How To Know If An Activated Carbon Filter Won’t Clean Your Air

How do you feel when someone sells you a product and afterward you discover it doesn’t do what was promised? Would you return again and again to the same vendor? This is precisely what you will do as you continue to buy filters for air purifiers that don’t clean the air.

Is my contention true, those manufacturers who claim an activated carbon filter pad removes chemicals and odors are deceiving you? Please allow me the opportunity to present my case and you be the judge.

Many air purifiers include activated carbon for gas and odor removal, but will not mention how much is in their filter. This is because, at best, they have coated a mat with a few token ounces of activated carbon.

In an average home, that small amount of carbon could get saturated in days, even hours. After this, the filter would need to be replaced or it would be doing nothing.

If an air purifier does not make any obvious claims about the amount of activated carbon it uses, you should question the filter’s effectiveness.

Why activated carbon filter pads don’t give you the clean air you expect

Air purification is big business and many companies have entered the air purifier market.

However, these companies are not air purifier manufacturers solely in the business of air purification. They are consumer product sales organizations. Most manufacture nothing at all, but contract design and production to others. Their primary concern is to market whatever is the hot seller of the day.

Eager to gain the approval of consumers they hype the fact that they offer “multistage” air cleaners that can control all sorts of air pollution.

An activated carbon filter is usually featured as one of the stages in these air purifiers. They typically take the form of a foam mesh impregnated with a few token ounces of activated carbon.

Is this good enough? Are these companies being honest? What about those manufacturers that offer a deep activated carbon bed that includes many pounds of activated carbon?

Question the quality of the activated carbon

Activated carbon can vary greatly depending on the methods used to produce it. For instance, the surface area available to adsorb pollutants can vary between 400 sq. meters per gram to over 1500 sq. meters per gram.

Activated carbon can generally remove some of any chemical. However, raw activated carbon may not be very effective against many of the pollutants you’re concerned about. That’s why activated carbon needs to be impregnated with special catalysts and chemisorbs to ensure maximum effectiveness against typical pollutants.

Air purifiers using an activated carbon filter pad never address these issues in any of their consumer literature. How can you know the real capabilities of their filter? You can’t.

Question the quantity of filtration

How much chemical contamination can a few ounces of activated carbon adsorb?

Activated carbon can adsorb as much as 60% of its weight in pollutants. This is best accomplished by increasing the “dwell time” or time spent in contact with the pollutants.

An activated carbon filter pad cannot supply much in the way of dwell time. Air passes through such thin filters quickly. Filter pads with only a few ounces of activated carbon have precious little time or capacity to make any real difference in your air quality.

This is why high quality air purifier manufacturers whose business is nothing but air purification include a deep activated carbon bed that often weighs many pounds.

Question the design of the air purifier

All too often, activated carbon filter pads are used as a prefilter for a higher efficiency particle filter. This exposes the activated carbon to the incoming stream of dust and microparticles.

The structure of activated carbon is that of macropores branching into ever-smaller micropores. Incoming particles can easily clog these larger pores and prevent gaseous contaminants from entering the micropores where adsorption takes place.

Using an activated carbon filter pad as a prefilter is a bad design decision.

Another bad decision that seems to defy all common sense is the inclusion of scent cartridges in air purifiers with activated carbon.

Since activated carbon is supposed to remove odors and volatile chemicals from the air, why is a source of volatile chemical fragrance included? This seems to defeat the purpose of the activated carbon.

The reality is that the scent masks the odors in the air and is intended to lead you to believe the air purifier is doing a good job.

Activated carbon filtration works if you choose the right air purifier

Activated carbon in air purifiers has real value when employed in a deep bed.

There are several air purifier manufacturers that design and build there own products with this in mind. Some examples are Allerair, Austin Air, Blueair, and Iqair. These companies understand that a large volume of activated carbon is essential for air purifier performance.

Activated carbon filter pads are a gimmick of marketing companies. These sales organizations are only interested in grabbing a piece of the air purifier market with inferior products. They rely on the absence of consumer education about air purification to succeed.

You can make a much better choice.

I would like to help you look more critically at air purifiers claiming to use HEPA air filters. Why? Because HEPA filtration is the best available, but the way it is used may leave much to be desired.

Consider an example. A man may have a well-appointed kitchen with the best of ingredients but this doesn’t make him a chef. Nor does it mean anything he prepares will even be edible.

Likewise, using HEPA air filters doesn’t guarantee the end result will really clean the air. Unfortunately, many manufacturers continue to produce inferior products while playing lip service to quality and customer expectations.

What kind of questions should you ask about any HEPA air purifier you may be considering?

What is the size of the HEPA air filters?

One of the most difficult to find pieces of information about a HEPA air purifier is the actual size of the filter. Most manufacturers don’t reveal it. Perhaps they feel it isn’t important. Perhaps they fear it will result in consumers comparing their product unfavorably against competitors.

Why is size important? Quite simply, because the bigger a filter is the more particles it can remove before it clogs. Also, the bigger a filter is the more air it can clean in a single pass.

Lastly, a bigger filter will present less back pressure to the fan that pushes the air through the filter. Back pressure puts a load on the fan motor. Cheaper motors may fail as a result. Manufacturers avoid this by letting some air escape around, or bypass, the filter. This is air that isn’t being cleaned.

Simply put, bigger HEPA air filters mean cleaner air and longer life of both the filter and the air purifier leading to reduced total cost of ownership.

What is the quality of the HEPA air filters?

The material used, the design and methods of manufacture are all important to the quality of the HEPA filter.

The highest quality manufacturers make certain that their HEPA filters have evenly spaced pleats, often with separators to ensure that the pleats remain uniform over the life of the filter. This is because if pleats are uneven, those that are closer together will restrict airflow and reduce cleaning capacity.

Some HEPA filters are made from synthetic materials. However the best filters are still made from a delicate, thin paper because it removes the highest percentage of particles with the least restriction of airflow.

This paper can be easily damaged during manufacture of the filter and assembly of the air purifier. The best filters are produced with a technique known as “warm rolled”. This prevents damage to the media during filter construction. Higher quality air purifiers will house the filter in such a way that it is protected from possible damage during assembly and use of the air cleaner.

What is the efficiency of the air purifier?

There isn’t a HEPA filter air purifier on the market that doesn’t proudly announce that HEPA filters remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 micron.

Yes, but, what does the air purifier remove?

In some HEPA based air cleaners as much as 40% to 50% of air entering the cleaner may actually bypass the filter. Reasons for this range from poor sealing of the filter in the housing, cracks in the filter and even deliberate design to reduce backpressure on an inferior motor.

Virtually all air purifiers on the market using HEPA air filters provide no documentation on the efficiency of the unit as a whole. This situation is unacceptable. You as a consumer have no way of knowing how effective any given machine is.

