How

We spend a lot of time in our cars. Using a car air purifier is becoming more and more popular. Making a good choice depends on several important criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1. Are you driving a small vehicle or a large vehicle?

2. Will you use it just for the car or the hotel as well?

3. Should you use passive or active technology or both? Let's cover these one at a time:

1. Are you driving a small vehicle or a large vehicle?

The only consideration here is getting a purifer sized correctly to do the job. A standard auto purifier may be too small to clean the air effectively in a semi-truck or RV. There are larger

units for larger jobs. Also, make sure the unit you want has the proper adapters for the power source you want to use it with. 2. Will you use it just for the car or the hotel as well?

Some purifiers are able to work in the car using the cigarette adapter and also have a standard wall plug to use in a hotel room. These are nice if you travel and stay overnight often as

many hotel rooms are "stuffy" even if they are non-smoking. It may make sense to find a car air purifier that doubles nicely as a hotel air purifier. 3. Should you use passive or

active technology or both?

Several different technologies are available, so you will need to pick one that suits you. Evaluate the technologies again as needed. Many of the car purifiers use mini versions of popular

full-sized purifiers. Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Air Purifier Types from Car Air Purifier

What should you look for in a personal air purifier?

These are mainly air purifiers that you can wear around your neck. There are several brands on the market. Some are more effective then others. There are a few criteria you should consider

before buying one.

What criteria should I use to decide?

1) What is the size and weight?

2) Does it use rechargeable batteries?

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

4) Is it effective?

5) Do you really need one? Let's cover these one at a time:

1) What is the size and weight?

You will be wearing this around your neck. Nobody wants a big anchor around their neck. The goal would be to have a purifier that is as small as possible and weighs as little as possible,

but is still effective. There are some that are small, light, and effective and even color coded to your attire.

2) Does it use rechargeable batteries?

You could go through a lot of batteries if you have a purifier that is not rechargeable. If you plan to use it regularly, look into one with rechargeable options.

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

Review the technologies and select one that is best for you. There are not as many choices here, but browse the reviews, as they will describe the details for each purifier.

4) Is it effective?

Do a little research and buy from a reputable brand. There are some "toys" out there that are virtually worthless. There are also a few excellent models.

5) Do you really need one?

Make sure that a personal air purifier is what you really need. If you are mostly in the same area, you may be better off with a portable model. If you are on the move in and out of

different locations, a personal model may work better.

Certain situations warrant one especially if you are chemically sensitive or concerned about your air. My favorite two places to use them are on airplanes and in restaurants. The air on

airplanes is some of the worst you will ever find. The brand I use is hardly noticeable, but effective enough to get the job done.

Do not plan on this being your main air purifier. Most are only effective if you are in a sitting or standing position. They will not work as well or at all if you are laying down sleeping,

etc … Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Personal Air Purifier

When looking for whole house air purifiers it is important to be aware of the choices available. Making a good choice depends on several criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) Are you cleaning a few rooms, a small apartment, a regular sized home, or a larger home?

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

3) Do you have a forced air and heat (HVAC) furnace in your home?

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

5) What is your Budget?

Let’s cover these one at a time:

1) Are you cleaning a few rooms, a small apartment, a regular sized home, or a larger home?

First write down an approximate square footage and the number of rooms in your home. In general, the larger the home, the more complex the whole house air purifiers system. If you are cleaning just a few rooms or a small apartment, you may be able to get by with a single larger passive air purifier. If you live in a larger apartment (1000+ sqft) or average home (1000+ sqft) you will need to use multiple passive units, one or more active units, and/or utililize the HVAC system. Larger homes (2500+ sqft) may require multiple active purifiers and/or HVAC systems. Sometimes combinations of technologies or purifiers work best.

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

Knowing the basic contaminants in your air will help you choose the best purifier. If you do not know what is in your air and you are concerned, it may be best to get a purifier that offers the most complete cleaning. Generally speaking, the more complete the cleaning, the more expensive the air purifier. Finding a balance between wants and needs may be necessary. Review all your options.

3) Do you have a forced air and heat (HVAC) furnace in your home?

Having HVAC will open up a few additional possibilities for you. You will be able to evaluate both passive and active HVAC technologies. They could either stand alone or be used in tandem with other technologies.

