STEP 1 in our Air Purifier Comparison is to understand the basic technologies. Air cleaning can be categorized by two basic terms: Passive or Active.
Some air purifiers include a combination of technologies. These could be Passive, Active or Passive/Active combining both active and passive technologies.
Let’s start with some basic definitions:
“Passive” an air cleaning process that occurs at or inside of the actual purifier. The air is drawn to the technology for cleaning.
“Active” an air cleaning process that occurs away from or outside of the actual purifier. The technology goes out to clean the air.
“Passive/Active” doesn’t apply directly to any one technology, but could be achieved if an air purifier contains multiple technologies.
Okay, this is an important distinction, so quick review: Passive = inside the purifier, Active = outside the purifier, and Passive/Active = combination of inside/outside the purifier.
Let’s Compare Each of the Key Passive Technologies:
- HEPA Filters
- Generic Filters
- Pre Filters
- Activated Carbon Filters – click here
- Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters
- UV Ultraviolet – click here
- Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters
NEEDS REWRITING
NEEDS REWRITING
And Finally, Let’s Review the Related Topics:
Do you need a way to rank which technologies are important to you in your air purifier comparison? Take some scrap paper and rate each technology from 1 to 10 in importance to you. When finished you will have a better idea of which technologies you find most important. Don’t worry too much about details at this point, just having a general feeling of your likes and dislikes is what we’re after.
Done comparing technologies?
Then it’s time to move along to STEP 2 Category: We’ll decide which category of purifier you want and where you want to make your air cleaner.