The most notable exception is IQAir. Their HealthPro series have been independently tested and certified as to efficiency. In fact each and every unit is tested and certified and sent with documentation showing its effectiveness.

Another high quality air purifier that is independently certified is the Allerair AirMedic. Both Allerair and IQAir have shown a real commitment to the overall quality of their air purifiers and your satisfaction. Other companies that meet the criteria outlined in this article are BlueAir and Austin Air.

What kind of protective prefilter is used?

While the HEPA filter is the heart of the air purifier you should never overlook the importance of the pre-filter. A high quality pre-filter protects the HEPA air filter and any gas phase filter from becoming prematurely clogged. This means it protects your investment and saves you money!

Most pre-filters remove particulates 5 to 10 microns and larger. Of course, the percentage of particulates in the air that are 5 microns and larger is very small. For every 1,000,000 particles per cubic foot of air there is normally only around 400 to 800 particles that are 5 microns and larger.

As a result, much of the particulate removal is still left for the Hepa filter. The Hepa filter is too expensive a filter to be used to remove particles larger than 1 micron. You should consider the filter efficiencies of the pre-filter in selecting an air purifier.

The best example of a pre-filter is the one on the IQAir Healthpro which is 100% efficient at removing particles 1 micron and larger. In addition, it is 55% efficient at removing particulates 0.3 of a micron and larger. This pre-filter will remove 90% of all of the particles in the air and prolongs the life of the Hepa filter.

As a portable desktop office air cleaner, either the Allerair AirTube or AirTube Jr. would make an excellent choice. Both possess the qualities of the very best room air cleaner money can buy, only in a smaller, more portable package.

The AirTube includes a medical grade HEPA filter capable of trapping 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 micron, or about one three-hundredth the width of a human hair. Seven pounds of Allerair’s Mass Activated Carbon Exec blend adsorb the widest range of airborne chemicals, gases, and odors, including volatile organic compounds.

Would you like to know more about office air purification? Canada Safety Council about office air quality Vermont Dept. of Health on office air quality Please share this site about air purifiers

The AirTube’s all metal cylindrical construction provides you with durability and maximum airflow while not exposing you to the VOCs that can out gas from plastic, cheap air purifiers. A variable speed motor allows you to switch from higher airflow volume for initial cleaning of room air to whisper quiet operation. Recommended by Allerair for rooms up to 400 sq. ft. it nevertheless meets the specifications of competitor’s criteria for 700 sq. ft.

The Air Tube Jr., a smaller office air cleaner can easily serve as a personal desktop air cleaner for an office, cubicle, baby’s room, or other small room where better air quality is desired. It includes a HEPA grade air filter wrap to trap airborne particles and four pounds of the same activated carbon blend offered in the larger Air Tube. With durable all metal construction it will hold up to years of use. A variable speed motor allows whisper quiet operation while the cylindrical shape provides for maximum airflow. Weighing in at only ten pounds it is a great choice for room areas of around 100 sq. ft.

If you’re looking for a personal office air cleaner for the desktop, or a portable HEPA room air cleaner for any reason, there is no better air cleaner recommendation than Allerair’s AirTube and AirTube Jr.

If youre looking for an office air cleaner to cover a much larger area than a small office or cubicle, then you can count on the power of the Allerair Air Medic. It will provide the cleanest possible air for your home or office.

Combining a cylindrical shape with 360 degree air intake the AirMedic will remove chemicals, particles, gases and odors on the first pass. This means a consistent flow of clean, pure, breathable air for your office. Its filtration system includes 18 pounds of Allerairs specially blended virgin activated carbon. This deep bed will adsorb thousands of chemicals, gases and odors. Allerair also offers a carbon blend for enhanced adsorption of volatile organic compounds with the AirMedic.

A medical grade HEPA filter clears the air of 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 micron. Additionally, the AirMedics advanced HEPA filtration system has been found to perform at the standard of an EN 1822 certified filter, removing as much as 99% of particles as small as 0.01 micron (can filter bacteria and viruses). A high quality pre-filter extends the life of the HEPA filter by removing larger particles that would otherwise clog the HEPA filter.

Allerair stands behind this superb office air cleaner with a 10 year warranty on both parts and labor, the longest and best warranty in the industry. If youre looking for the best possible office air purifier from a dedicated manufacturer that knows air purification, then the Allerair AirMedic is the ideal choice for offices up to 1500 sq. ft.

Allerair’s AirMedic Vocarb model is the same as above except it is filled with Allerair’s special blend of treated activated carbon for removal of volatile organic compounds. It is an excellent choice for an office air cleaner wherever vocs are a concern. The Vocarb carbon blend has enhanced adsorption capabilities for formaldehyde, solvents, paint fumes, and other irritating noxious fumes.

If you’re searching for effective tobacco smoke air purifiers you’re certainly not alone. Millions of non smokers are concerned about the health effects of second hand smoke exposure in the home.

Attempting to cash in on this concern are numerous Johnny-come-lately manufacturers touting their latest “high tech” purification method. They hawk a confusing array of air cleaners to remove tobacco smoke, “Ozone! No ozone! Best! Newest! Latest technology! Multi-Tech! Eats smoke! Three ways, no four ways, no five ways to clean your air!”

How do you know what is really going to work? With all the competing and contradictory claims from so-called smoke eaters, how do you choose the right air purifier for cigarette smoke? Are there any effective smoke air purifiers on the market?

The answer begins in understanding the problem.

Understanding what tobacco smoke air purifiers must remove

Tobacco smoke contains two different kinds of pollutants.

The first is particles. This is the smoke that you see and is the easiest to filter. These particles come in a wide variety of sizes, measured in microns. A micron is one one-thousandth of a millimeter. Though microscopic, most filter media is capable of trapping some or even most tobacco smoke.

The smoke that you see is not necessarily the smoke that you smell. The second component of tobacco smoke is the chemical gases given off by burning tobacco. Over four thousand chemicals have been identified in tobacco smoke.

As dangerous as particle contaminants are to the lungs and tissues of the airways, these chemical toxins are extra dangerous.

Why?

While particles are limited to the airways, chemical toxins pass through the lung tissues into the bloodstream. This is how nicotine is delivered to the brain. While in the bloodstream these toxins will pass through every organ and tissue in the body. This is why exposure to tobacco smoke increases cancer risks for every organ of the body. The health effects of tobacco smoke are systemic, encompassing the whole body.

So, smoke air purifiers need to effectively address both particulate and chemical pollutants of tobacco smoke.

Unfortunately, while there are a lot of choices, most are not up to the job.

Capabilities and limits of smoke air purifiers

There are five primary technologies marketed as air purifiers for cigarette smoke. These are sometimes combined with one another to produce the diverse products on the market.