The 3 Basic HVAC technologies are:

• HEPA filter whole house air purifiers – passive
• Basic UV technology – mostly passive
• Advanced UV technology – passive/active

The whole house HEPA filter unit would probably be used by itself. There are a few quality brands available, but realize they may be pricey. The Basic UV and Advanced UV technologies are best used in tandem with another technology, preferably a purifier designed to remove particles effectively.

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

If you read through the technologies section of this website, you will realize that there are several choices available to clean your air. The first basic choice you need to make is between a passive or an active technology. If you have made up your mind on technology already, that’s ok, review the purifiers with that type of technology. If not, you will need to review both technology types and make a decision. The purifier review section will help as it provides in-depth reviews and research.

5) What is your Budget?

In general, the larger the space cleaned, the higher the cost of the cleaning system. There are several options for each home size. Quality passive technology tends to be more expensive if you want to do a complete whole home cleaning. Quality active technology can provide a very cost competitive complete whole home cleaning. Know your budget and choose what is most important to you first. If you have dollars left, look at additional options or upgrades.

There are 3 major costs involved:

• initial purchase price + possible installation cost
• ongoing cost of filters, UV bulbs, etc…
• energy cost

Congratulations! You’re finished with whole house air purifiers and are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Whole House Air Purifiers

Many air purifiers are designed to clean only one room. Making a good choice for a one room air purifier depends on several important criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) What is the size of the room or space you would like to to clean?

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

3) What quality level of room air purifier are you after?

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

5) What is your Budget?

Let's cover these one at a time

1) What is the size of the room or space you would like to to clean?

The first point to consider would be the actual square footage of the room you want cleaned. Make sure this is a reasonable match to the room air purifier you select. It is ok to get a

purifier that can do more than your rooms square footage, but generally you want the purifier rated for at least as much as the size of the room. Over-powered ok; under-powered not as

desirable.

Other considerations on size: standard ceiling height is 8'. Anything above 8' needs to be taken into account. To get a basic estimate, add 10% to the overall square footage of your

room to be cleaned for each foot above 8' ceiling height.

Example: Your room is 15 ft x 20 ft = 300 sqft. The ceiling is about 10' high. Since it is 2' higher then standard, add 20% to your figure and search for an air purifier that will

handle at least 360 sqft.

Other factors that may cause you to consider a higher capacity air cleaner would be strong room air flow, an open plan layout, or extra contaminants. Strong room air flow in and out of the

room is good, but will make the purifier work harder at keeping that one room clean. An open layout would stretch the purifiers cleaning power to adjoining rooms. Extra contaminants such as

multiple pets or tobacco smoke may require a stronger purifier.

Many purifiers have multiple speed fan adjustments or even square footage adjustments that allow you to tailor the purifier to your space as needed. Review each air purifier's

specifications to see if it is adequate.

2)What contaminants are present in your air?

Knowing the basic contaminants in your air will help you choose the best purifier. If you do not know what is in your air and you are concerned, it may be best to get a purifier that offers

the most complete cleaning. Generally speaking, the more complete the cleaning, the more expensive the air purifier. Finding a balance between wants and needs may be necessary. Review all your

options.

3) What quality level of room air purifier are you after?

In my opinion, quality always pays. There are many brands of purifier on the market that can be had for less than £100.

Generally there are 4 reasons not to purchase a cheap model.

• may do a poor cleaning job because of inefficiencies of design
• may have higher filter cost or may need replacing more often
• may be less energy efficient
• may be noisier

Look at a purifier as an investment. A little more upfront will pay dividends in the long run. Choose wisely and realize quality is usually a good investment.

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

If you read through the technologies section of this website, you will realize that there are several choices available to clean your air. The first basic choice you need to make is between

a passive or an active technology. If you have made up your mind on technology already, that's ok, review the purifiers with that type of technology. If not, you will need to review both

technology types and make a decision. The purifier review section will help as it provides in-depth reviews and research.

5) What is your Budget?

You may have a budget in mind. If so, you can view the reviews by price and get an idea which purifiers are in your range.

If you haven't decided on your budget yet, you can browse all of the reviews. Keep in mind the upfront cost as well as the ongoing costs. These costs as well as other factors will be

presented for each purifier.

Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands of air purifiers. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from One Room Air Purifier

There may be reasons to use a commercial air purifier in a business instead of one designed mainly for residential use, although, many “light” commercial locations could utilize a residential purifier effectively.

Which commercial locations will be discussed?

