3800 air purifier unit is the most efficient when it comes to running and maintenance cost, as it comes with a pre-filter that is easily removable and cleanable. The manufacturer also supplies very inexpensive filters and UV bulbs should you need to replace them.

Viruses are the smallest microbes; only bacteria, protozoa and fungi are larger in size. Some of the harmful viruses are the Swine influenza (flu) virus, the SARS flu (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus, Asian Flu and Hong Kong Flu viruses.

Air Oasis G3 Air-Purifiers (Patent Pending) Whereas HEPA filters can only remove small particulates, and carbon filters can only remove chemicals, VOC and odors, Air Oasis G3 UV technology is highly tested and proven to remove most viruses, bacteria, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), mold spores, VOCs, chemicals, gases, odors, pet dander, pollen and particles of 0.001 micron size. There are many models of Air Oasis, but the Air Oasis G3 Portable is specially designed for small rooms such a nursery/bedroom/study.

Airfree Air Sterilizesr Airfree P1000, Platinum P2000 and Onix 3000 heat sterilizers are claimed to be the safest and most tested air purifiers. They work only on heat. Inside their patented ceramic core, 99.99% of microorganisms (molds, yeasts, bacteria and viruses) are destroyed at around 400F without increasing the room temperature noticeably. This technology provides silent, effective operation, is maintenance-free, and energy efficient (uses below 52 watts); available in three models./p>

Whole House Air Purifiers are generally for direct installation into your home HVAC system, cleaning the air through its ducts. Whole House Air Purifiers can also be standalone units, placed at a centralized location, and clean your entire home.

Many whole-house filters list their MERV value, and the top performers rate MERV higher than 10. Whole-house air-purification is an expensive proposition if you do not have forced-air heating. You have to install it with professional help into the ducts of your forced-air heating system and most need to be wired into your home’s electrical system.

Whole-house (built-in) air-cleaners remove dust and smoke particles from the air efficiently, using a highly-efficient filter. An electronic precipitator produces some ozone which might dirty the walls with deposited pollutant particulates.

Whole-house air filters are economical alternatives to whole-house built-in air-cleaners. You just remove the old filter and attach the alternative whole-house air-filter to the forced-air heating or cooling system. However, these are less efficient than built-in air-cleaners.

Some of the popular and top-rated whole-house air-purifiers are from: Airpura, Blueair, IQAir, Austin Air, NQ, Trion and Air-O-Swiss; a few are given below.

*Note: The terms Air-filter and Air-cleaner are generally used interchangeably. However, air-filtration is generally used to refer to the forced air-heating/cooling system at home.

IQair’s Perfect 16
IQair’s perfect 16 is rated 16 MERV, the highest rating for an air-filtration system. It can be used with any existing forced air system, and is guaranteed to be around hundred times more efficient than a standard furnace filter, at removing allergens, smoke, dust, and microbes. IQAir gives a “10 X clean air-cleaning guarantee”, and go further by having an authorized installer test your home air before as well as after installation to prove their point. Further, you don’t need to change the filters of this model for up to 3 full years (unlike conventional filters that have to be changed several times a year). The Perfect 16 purifier is integrated into your existing HVAC system. IQAir’s micro fiber technology replaces your existing HVAC filter with 10 times more efficiency.

Aprilaire Premium Whole House Electronic Air Cleaner
This model has been Aprilaire’s top product for 3 years. This model features excellent filtration with at least 94% efficiency at removing 0.35 micron size disease-causing bacteria, traps viruses with 80% efficiency, and is over 99% efficient at trapping pollen. It filters up to 72 square feet. Air passes through an intensified electrical field generated by ionizing wires. The pollutant particles get charged in the electrical field and trapped by earthed micro-fiber media. Aprilaire claims its air-filtration to be MERV 15.

An HVAC professional has to install this unit in your central air and heating system. This model is economical for those who cannot invest in expensive whole house air-purifier systems.