This makes it impossible to consider products individually but if you understand the underlying technologies you can determine which have merit. We’ll consider each technology’s ability to remove tobacco smoke in addition to other pollutants.

Negative ion generators as smoke air purifiers

The first air purifier for cigarette smoke we’ll consider is the negative ion generator, or air ionizer.

This method of air cleaning relies on the fact that negative ions will charge particles suspended in the air. These particles are drawn to and collect on room surfaces or possibly each other, making them heavier and more likely to settle out of the air.

Unfortunately, your walls, tables, chairs, and everything else become one big particle collector. That’s why these devices are notorious for blackening the walls where they are placed. The effect has even been given a name; it’s called “black wall effect.”

The biggest problem is that these charged particles enter your lungs and imbed there with even more tenacity than they otherwise would. This is the exact opposite outcome you’d like considering that you want to remove tobacco smoke.

Finally, the negative ion generator has no effect on chemical contaminants, gases and odors, since these do not attach to the negative ions and become charged.

Electrostatic precipitators as smoke air purifiers

The second air purifier for cigarette smoke we’ll consider is the electrostatic precipitator. These products are the ones usually promoted as “ionic” and are among the most common air purifiers on the market.

It is like an ion generator except that a set of oppositely charged plates has been added. This attracts the particles and they tend to separate out of the air before the air leaves the air cleaner. This helps eliminate the black wall effect because the contaminants collect on the plates instead.

Since it is possible to collect particles down to 0.1 micron versus a HEPA filter’s 0.3 micron filtration you will sometimes hear a manufacturer proudly proclaim their product to be “Better than HEPA!” However, these devices have been shown to only be about 80% efficient at collecting particles versus HEPA’s 99.97% efficiency. This means an electrostatic precipitator leaves about 20% of the contaminants in the air with each pass.

What is worse, efficiency steadily declines as the plates become loaded with contaminants. Research has shown that 80% of the plates’ collection ability is lost in as few as three days. This is under normal use. Attempting to remove tobacco smoke with its heavy particulate load will render the plates ineffective at an even faster pace. The end result is the owner must clean the plates at a minimum of every other day and preferably every day to maintain any reasonable level of usefulness.

Of course, these ionic electrostatic precipitators also do nothing for chemicals, gases and odors. If you want effective smoke air purifiers you should pass these by.

Ozone generators as smoke air purifiers

A third type of air purifier for cigarette smoke is the ozone generator. The basis of its air purification claims is ozone’s ability to react with chemical contaminants.

When ozone fully oxidizes a volatile organic compound the only products left are water and carbon dioxide. This sounds wonderful, right? But there are several really big catches to this scenario.

It is true that commercial ozone generators are used in hotel room prep, car detailing, and fire and smoke restoration to eliminate smoke odors. When used in these capacities an extremely high level of ozone is being produced.

But no humans or animals are present when these devices are in operation due to the danger of ozone exposure. The area being treated is ventilated afterward to allow the ozone to escape and decay.

Ozone’s highly reactive nature means it can rupture cell walls and destroy tissues as easily as it can break up chemical contaminants. Exposing a person to the levels necessary to remove tobacco smoke effectively would have dire consequences up to and including death.

Any ozone generator sold for home use must produce ozone at far lower levels. However it is widely recognized by everyone but sellers of ozone generators that levels tolerable for long-term exposure could never effectively deal with indoor pollution, much less remove tobacco smoke. You’d be better off simply opening a window.

It is also recognized that asthmatics and others with breathing difficulties are especially susceptible to increased ozone levels. A home-use ozone generator can be especially dangerous to the very people they are marketed to.

Unfortunately, in the US no governmental body has oversight and authority to pull the plug, though the FTC has filed suit against some manufacturers for fraudulent claims regarding these devices.

If you want an air purifier for cigarette smoke an ozone generator simply isn’t up to the task and exposes you to an additional health risk.

HEPA filters as smoke air purifiers

Our fourth contender to remove tobacco smoke is the HEPA filter. HEPA filtration technology was developed by the US Atomic Energy Commission to remove fine particles contaminated with radioactive isotopes from the air at nuclear research projects.

HEPA filters have the ability to remove particles from the air as small as 0.3 micron at 99.97% efficiency. This was the standard set for HEPA filtration because it is at this point that most filter media becomes least effective.

This particle trapping efficiency is more than adequate to remove tobacco smoke from the air. Its effectiveness at doing so will remain at 100% throughout the life of the filter. The only reason to replace it is when particle loading reduces the amount of air flowing through the filter.

A high quality HEPA filter should last five years under normal use, less in a smoke filled environment, but is still your best choice for smoke air purifiers.

However, while the media being used may meet HEPA standard the air purifier incorporating it may be way off the mark. Since HEPA filter media can be brittle it may have become cracked or otherwise damaged in manufacturing. Poorly made air purifiers may have gaps between the housing and the media that allow air to pass. Poor seals may allow air to bypass the filter. These defects reduce the efficiency of the air purifier and its ability to remove tobacco smoke and other pollutants.

To choose the best HEPA air purifier look for a company that specializes exclusively in air purification products. Look for warm rolled medical grade HEPA filter media, to insure against cracks. Expect a well built housing and quality seals. Try to find a company that guarantees the actual efficiency of the overall unit, not just the theoretical efficiency of the media.

Finally, HEPA filters will not remove chemicals, gases and odors. For that HEPA media needs to be partnered with activated carbon, our next air purifier technology.

Activated carbon as smoke air purifiers

The last air purification method we’ll consider is the activated carbon filter. Activated carbon is the media of choice to remove tobacco smoke gases and odors.

Activated carbon can adsorb as much as 60% of its own weight in chemical pollutants. This makes it ideally suited for tobacco smoke air purifiers.

Additional catalysts and compounds can be used to treat the carbon so that it removes specific contaminants with greater success. This occurs either by improving adsorption ability or possibly catalyzing the decomposition of certain VOCs.

The effectiveness of activated carbon has led numerous manufacturers to include it in their products. Unfortunately this often takes the form of a foam pad impregnated with a few ounces of carbon. This foam pad may serve double duty as a prefilter on some air cleaners to protect a higher efficiency filter downstream.

This does not benefit the consumer. Without any depth to the carbon bed, there is insufficient dwell time for the carbon to adsorb chemicals. Using the carbon as a prefilter subjects it to particle contamination that clogs its pores and reduces its ability to adsorb chemicals.

The inadequacy of these designs is made obvious by the fact that manufacturers of this kind of filter also include a scent cartridge to mask odors. If the carbon were working the scent would be unnecessary. Not only that but the carbon would adsorb the scent rendering the scent useless.

To truly be effective an air purifier for cigarette smoke needs to include many pounds of activated carbon.

It is also preferable if the activated carbon has undergone special treatments to enable it to better handle the chemical contaminants typically found in tobacco smoke. Look for a special smokers air cleaner carbon blend such as offered by Allerair.