Commercial spaces come in many types. Because the scope of this website is mostly residential, I will limit my discussion here to commercial locations that are close in type to residential and thus in most cases could use similar technology. Our discussion mostly applies to smaller offices, smaller retail spaces, and other businesses with simple, open areas.

This will not be a discussion of complex air cleaning situations like industrial or chemical plants, hotels, paint booths, restaurants, large retail, nail salons, bars, schools and other large buildings. These commercial locations generally need a custom solution provided by a commercial air specialist. A commercial air purifier or system would be more suitable. If you work in one of these places, it is possible to use a home air purifier and get some benefit, but to do a complete analysis requires more discussion and variables then we can do here. I may expand this section to include a more complete commercial air purifier guide at a later time.

What are the 6 major differences of residential and commercial?

1) The rooms/ spaces may be larger.

2) The air flow and air handling equipment may be more complex.

3) There generally are more people inside.

4) There may be many different types of contaminants.

5) You need to take into account your neighbors businesses.

6) There may be code considerations.

Let’s discuss these briefly one at a time.

1) The rooms/ spaces may be larger.

Many Commercial air purifier spaces are larger. Many ceilings are higher and some are drop ceilings. Some spaces change in size and shape with partitioned walls and/or different retail set-ups. You may need to take these factors and others into account before making a decision.

2) The air flow and air handling equipment may be more complex.

Commercial air purifier spaces can have many types of air flow. Your office or retail space may be tied into its own heating and cooling system or it may be part of a larger system. There can also be more in and out traffic, numerous hallways and doorways, garage doors, etc … On one extreme, there are simple spaces that you can treat just like a regular room and on the other extreme, the spaces are very complex. Most are somewhere in between.

3) There generally are more people inside.

Many Commercial air purifier spaces have more people inside them then residential. More people means more cleaning power needed. In larger spaces the need for a commercial air purifier system becomes necessary.

4) There may be many different types of contaminants.

The number can vary from few to many. Many offices are connected to warehouses. Certain office supplies, new products/ samples, dusty inventory/ boxes and copy machines are just a few possibilities. Every type of industry is a little different. Some businesses may appear to have only standard contaminants, but examine these spaces more closely and you may find some additional ones.

5) You need to take into account your neighbors businesses.

Mini-malls, downtowns, office complexes, and industrial locations tend to have close neighbors. Some of these locations share air flow. The problems can even depend on which way the wind is blowing.

6) There may be code considerations.

Most commercial locations are under local and state codes. This means that where you place something needs to be within code. You can’t block exits, breaker boxes, or hallways. You also need to be mindful of things like extension cords. If you have questions, check with your boss or if you own the business, run it by the code inspectors on their next visit.

I did not cover any of these in very much detail, but you can begin to see the possible complexities of cleaning the air in a commercial situation and the need for a commercial air purifier or complex system. With all that said, many locations are “easy” to clean and can be treated pretty much like a one room or whole home residential situation.

Two criteria used to make a good decision on a Commercial air purifier

1) Do you want to clean one room/office, multiple rooms/offices or the whole business location?

This is a primary decision you will need to make. You may just want to clean a certain room or the place where you work most. In some cases budget can be a limitation. In other cases it can be the size of your office/business or the layout. Even the cooling/heating system can be a factor in your decision.

Let’s look at each of these. First though, if you have made up your mind and only want to clean the air in one room/office. If you are not sure, continue on.

Budget: Cleaning the whole business will generally be more expensive than effectively cleaning just one room/office. One good active or passive air purifier will clean one room/office. If you want to clean multiple rooms or the whole business it can get a little more complicated. If you are on a budget you will need to look at cost effective solutions.

Business Size: Business size generally only matters if you want to clean more than one room. When using passive technologies your choices are limited. A single passive air purifier will clean only a single room or office. Some passive technologies can be hooked through your HVAC system and thus reach the whole business. To do the whole business with passive technologies your choices are limited to more than one unit or a more serious unit hooked through the HVAC. Active technologies may provide more “bang for the buck” for whole business cleaning. Read my section on whole house/ multiple room air cleaning for a more detailed discussion.

Layout: Businesses can be single story or multiple stories. Some have basements. Some offer an open layout and some a closed layout. No matter what air cleaning choice you make, you will have to make some concessions. No layout or purifier combination is a perfect fit. Looking at all the options and having a plan will be helpful, but will not eliminate some “tweaking” once you pick a purifier. One nice thing about most air purifiers is they are moveable. You can move them around and find the best spots.