My recommendation for smoke air purifiers

Tobacco smoke in the home can be especially difficult to remove. If you’re looking for an air purifier for cigarette smoke you need one that can handle both particles and gases. The above guidelines will help you in your search.

My own personal recommendation is the Allerair smokers air purifiers. Allerair has developed innovative products you simply won’t find anywhere else.

The Allerair smoker’s air purifiers have a patented tar trapping prefilter that removes heavy tars in tobacco smoke before they reach the rest of the filter media. The smoke laden air then passes through a deep bed of activated carbon, custom blended for enhanced adsorption of chemicals found in tobacco smoke. This bed may be from 15 to 160 pounds of activated carbon, depending on the model. High quality True HEPA filters complete the process by eliminating smoke particles from the air.

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“Can you recommend any energy efficient air purifiers?”

Sabrina from Seattle

Let’s face it. Air purifiers are meant to be operated 24/7. After all, you breathe 24/7. And you want that air to be the cleanest it can be, right?

But running an air purifier perpetually is going to burn some electricity.

Fortunately, even if you get a big honkin’ behemoth like the IQAir HealthPro Plus your power usage may be as low as 85 watts.

Or it could be as high as 215 watts. It all depends on the fan setting. Power consumption is totally up to you depending on how much air cleaning you need at the moment.

However, there are a few energy efficient air purifiers that have earned an Energy Star Certification for keeping electric use low.

So whether you’re thinking about the environment or your pocketbook you do have some good choices in quality air filtration.

However, don’t make this newby mistake…

Energy Star Certification by itself is no indicator of how energy efficient an air purifier may be.

Consider two air purifiers with similar Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR), the Sharp FP-A28U and the BlueAir ECO10.

Both have an Energy Star Certification, but the Sharp air purifier just barely makes the standard with a CADR per Watt rating of 2, the barest minimum required performance.

On the other hand, the BlueAir ECO10 has a CADR/Watt rating of 19.66, almost ten times more efficient than the Sharp model. In fact the BlueAir ECO10 is the most energy efficient air purifier on the market.

But BlueAir gets absolutely no extra recognition for this performance.

Obviously, with actual efficiency ratings spread across a broad range, you need to dig a little deeper to discover the real performance numbers.

And don’t make this mistake either…

Energy Star Certification is not an indicator of quality, suitability or safety. Read this because you could expose yourself to real physical harm.

Energy Star Certifications are determined by comparing electric use to the AHAM CADR rating.

CADR ratings are fundamentally flawed.

CADR does not take into consideration serious health concerns such as ozone production.

CADR does not rate chemical and odor removal.

CADR only rates removal of particulates of a certain size range, not the sizes most harmful to health, but those easiest to remove.

CADR is a short duration test. Many ionic air purifiers post good numbers but would rate extremely poorly on a long duration test.

Here is a hypothetical scenario…

You purchase an energy efficient ionic air purifier with an Energy Star Certification. It received this because its performance on a short term test met the standard.

However, within three days it’s only cleaning at 20% of its rated CADR due to plate loading.

Within a week it’s essentially useless but still burning electricity. This is why regular maintenance cleaning is an absolute must.

But it gets worse…

This same ionic air purifier is producing ozone, a tissue damaging lung irritant.

Elevated ozone levels are proven to induce asthma attacks, heart attacks and stroke. It also increases allergy sensitivity because of respiratory irritation.

And it gets worse still…

Ozone also reacts with volatile organic compounds and micro particulates in the air, resulting in ultrafine particulates that reach deep into the lungs and even pass into the bloodstream.

Some of these byproducts are known to be toxic and carcinogenic.

Your ionic air purifier not only doesn’t remove them, it is the cause of them.

Yet this questionable device is rated acceptable under the CADR test and gets an Energy Star Certification as an energy efficient air purifier.

And just one more thing…

There are air purifiers that would rate as energy efficient, but their manufacturers refuse to submit them to the test based on principle.

Take IQAir and AllerAir for example.

Both of these companies are among the best air purifier manufacturers in the world and oppose the CADR test because of serious flaws in its design.

They argue quite correctly that this self regulating industry has put together a weak test that utterly fails to address serious issues while allowing almost any participant to receive good ratings.

Thus, they refuse to grant it any semblance of credibility by submitting their air purifiers to it.

But no CADR rating means no Energy Star Certification.

Recommended Energy Efficient Air Purifiers

There are no easy answers. Energy Star Certification by itself is not an adequate guide.

The bottom line is you need to break out the calculator and crunch some numbers to see if an air purifier meets your expectations.

While energy efficiency is definitely a reasonable expectation I recommend you not sacrifice air cleaning performance solely in the name of efficiency.

Such may well be a case of “penny wise, pound foolish”.

Energy efficiency concerns should be kept second to your primary concern for healthy air. Once you have a short list of air purifiers that will work for your situation, only then should you compare their energy use.

Don’t prevent yourself from getting the results you need because of a few Watts.

That being said, I do recommend a number of energy efficient air purifiers that also meet high standards of air cleaning performance.

You may wish to consider any of the following Energy Star Certified air purifiers:

• BlueAir air purifiers
• Alen air purifiers

How to eliminate 95% from consideration now.

Which air purifiers are best?

It’s good to have choices, but not when you’re unable to choose confidently.

Comparing air purifiers for the home is confusing for many consumers.

The bewildering claims made for each type may make it difficult to focus on the best air cleaner for your needs.

If you’re already familiar with the secret to top performing home air cleaners then you’re ready to use that standard to rate each type of air cleaner.

More importantly, you’re ready to completely reject poor performers.

True HEPA Air Purifiers – The Industry Standard

Unsurpassed filtration efficiency

Only HEPA air filters meet a verifiable performance standard.

HEPA filters remove 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles, slightly smaller than tuberculosis bacteria at 0.4 micron.

One misconception is that HEPA filters perform less well with smaller particles. In reality, HEPA efficiency is higher with smaller particle sizes.

An effect called Brownian diffusion helps trap particles smaller than 0.3 micron in the HEPA filter, enabling it to capture bacteria and viruses.

Because of this incredible efficiency the Hong Kong Hospital Authority chose HEPA air cleaners like the IQAIR HealthPro at right to control the spread of the SARS virus.

HEPA filters may last two to five years. Thus, your actual cost for exceptionally clean air may be quite low in comparison to air cleaners that require filter replacement every few months.

HEPA Type – Poor Imitations Of The Real Thing

Reject cheap air cleaners

A mark of cheap air purifiers, HEPA type filter media may provide no performance indications or specify a standard clearly less than true HEPA.

These air cleaners will not give you significant air quality improvement.

Why? Because total system efficiency is often no greater than 50%.

The Holmes air purifier at left claims a filter efficiency of 99% at 2 micron. This is much larger than the most harmful fine and ultra fine particles.

Filters like these may be completely unable to collect the sub-micron to 2.5 micron particles that most seriously affect your health.

Even larger particles up to 10 microns, like pollen, may not be removed effectively due to filter bypassing common in cheap air cleaners.

Short filter life is also common. The greatest scam on the market is to sell cheap air cleaners and bilk customers later with costly filter replacements.

Electrostatic Precipitators – AKA Ionic Air Purifiers

Reject ionic air cleaners

Ionic air purifiers use electric charges to remove allergens and irritants. They have no effect on gases and odors.

Particle collection efficiency tends to be no greater than 80%.

Studies show efficiency dwindles to as little as 20% in as few as three days as collector plates load with particles.

Regular cleaning is a must for continued performance, yet many owners complain it is difficult cleaning collector plates.

These models are praised for being silent. This is a marketing ploy designed to present as an advantage the fact that they move little air.

Ionic air cleaners also produce ozone which is lung damaging and elevates sensitivity to allergens and irritants. This is the last thing anyone with respiratory problems should be exposed to.

Air Ionizer Purifiers – Wishful Thinking At Best

Reject air ionizer purifiers

Ion generators, or air ionizer purifiers, release charged ions into the air that attach to particles, statically charging them.

There is no method of capturing these charged pollutants.

Instead, they stick to surfaces such as walls and furniture or combine with other particles and settle on room surfaces.

This produces the common problem known as “black wall effect” buyers of these units complain about.

The most significant problem with air ionizers is the health threat posed by the “black wall effect” taking place in your lungs.

Studies have shown electrically charging very fine particles results in their higher deposition rate in the lungs compared to uncharged particles.

So using ion generators may actually increase the dose of particles to the lungs, making your situation worse than if you were using nothing at all.

Ozone Air Purifiers – Hazardous To Your Health

Reject ozone machines

Proponents of ozone generators claim ozone oxidizes pollutants, reducing them to water and carbon dioxide.

In the real world such textbook reactions rarely happen. Instead, numerous by products are created.

These byproducts can be more dangerous than the original pollutants.

Ozone cannot distinguish what is and is not a pollutant. It reacts with almost anything it contacts, degrading materials and creating additional pollutants.

Supporters claim ozone kills bacteria but deny it kills cells in your airway. They reject all scientific evidence and warnings that ozone is harmful.

Sellers of ozone machines are perpetrating a fraud. They get away with it in the US because no federal agency regulates these products. On the state level, at least California has banned their sale.

An ozone generator is ineffective and exposes you to danger.

UV Air Purifiers – Is This Extra Really Necessary?

Is UV light worth the cost?

UV air purifiers create ultraviolet light that may destroy some biological pollutants like viruses and bacteria. Higher doses of UV light may be reqiured than than a home air purifier

UV air cleaners have no effect on gases or particles. UV germicidal irradiation should not be used to replace filtration.

Because HEPA filtration captures most biological pollutants, adding UV light sterilization offers minimal benefit.

Because mold spores can cause allergic reactions whether dead or alive, UV sterilizers or sanitizers by themselves will not help your allergies or asthma.

Photocatalytic Air Purifiers – New, But Is It Better?

PCO is of limited benefit

Photocatalytic air purifiers are promoted to destroy gases and odors.

They have no effect on particulates despite the fact that some marketers would have you believe this.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used as a catalyst in the presence of UV light to cause a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and water molecules in the air.

Ideally this reaction reduces gases and odors to water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately, textbook reactions are not always the result.

Incomplete destruction of VOCs results in creating additional pollutants that may be more irritating and potentially toxic than the original compounds.

Activated Carbon – Chemical And Odor Control

Activated carbon for gases and odors

Gas phase filters remove gases and odors and are often added to HEPA filtration to enhance air cleaning.

The most effective gas filtration is by activated carbon. It removes up to 60% of its own weight in chemicals.

A deep bed of activated carbon is best. That is why the best home air purifiers include many pounds of activated carbon.

Thin activated carbon pads are practically worthless. They neither have sufficient activated carbon to be effective nor do they supply the dwell time needed to remove pollutants.

Rather than a competing technology, gas filtration is complementary to HEPA air purification. Combined with HEPA air filters it creates the most effective air cleaning available.

So, What’s Your Next Move?

Why not learn more before choosing?

Buying air purifiers for the home is a serious matter.

Please carefully consider your needs and research what will meet them.

I cannot overemphasize how important this is.

I face MCS, allergy and asthma daily in my family.

By carefully comparing air purifiers for the home I proved to myself that HEPA filters combined with large capacity activated carbon chemical removal was best for my own needs.

Why not take the time now to consider convincing proof why hepa filters are best?

Do you dread the thought of buying a HEPA air purifier online?

Online air purifier information is often contradictory, blatantly false or even incomprehensible. Almost all of it is nothing more than calls to “buy me, buy me, buy me”.

You deserve a simpler, helpful air purifier guide.

It shouldn’t waste your time.

That is what I hope you find in this guide to buying HEPA air purifiers. Please take a few moments to see if it answers your questions. All you have to lose is hours of pointing and clicking elsewhere.

About HEPA Air Purifiers

Portable HEPA filter air purifiers are designed to remove particles from the air like dust, pollen, pet dander, allergens, bacteria, and viruses.

HEPA filtration is used in hospital operating rooms and intensive care units for just such purposes. HEPA filters are recommended by government agencies as helpful in controlling communicable diseases like tuberculosis, SARS, influenza, bird flu and other infectious agents.

Most incorporate add-on technologies like activated carbon or germicidal UV lights to extend performance beyond what the HEPA filter media can achieve.

When buying a HEPA air purifier you’ll find models designed for specific problems. There are air purifiers available for particle filtration, smoke and odor removal or relief for allergy, asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities.

Understand the Features of HEPA Air Purifiers

HEPA Filters

A true HEPA filter removes 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size. Many sites state “and larger” implying this is best-case HEPA filter efficiency. This shows a lack of understanding about HEPA filter material. The efficiency rating is not the best a HEPA filter can do, but the worst.

To understand, picture a child throwing balls at multiple layers of chain link fence. Tennis balls do not pass at all. This represents particles larger than 0.3 micron.

Ping-pong balls represent particles smaller than 0.3 micron. They are smaller than the gaps but lack the mass necessary to bully through the layers. An effect called diffusion causes particles to follow an irregular path. Picture a ping-pong ball corkscrewing through the air. It could never pass through the fence layers.

A golf ball is small enough and has the mass to follow a more direct path to avoid being stopped by the layers of fencing. This represents particles 0.3 micron in size. This is referred to as the Most Penetrating Particle Size.