Heating and Cooling: All air purifiers work better with air flow. Central air and heat systems or HVAC are best at doing this. If you are in a business without central air and heat, consider installing a ceiling fan or using some sort of fan setup to get better air flow. Both passive and active systems will clean the air better with increased air flow.

2) Which contaminants do you want to clean?

Basic Particles – dust, pet dander, allergens: Use HEPA, Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters, or Ionization

Smells and Gases – cooking odors, kitty liter, aerosols: Use Activated Carbon Filters, Ozone or Advanced Filterless Technology

Basic Microorganisms – each technology has varying effectiveness: Use Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters, UV, Ozone, or Advanced Filterless Technology

Advanced Microorganisms – some technologies have proven studies: Use Advanced Filterless Technology

Small Particles – like tobacco smoke: Use Ionization or Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters

Before we get to the plan of action, you may need to decide if your location can benefit from a standard air purifier or if you need a specialized commercial air purifier. Use the basic guidelines presented above to make that decision.

Ok, time for a plan of action!

Plan of Action:

1) Decide if you want to clean the whole business or just one or two rooms/offices.

2) Make a list of all major known contaminants in your home. Figure out what you want to clean and add to the list anything else you want removed from your air.

3) Review the appropriate section on single room or whole house/ multiple room.

4) Review the technologies again if needed and know which ones interest you.

5) Go to STEP 3 Reviews and start your review of air purifiers That’s it! You have your plan, let’s go forward…

Return to STEP 2 Types from Commercial Air Purifier

What two criteria do you look at to make a good home air purifier choice? Since the air problems found in most residential homes are similar, let's start by looking at typical

residential spaces.

Most homes have similar challenges.

Every home has dust and dust mites, food odors, and pollution entering the house from outside. We typically add contaminants from cleaning and beauty

products, painting and home repair, as well as out-gassing from new furniture or carpeting. Many have pollen, mold, and other allergens entering the home regularly. Some of us have pets. Others

have seasonal projects that affect the air. Some people smoke or entertain regularly. We all bring in "stuff" when we are out coming and going. All of these are relatively normal

residential challenges for a home air purifier.

Some homes with basements have a slight leak or small water problem or foundation problem and may have a musty or moldy basement. A small roof or

wall leak can also cause a room or rooms of the house to be musty. An air purifier can help these situations as well, but it is always wise to find the root of the problem and fix it if

possible. These types of problems generally get worse over time. They occur more often in older homes or certain rainy parts of the country.

Some places are dustier, more polluted, or have seasonal challenges. Sometimes there are forest fires or other environmental hazards. Apartments and other houses close together can share air

flow at times. Cooking, smoke, and grill smells can sneak under doors in hallways or outside windows. Again, these are common challenges for a home air purifier.

One major difference between a residential space and a commercial space is that most of us sleep at home. Since the average time spent sleeping is about 8 hours, you may pick this as a place

that you want clean air.

You may have a business in your home or live in an adversely polluted environment or you may have special needs. If you have any out of the ordinary home air situations that are ongoing, you

may need to consult a specialist to solve your air cleaning needs.

The two criteria needed to make a good decision

1) Do you want to clean one room, multiple rooms or the whole house?

This is a primary decision you will need to make. You may just want to clean a certain room or have a purifier where you sleep. In some cases budget can be a limitation. In other cases it

can be the size of your home or your homes layout. Even the cooling/heating system can be a factor in this decision.

Let's look at each of these.

First though, if you have made up your mind and only want to clean the air in one room, If you are not sure, continue on.

Budget: Cleaning the whole house will generally be more expensive than effectively cleaning just one room. One good active or passive home air purifier will clean one room. If you want to

clean multiple rooms or the whole house it can get a little more complicated. If you are on a budget you will need to look at cost effective solutions.

Home Size: Home size generally only matters if you want to clean more than one room. When using passive technologies your choices are limited. A single passive air purifier will clean only a

single room or space. Some passive technologies can be hooked up through your HVAC system and thus reach the whole home. To do the whole home with passive technologies your choice is limited to

more than one unit or a more serious whole home unit hooked through the HVAC. Active technologies may provide more "bang for the buck" for whole house cleaning. Read my section on

whole house/ multiple room air cleaning for a more detailed discussion. Layout: Homes can be single story or multiple stories. Some have basements. Some offer an open layout and some a closed

layout. No matter what air cleaning choice you make, you will have to make some concessions. No layout or home air purifier combination is a perfect fit. Looking at all the options and having a

plan will be helpful, but will not eliminate some in-home "tweaking" once you pick a home air purifier. One nice thing about most air purifiers is they are moveable. You can move them

around and find the best spots.