A HEPA filter’s worst performance is at 0.3 micron. All other particles, whether larger or smaller are stopped with greater efficiency. This makes HEPA filter air purifiers ideal for removing allergens such as pet dander, dust mite residue, and pollen. These air purifiers are beneficial for those who suffer from respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters are often used within HEPA filter air purifiers to remove odors and chemicals from the air.

An activated carbon air filter contains specially treated carbon that has had millions of tiny pores opened up enabling it to trap gases by a process called adsorption. The adsorption occurs when chemicals are attracted to the activated carbon by a force known as the van der Waals force.

An activated carbon filter is able to adsorb a wide range of chemicals up to 60% of its own weight. Once the carbon reaches its full capacity the filter needs to be replaced. How often will depend on the contamination level of the environment and how much carbon you have to begin with. This is why a HEPA filter air purifier that includes many pounds of activated carbon is recommended on this site.

Activated carbon filtration is most often used to adsorb:

• The chemicals in smoke (from cigarettes and fireplaces)
• Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (from furniture, carpet glues, paints, plastics, new building materials, etc.)
• Odors (pet, kitchen, urine, etc.)

Pre-filters

Pre-filters help trap large particles before they reach the HEPA filter. Having this pre-filter is a great benefit. It helps extend the time between filter changes and keeps the unit working more efficiently.

Costs of HEPA Air Purifiers

The price of HEPA filter air purifiers can range from the low 200s to more than 1,000. Deciding whether to choose the low-end or high-end model can be confusing.

There are real differences in models, total capacity, actual system efficiency (not to be confused with the HEPA filter efficiency), and additional features like germicidal UV light or photocatalysis. The quality and quantity of clean air coming out of the unit is the basis of how each air purifier is different from one another.

You don’t have to be an air purifier expert to figure out which unit is best for your needs, you simply need to consider clearly what your needs are. For example, you might ask the following questions to get the process started:

• Why am I getting this unit? Allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, odors?
• Is it for a single room? Or am I trying to clean all the air in my house?
• How big is my space (estimated square footage and consider high ceilings)?
• How long do I expect the unit to last?
• What is my budget?
• How much does it cost to maintain/replace filters?
• Do I want special features, like a “change filter” indicator light?

Answering the above questions is a useful method to help you decide what type of unit you need to address your specific indoor air issues.

Maintaining Your HEPA Air Purifier

Maintaining an air purifier is an important part of keeping the unit working effectively, and there is a certain amount of cost and effort involved. Certainly air purifiers work for a time as a “turn it on and forget it” appliance; however, to get the most out of your investment you must keep the filters changed as needed.

The cost of filters varies by unit and by type of filter, so it is important to check the price point on filters and the frequency of filter changes before you decide to purchase. Also, consider the environment in which you want the unit to function.

For example, if you smoke in your home and you want a unit that will help to filter the smoke and the smell of the smoke, you will want a unit with an ample amount of carbon. You should evaluate the cost of replacing carbon filters as they become saturated.

HEPA Air Purifier Size And Efficiency

Air purifiers work best in the room they are placed in, and lose effectiveness the further you move away from that room. Single-room units cannot effectively clean the air in your entire house, as only the air that gets sucked into the unit gets cleaned. However, multiple units, or single-room units in combination with a whole-house unit is the best choice for total home air purification.

When choosing what size unit to buy, you should consider the size of the area you want to clean. Ideally, your air cleaner should be able to provide five to six air exchanges per hour. However, any calculation of air exchanges per hour is only a foundation for helping you consider how a unit will perform in your home. This is because factors like the design of your home, which affects air flow from room to room, ceiling heights, the amount of furniture in your home the air must circulate around, the insulation of your rooms/home, and the amount of indoor air pollutants, such as pets and dust all impact an air purifier’s ability to clean the air.

Air purifiers are rated by the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of clean air they deliver. You can determine how large an air purifier you need by determining the cubic feet of the room you wish to use it in. Multiply the length, width and height of your room. This gives you your room’s cubic feet. Divide that number by five; for the number of air exchanges you need to have. The final number is the CFM necessary to give you those five air exchanges. You should then look for air purifiers rated at that capacity or greater.

Another consideration when it comes to efficiency is the fan in a unit. A general rule of thumb is the larger and stronger the fan, the more air the unit can clean and the faster it can clean it. A unit with multiple fan speeds will allow you to customize your air cleaner to better suit your needs. Choosing a unit with sufficient capacity to clean your air on a low setting will also mean quieter operation for you.

Also, remember an air purifier can improve the quality of your indoor air, but it cannot eliminate pollutants completely. It won’t suck all the dust from your hard surfaces or prevent pollen from entering your house. However, it will help you to breathe easier, lessen your allergies, and give you a piece of mind that indoor air contaminants are minimized.

The Elusive Silent HEPA Air Purifier

You cannot find silent HEPA air purifiers because they must physically force air through the filter using a motorized fan. While HEPA air purifiers are not silent, the amount of sound they produce varies considerably. Many factors contribute to the sound level and whether you will be disturbed by it.

The most common area air purifiers are placed is the bedroom. However, this is the number one area where people find the sound the most intrusive. The ideal way to have a quiet HEPA air cleaner is to choose a unit that can clean the room air at its lowest setting.

Another option is to choose one of the Blueair air purifiers. These are not technically HEPA air purifiers but they achieve HEPA grade performance. They are a hybrid design that uses an ionizer ahead of the filter to boost collection efficiency of the filter. The filter itself offers lesser resistance to airflow than a standard HEPA filter. This lesser resistance means a lesser fan and quieter operation.

Either way, it is important to understand that a sound will come from these units and it’s just a matter of finding the level of sound you are comfortable with.

Many units list the decibel rating of the system at each fan speed. You can compare these ratings to other indoor appliances, such as the level of sound you hear from a normal box fan or the hum of the refrigerator, which can give you a point of reference.

Sound is different to each individual, and even decibel results can sometimes be misleading as many things can affect sound level, such as position of the unit, carpeting, furniture, distance from the unit while it is running, fan speed, etc.

Additional Features In HEPA Air Purifiers

Many air purifiers special features that can greatly enhance your air cleaning experience. These features add convenience to your life and give you the additional options that allow you to optimize your air purifier to best fit your needs. Some of the special features to consider when shopping for your air cleaner:

• Casters for ease of mobility
• Remote control
• Digital controls
• Multiple fan speeds
• Handles
• Ease of filter change
• Filter-change indicator light

If you would like to protect your health from indoor air pollutants then buying a HEPA filter air cleaner is a practical first step.

Of course, that is easier said than done. Widespread concern over indoor air pollution has created a market filled with half measures, to be generous. The odor of cash bearing customers is the one odor most air purifiers are designed to handle best.

Are you concerned about the harm poor indoor air can do to your family? Do you believe you deserve true value for the money you invest in your family’s health? Before you entrust your family’s health to any air purifier shouldn’t you determine if it is really adequate for your needs?

What standards should you use when buying a HEPA filter air cleaner?

Certainly not price. Inferior products are often priced similarly to the best air purifiers simply to be perceived as being of the same caliber.

What is needed is a clear and simple home air purifier guide. The air purifier information you find throughout this site and the following guidelines will help you make an informed decision.

Features to look for when buying a HEPA filter air cleaner

Buy a HEPA filter air cleaner designed for years of minimal intervention and maintenance

Cheap air purifiers can often be much more costly in the long run. Think about it, how do they reduce the cost?

By building around a cheap motor that can’t meet the challenge of a large area HEPA filter. This means reducing the size of the filter and allowing bypassing of air around the filter to reduce backpressure and also to help cool the lesser quality motor.

What does this mean to you? Smaller filters require more often replacement due to loading and thus greater maintenance cost for you.

These cheap motors can be spotted chiefly by short warranty periods. Of course, they’ll fail as soon as the warranty expires!

You should look for air purifier manufacturers that are willing to stand behind they’re product five or even ten years as Allerair does.

Look for assertions that the motor uses closed, sealed motor windings. These give you clean operation without off gassing and burning smell, a problem owners of cheap air purifiers complain about.

Quarterly maintenance should only take a few seconds to replace or clean the prefilter. The life expectancy estimated for the HEPA filter should be three to five years depending on the environment where it is used, such as a smoking home versus a nonsmoking one.

Activated carbon filters likewise should last as long as possible, but this often depends on the total quantity of carbon in the filter and the circumstances of use.

Buy a HEPA filter air cleaner that can remove odors and harmful chemicals

Any HEPA filter air cleaner should also include a large activated carbon bed. No particulate filter, even HEPA, will remove gases and odors. Effective removal of gaseous toxins requires a large bed of activated carbon to ensure sufficient dwell time to trap the gases.

All high quality air cleaners offer many pounds of activated carbon to trap noxious gas and odors. The deep bed of activated carbon has the capacity to adsorb thousands of chemicals, gases and odors that can cause health problems for you and your family.

Most air cleaners have a only a thin layer of carbon sprayed on a mesh. Which is not enough to make any real difference. Its sole purpose is to enable cheap air purifiers to add another bullet point on their feature list. Many retail corporations in typical “me too” fashion have jumped on the air purification bandwagon by contracting with manufacturers to build snazzy looking but poor performing air purifiers.

Why buy an “air purifier” with only a few token ounces of carbon sprayed on a mesh? It’s only going to add to your filter replacement costs while providing no real benefit.

Also, consider a manufacturer that offers a wide variety of specialized blends of carbon and catalysts so you can customize the air purifier to your needs. For instance, a care facility where urine odors are common would require a different carbon blend than a beauty salon or welding shop.

Likewise, someone with MCS may need an air purifier specifically designed for MCS sufferers. Even then, some activated carbons may prove unacceptable due to source or added chemisorbers and catalysts. Allerair offers a test sample kit of carbons for an MCS sufferer to determine beforehand if a particular carbon blend is problematic.

Buy a HEPA filter air cleaner that is durable and safe with nontoxic construction

Would an “air purifier” company have your best interests in mind if their unit were itself a source of pollutants?

The best air purifiers have a solidly built housing with high quality gaskets and seals to ensure no leakage of air around the filter.

These internal components should be sealed with a glueless gasket that protects you from odors and volatile organic compounds that off gas from the glued rubber gaskets found in most other air cleaners. Look for an air purifier that the manufacturer assures you will not outgas VOCS from the sealants used.

A durable all metal housing will never expose you to off-gassing vapors like many cheap air purifiers that are all plastic in their construction. It also maximizes filtration of your air by providing optimal airflow through the filter as opposed to bypassing the filter because of allowing for a tight seal.

However, don’t dismiss the use of plastics entirely. Soft plastics are often a problem, both in out gassing VOCS and failing to maintain an airtight seal around the filter.

Hard ABS plastic such as is used in quality leader IQAir does maintain a firm seal with the filter and is not prone to giving off VOCS. In fact, IQAir is the only manufacturer to certify their purifiers as a whole to be 95% efficient. So plastics, the right kind of plastics, can be put to good use.

Also, as mentioned earlier, the motor can be a source of contaminants as it heats up. High quality, sealed bearings and motor windings, even unvarnished motor windings, will help eliminate burning smells coming from the motor.

One last point, no high quality air purifier attempts to mask its failure to perform with scented fragrance cartridges. The last thing anyone needs in their home is more petroleum based VOCS, no matter how sweet or “natural” they may smell.

Buy a HEPA filter air cleaner that doesn’t cost you a small fortune over the life of the purifier

Would you like to know the “dirty little secret” of the air purifier industry?

Filter replacement costs! A cheap air purifier can cost you a fortune in regular filter replacements. In fact, it is one of the biggest scams going: Sell a cheap air purifier to an unsuspecting consumer, then require filter replacements every three to six months that cost almost as much as the unit itself!

Unlike air cleaners that incorporate filter elements in a single cartridge, high quality air cleaners separate the HEPA and carbon filters to allow for individual replacement. You save the cost of replacing both filters when one is used.

You ultimately save due to the long life of your filters when buying high quality air cleaners. Your HEPA filter should last three to five years under normal home use and the carbon filter two to three years.

Only pre-filters require regular replacement every 3 months. Some of these can be vacuumed and reused.

This approach to filter life and replacement gives you the lowest long-term costs.

Speaking of filters, did you know many air purifiers are not living up to their owners’ expectations?

Why? Even though they are advertised and sold as HEPA filters they do not, as a unit, provide HEPA filtration. The HEPA designation only applies to theoretical efficiency.

In actual practice improper seating, poor construction, and cracks in the media due to cheap construction severely limit actual performance.

The best method used to manufacture HEPA media is what is known as “warm rolled”. This prevents cracks from forming in the HEPA media, cracks that allow pollutants into your air. Also, a HEPA filter air cleaner should use separators between the pleats of the filter to maintain proper spacing and allow for maximum airflow and top performance of the filter.

Buy a HEPA filter air cleaner that doesn’t harbor illness-causing germs

Because a HEPA filter air cleaner can trap microbes in the media they sometimes become a breeding ground for potentially harmful pathogens.

Allerair air purifiers include two anti-microbial wraps, one on either side of the carbon bed. This suppresses any microbe growth and ensures that your air purifier will always protect your health.

Other manufacturers’ products should likewise be evaluated as to whether they include some means of eliminating mold and bacteria growth in the filter media.

If it doesn’t specifically state how or even if microbe growth is prevented then you can be certain no protection is offered at all.

What is the foremost reason people give for not buying a HEPA filter air purifier? HEPA filter replacements!