Heating and Cooling: A home air purifier works better with air flow. Central air and heat systems or HVAC are best at doing this. If you are in a home without central air and heat, consider

installing a ceiling fan or using some sort of fan setup to get better air flow. Both passive and active systems will clean the air better with increased air flow. 2) Which contaminants do you

want to clean?

Basic Particles – dust, pet dander, allergens: Use HEPA, Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters, or Ionization

Smells and Gases – cooking odors, kitty liter, aerosols: Use Activated Carbon Filters, Ozone or Advanced Filterless Technology

Basic Microorganisms – each technology has varying effectiveness: Use Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters, UV, Ozone, or Advanced Filterless Technology

Advanced Microorganisms – some technologies have proven studies: Use Advanced Filterless Technology

Small Particles – like tobacco smoke: Use Ionization or Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters Ok, time for a plan of action!

Plan of Action:

1) Decide if you want to clean the whole house or just one or two rooms.

2) Make a list of all major known contaminants in your home. Figure out what you want to clean and add to the list anything else you want removed from your air.

3) Review the appropriate section on single room or whole house/ multiple room.

4) Review the technologies again if needed and know which ones interest you.

5) Go to STEP 3 Reviews and start your review of air purifiers That's it! You have your plan, let's go forward …

Return to STEP 2 Types from Residential Home Air Purifier

Summary:

There is a certain appeal to a silent air purifier. Why is silence not necessarily golden if you are an air purifier. The question is, do they work?

Silent usually refers to an air purifier with no fan or a very low noise fan or another technology that makes little noise. In most cases a fan is the noise maker.

Nature cleans the air partially by using wind and storms. Both are noisy.

Most HEPA filter and filter air purifiers clean the air using fans by drawing the air to the purifier for cleaning. Again some noise involved.

Most active technologies or passive/active technologies use a fan well. Again the noise.

Most technologies either need to blow outwards to clean the air or draw inwards to clean the air. One could make an argument that active ionization could be silent, but I wouldn't

consider it a stand alone technology. It doesn't do a comprehensive cleaning job alone.

Put a silent purifier in a normal size room with minimal or no airflow and the results would be poor. Put the same air purifier in a room with moderate air flow and the results would be

better.

My recommendation is to only use a silent purifier if you have consistent, moderate air flow from a source other then the silent air purifier.

More Detail

If you object to the noise level of your purifier, there are a few things you can do.

1) Run the purifier on low when you are around and higher when you are not.

2) Get a purifier type that allows you to locate it in a place out of ear shot or at least in a place that is better suited for your "noise" needs.

3) Get a brand that has a lower noise level. Some quality purifiers do.

In-Depth Reference(s)

– Nothing additional at this time –

Buying Considerations

In most cases "wind" is a part of cleaning. Wind has a noise factor. Maybe someday someone will come out with a universally effective silent purifier. Stay tuned 🙂

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Silent Air Purifier

Summary

There are distinct differences between Ozone Generators and Ozone Air Purifiers. There is also some cross-over. Many commercial industries use ozone for cleaning.

Where is the confusion?

First, much of the confusion comes from the misunderstanding of what ozone really is and what ozone really does. Completely read the recommended ozone page in the In-Depth Reference section

below if you haven't already.

Second, the different ozone technologies are generally presented and thought of as "all the same" as opposed to separate distinct technologies designed for different purposes.

It's good to use the right tool for the right job.

Ozone gets a bad reputation because of the ozone layer mentioned in the news and because high concentrations in pollution can cause breathing trouble for young and old people. There is truth

to all of this, but it adds confusion to the truth about ozone air purifiers. The part that is generally left out is that ozone is in all the air we breathe outside and that without ozone we

would all die. It comes down to amount or concentration in the air. Too much or too little, bad news. We need the right amount.

Air purifiers are big business. And I'm not saying all business people are crooked, far from it. Marketing is marketing though and if your air purifier does not use ozone technology and

you stand to lose a lot of money if people use an ozone product over yours, it is awful handy to point the finger and say all ozone is bad. This is further confused by lots of technical talk

and information and fear, etc … Lots of negative marketing.