So, why are filterless air cleaners preferred while HEPA air cleaners have become persona non grata in so many homes?

Much of it has to do with marketing, especially by Sharper Image, which managed to gain as much as 25% of the air purifier market before going bankrupt. Their infomercials implied noise, mess, a need for tools for filter changes, and expensive HEPA filter replacements as reasons to choose their product.

Most vendors of ionic air purifiers have followed suit in promoting their versions of filterless home air cleaners. Air cleaners that rely on HEPA filter media have taken a black eye as a result.

It’s true that some air cleaner marketers have abused customers by selling a cheap air purifier only to gouge them with regular replacement of high priced filters. Some of these models are presented as being HEPA because they use HEPA filter material. The reality is their poor quality construction means that actual efficiencies are a far cry from true HEPA air cleaners.

Can HEPA filter replacements be easy?

No filters is not only promoted as being more economical but easier to maintain. No tools needed, cries the delighted infomercial actor. The reality is that most HEPA filter replacements can be done without tools and without the “messiness” they also claim you’ll suffer. It usually takes no more than five minutes, including the time to take the filters out of the packaging and the packaging out to the garbage.

Compare that to the time spent cleaning the collection plates on an ionic unit every few days. Since collection efficiency can degrade to as little as 20% in as few as three days, maintenance cleaning should be done often. How much time will you spend cleaning collection plates over the next five years, the projected life of some HEPA filters?

Which brings me to an economical feature of HEPA air purifiers: HEPA filter replacements may only be needed once every five years. This keeps your maintenance requirements low and your air purifier cost low. Both of these goals appear to be foremost on the minds of those who are considering going filterless. HEPA air cleaners that can achieve this while giving you the superior performance of HEPA filtration are surely worth considering, wouldn’t you agree?

The most economical HEPA filter replacements

Which companies offer HEPA quality air purifiers with a long filter life?

There are many excellent products available from companies like IQAir and Blueair, both of whom are often mentioned on this site.

But when it comes to overall economy and performance the top two are Allerair and Austin Air. Both of these companies offer no fancy frills air purification that emphasizes the essentials.

You’ll find high quality construction that maximizes HEPA performance combined with excellent chemical and odor control via activated carbon air purifiers. UV sterilization is also available as well as photocatalytic oxidation to further improve gas, odor and bacteriological control.

Allerair home air purifiers offer both HEPA filters and activated carbon filters with four to forty-eight pounds of activated carbon. Activated carbon air filter life is as long as 3 years. The HEPA filter replacements are recommended at three to five years, even eight years in the case of the AirMedic air purifier.

Typical HEPA filter cost for their most popular model, the 5000 Exec.. That comes to only 20 per year for each year of expected filter life.

All filters are easy to change without tools and can be replaced separately, which offers a cost savings over air cleaners that require you to replace both carbon and HEPA filters as one unit. There is even the option of replacing the carbon in bulk as opposed to a filter cartridge for further cost savings.

All are simple and no nonsense HEPA air cleaners. No filters cost more than and that is for the highly specialized MCS unit. Quoted prices reflect the cost of the HEPA filter only.

Austin Air manufactures good economy priced HEPA air purifiers that also provide VOC, gas and odor removal. Austin Air air purifiers concentrate on the essentials of air cleaning and are not loaded with fancy features.

A small drawback of the Austin Air models is they use a combined HEPA and gas phase filter comprised of activated carbon and zeolite. This means you have to replace both at the same time. However they are expected to last as long as five years and total cost is reasonable.

The typical cost of HEPA filter replacements for their most popular Healthmate model. That equates to only 36 per year for the combined HEPA and activated carbon air filter, which is quite reasonable. There are a number of specialized filters available at extra cost.

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Noise is one of the biggest complaints about air purifiers.

Are quiet HEPA air cleaners just not possible? Should noisy air cleaners be accepted as a necessary evil?

How can you make certain that your air purifier won’t be a source of noise pollution?

The secret to noise free air cleaning is really very simple.

Discover the Key to Quiet HEPA Air Cleaners

Regardless of the air purifier you buy, the real issue is not how loud it is on high but how loud it is on low. Higher settings are best used short-term to remove high levels of pollutants that occur occasionally, such as a kitchen mishap that fills your home with smoke.

Do not buy your air cleaner based on the maximum area it is rated to clean. An air purifier that can clean an 800 sq. ft. area can certainly handle 200 sq. ft. but with one important benefit. The smaller area can be cleaned on low or medium settings. These lower speeds are substantially quieter than an air purifier’s highest setting.

An air purifier on low will measure only about 30 to 35 decibels. This is lower than an average refrigerator and much lower than a soft conversation.

When making your air purifier choice, don’t make the mistake of buying too small a unit that must run on high to cover the area you need. Proper sizing of your HEPA air cleaner can mean almost silent air purification.

Most Recommended Quiet HEPA Air Cleaners

The Blueair air purifiers are a perfect choice for office, bedroom or anywhere truly quiet HEPA air cleaners are needed.

Blueair air purifiers are a top customer favorite due to their virtually silent operation. These quiet HEPA air cleaners are built around the patented HEPASilent filtration system.

Blueair’s HEPASilent filtration captures particles by combining electrostatics with a high efficiency filter. Electrostatic brushes inside the air purifier charge particles so they are attracted to the filter media while producing no ozone. Charged particles cling to the filter media yielding higher filter efficiency.

Air passes easily through the filter media so the fan doesn’t have to work as hard or as loud. Even the housing is made from noise muffling and highly durable galvanized steel.

When you want a small yet powerful air purifier that is ideally designed for clean air delivery and whisper-quiet operation, Blueair HEPA Air Purifiers are an excellent choice. The Blueair Air Purifiers feature outstanding Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR). The larger 501 Blueair HEPA Air Purifier won Best of Class for CADR, as it delivered more clean air than similar air purifiers in its class.

Blueair’s quiet HEPA air cleaners are best suited for people who are looking for help with:

• Dust and Dust Mite Allergies
• Pet Allergies
• Pollen Allergies
• Mold Allergies
• Seasonal Allergies
• Asthma
• Healthy Home Environment

Benefits of Blueair HEPA Air Purifiers

• HEPASilent Blueair HEPA Air Purifiers achieve virtually silent operation.
• The 3-Stage Filter traps even the smallest particles. No pre-filter is necessary. The filters naturally resist contamination from bacteria, mold or viruses. The Filters are 100% recyclable.
• Easy to change filters: When the filter needs to be replaced (twice yearly), just open the lid, lift out the old filter and slide in the new one.
• Durable steel construction: The external parts are made of galvanized steel for durability. The powder coat finish produces no chemical out gassing
• Blueair HEPA Air Purifiers offer exceptional performance with environmentally friendly products. The Blueair HEPA Air Purifiers are energy efficient.