I'm also not saying that other air cleaning technology is bad, I am saying that negative marketing is going on. It is used in other industries as well, so no real surprise.

A little investigation, reading, and knowledge about the subject will be valuable to you. If you haven't read my ozone air purifier section under active technologies yet, make sure you

do as well as the recommended reference on ozone. It will give you a better background.

More Detail:

There are really 5 or so distinct technologies generally all lumped into what is called ozone air cleaning.

1) Specialized Ozone generators used in industry. These may include generators used for industrial cleaning, food prep and decontamination, municipal water utility cleaning, and some

pharmaceutical clean room applications. Many of these can and are designed to exceed safe ozone limits.

2) Heavy duty, Commercial Ozone Generators used for cleaning and restoration. These are used for "ozone blasting" fire damaged building, auto detailing, mold remediation,

restaurant cleaning, and hotel room cleaning. Most of these are designed to exceed safe limits.

3) Medium Duty Ozone Generators that are marketed as commercial ozone generators, but also say they could be used in your home. These are a little confusing and should be regarded with some

caution. Most are made with professional use in mind, but are marketed to consumers as well. These won't harm you if used properly, but really are cross-marketed and not recommended as an

air purifier. This group draws the most negative publicity from competitors. Most of these can exceed safe limits.

4) Ozone Air Purifiers. Generally ozone is used in tandem with other technologies in the air purifier. It may be a large portion of the total cleaning technology or a small part of the total

cleaning technology. These purifiers are designed to operate within all regulated guidelines and have safety factors, consumer friendly controls and operation manuals. They are best used for

residential and light office duty. Just like any other appliance or machine, read the caution sections and learn to operate your purifier.

5) Air Purifiers that use a technology that may generate some ozone as a by-product of another technology used. UV, Electrostatic Precipitation, Ionization and Media Charged Filters can all

fall into these categories. Other hybrid cleaning technologies may also have some ozone output. Again, these technologies generally stay within regulated limits and are best used for

residential and light office duty.

The 3 big differences that separate an ozone generator vs. an ozone air purifier. 1) Design – are they made for commercial activity or consumer activity?

2) Control – are they all on or all off? Are they made to generate ozone levels above standard regulation for safety? If they do have settings to "blast" ozone, are they properly

marked, consumer friendly, documented, and outlined for safe use?

3) How sold – are they marketed as an air purifier or as an ozone generator?

Again, there is some cross-over. It is not cut and dry.

Think of ozone as a tool. Ozone is a wonderful cleaning tool. It does require some knowledge to use and you need the correct tool for the job.

Let me give you an example that may make things clearer.

Let's say you want to drill a few holes in a door to install a new door handle configuration. This is a job that not everyone would do, but some handy people would and some would find

other ways to get it done. To use the 5 technologies above as a guideline, let's see how we could get the job done.

1) Use an industrial Drill press, vertical lathe or "big drill". Not really practical to use at home. Some of these machines require professional training and set-up. Maybe we

could buy a door pre-made, built from the factory using one of these drills, but it's not right for using at home.

2) Use a professional grade drill. Again, overkill here. If you were a carpenter or had a wood shop it may pay to have all the expensive professional grade equipment, but dog-gone it, we

just want a few holes. Too much for the job. You could hire a professional with this equipment.

3) Ok, maybe we are handy so a high-end consumer/ professional grade setup would work. I only drill a few holes a year and I haven't really had any professional training, so again this

is overkill. Some professionals would use this equipment and if you decided too, expect that the training manual would be aimed at a professional and not at general consumers.

4) Here we go … a consumer drill made for me. Fits in my hand, does the job. It even comes with "dummy" instructions so I don't drill through my hand.

5) ditto to #4.

Now used properly, any of my drills could do the job. Some would require training and experience though and really don't fit the job. Also, if used improperly, I could hurt myself or

others with the drill. If I used the correct tool for the job and took the proper precautions, no problem, proper holes. Right tool, right job.

Ozone is the same folks …..

In-Depth Reference(s)

Recommended: An educational and informational presentation on Ozone (opens a new window)

Buying Considerations:

I may expand this section at a later date, but most of the information on my site is aimed at consumer level air purification. Commercial air purification and the use of ozone generators are

better left up to trained professionals.

With that said, ozone generators do serve a purpose. Seek professional guidance if you feel you have an air concern needing professional help.

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Ozone Generators

Summary

Some companies present a case that a filterless air purifier is a better technology then a purifier with a HEPA or other replaceable filter technologies.

"filterless air purifier" – an air purifier that does not utilize any replaceable filter.

Many of these purifiers may have a pre filter, but it generally is a reusable/cleanable variety.

There are four basic types of filterless purifier.

1) Some Electrostatic Precipitators – see the Passive Technology section

2) Some UV products – see the Passive Technology section

3) Most Ozone based purifiers – see Active Technology section

4) Several advanced technology air purifiers utilizing multiple cleaning technologies, all filterless

Interestingly enough, some purifiers using the technologies above do have carbon filters or other replaceable filters associated with them. Again, I would not consider these

"filterless" as they have a replaceable filter associated with the purifier.

More Detail:

1) Electrostatic Precipitators – this technology is covered in the passive technology section, so I will not repeat that information here. I will however add that some units do utilize this

technology without any replaceable filter. Others do include a carbon or other filter as one of the stages of cleaning. Generally this technology alone is not as effective as it would be

combined with other technologies.

2) UV – again this technology is covered in the passive technology section, so I will not repeat that information here. I will however add that some units do utilize this technology without

any replaceable filter. Some may include UV as one of the technologies offered in their air purifier. Generally this technology alone is not as effective as it would be combined with other

technologies.

3) Ozone based purifiers – this technology is covered in the active technology section, so I will not repeat that information here. Most of these purifiers use ozone or a combination of

active oxidizers to clean the air and do not have any filters. Several processes can be employed and are discussed in detail in the Ozone section. Ozone technology alone is not as effective as

it would be if combined with other technologies.

4) High Technology purifiers – Some purifiers utilize several technologies to do a more complete job in cleaning the air. Very few utilize two or more filterless air purifier technologies.

There are a few however. One in particular utilizes Ionization (3 forms), UV, and a small ammount of ozone with other active oxidizers. Each of these technologies is covered in their respective

sections.

Filterless technology has an interesting image as the "new player on the block". It has been around in one form or another for over 20 years. Filterless technology can do a great

job of cleaning the air. It is important to understand all the basic technologies involved first.

It is also important to understand all the marketing tactics involved. Remember this, every air purifier company wants to sell their technology. For many HEPA filter purifiers (and others),

embracing filterless technology would be the "kiss of death" marketing wise. It is a gap that is hard to bridge when you are a company built on Filter technology. They will not

represent both technologies. Many have decided to attack filterless technologies as "all bad" as way to set themselves apart. Whether this is good or bad is not my point. My point is

that it is the way it is.

Keep this thought in the back of your mind, replaceable filters are big business.

Generally there is marketing friction between passive, passive/active, and active purifier companies. Get the facts on the technologies first, then when we talk about individual purifiers,

we can decipher some of the marketing.

In-Depth Reference(s)

– No additional reference information at this time –

Buying Considerations:

There is a clear leader when it comes to filterless air purifier technology (see reviews). A whole new industry of copies and knock-offs have emerged from this main player. Although many of

these "knock-offs" work and do some air cleaning, the "leader" has continued to stay a few steps ahead in technology.

Understanding the basics of filterless technology and of active technologies will help you make the right choice. Make sure to read the reviews as well as the other presentations on

differing technologies to get a full picture.

Going with a filterless air purifier can reduce ongoing costs versus filter technology, but realize there still may be some cost with either the time spent cleaning the purifier or replacing

certain parts that still may break or wear out. Generally speaking there can be a significant ongoing cost savings if the purifier is kept clean.

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Filterless Air Purifier

Summary

Using an Ozone Air Purifier can be effective, but many claim ozone harmful. Consumer ozone technology has been available for over 20 years. Do complete research when making a buying

decision.

Read my information realizing that it is not very technical. The In-Depth Reference section will cover the technical aspects of ozone in an easy to read format. This information is my

viewpoint after researching the subject and using the technology over the last 18+ years.

There are two main questions to be answered:

1) Is using an ozone air purifier safe?

2) Does ozone clean the air effectively?

Since you are reading this far, I'm assuming a few things. I'm assuming you have heard of ozone. I'm further assuming that you may have heard of the "ozone

controversy". Lastly I'm assuming you want either my viewpoint or you are interested in more information.

I know that assumtions can be a two-edged sword, but consider reading every word in this page including the In-Depth References. You will have a better idea of how ozone works.

More Detail

As you review Air Purifier Company websites and those selling air purifiers, you will find a trend. Most are either pro ozone or con ozone. Interestingly, the ones that sell it, prove that

it is safe and effective and the ones that don't try to warn and prove that it is unsafe. The later group generally uses common negative marketing techniques.

Ozone is a natural substance. It occurs in nature.

Did you know ozone is in the air we breathe outside everyday?

Ozone is generally measured in ppm (parts per million). This is an amount or concentration measurement. As you do research, you will find that too much concentration (too high of a ppm) can

be harmful to humans. You have to dig a little farther to find that too little also can be harmful.

It is an amount question. High concentrations are bad; too little is also bad.

Let me give you an example:

Ozone is an oxidizer. It will oxidize or "eat" certain things. It works best on living things like microorganisms (mold, mildew, and bacteria, etc). It will also clean some VOCs,

and some smells and gases.

Let's say we have a rainstorm and everything is wet. When something is wet indoors it starts to grow mold. Left unchecked, a big, bad mold problem can develop. Mold loves damp, dark

areas. If we did not have any ozone in the air outside, every nook and cranny including the trees would be covered in mold. Thank goodness for natural ozone.

What about high pollution areas and ozone?

When pollution is high, nature adjusts the ozone level higher to remove the air contaminants. After the pollution has been reduced by the ozone, levels return to normal. In cities and higher

pollution areas this can lead to some days with smog or ozone alerts. The ozone level is high because nature wants to clean faster. This high level can affect human breathing.

So, I'm stating that too much ozone is bad and too little ozone is bad; how much is good? There is a range that is deemed safe, beneficial and effective. This is where an ozone air

purifier is designed to operate. Just like any other modern technology, you need to understand how to use it.

Let me give you a few slightly humorous examples:

• Do you jump in a shower with the scalding hot water on only? – No, you would burn yourself.
• Do you turn up your stereo or TV full blast and put your ear next to the speaker? – No, you would make yourself deaf.
• Do you turn your stove on high every time you cook? No, you may burn your food or burn the house down.
• Do you slam on the gas pedal in your car everywhere you go? No, you may have an accident.

These may seem silly, but all of these modern appliances (shower, stereo, TV, stove, car) could hurt you if used improperly. Are they dangerous? The same thinking could be applied to an

ozone air purifier. As with most modern conveniences there are easily identifiable signs before danger occurs. With ozone, you can smell it and even feel it if it is too high for you. At that

point you can adjust it down. Our bodies generally will sense it just like we sense something is too hot. It is not something that "strikes you down"; you have control. Not

surprisingly there are no deaths attributed to an ozone air purifier. We can't say this for cars or stoves as well as several other everyday technologies.

I have spent literally 100's of hours researching ozone and I am still surprised at the ignorance and misinformation that is out there. Seriously! In many countries ozone is used in

many, many, many applications. Medical and otherwise. It is thought of as almost a miracle.

For detailed information, I would recommend reading the In-depth References below.

In-Depth Reference(s)

Recommended: An educational presentation on presentation on zone (opens a new window) This is "Pro" ozone.

The EPA's information on ozone (opens a new window) This is "Con" ozone.

Note: an ozone air purifier would usually not be considered an ozone generator. See my section on ozone generators for clarification.

Buying Considerations:

The question is "is an ozone air purifier safe and effective?"

The answer is "it depends."

Safety depends on the amount or concentration. An ozone air purifier usually has safety factors built into the product and operate within safe limits. Make sure your brand does.

Most air purifiers also have details on how to get the best results. In the case of ozone, settings, placement, and air flow are the important factors. Also keep in mind that ozone is

effective, but is not generally a total air cleaning solution. For example, it cannot remove dust particles from the air. It is best used in tandem with other technologies.

Many companies have jumped on the ozone bandwagon over the years. This is because making a cheap ozone air purifier is easy. Cheap technology usually isn't good. Others have down played

or removed most references to ozone as a marketing ploy. This also points to cheap products. Still others have stood their ground and advanced their research and have improved their purifiers

with additional technology making ozone a small part of the overall air cleaning process. These companies have alliances with well known organizations and reputable College Research Centers.

With that said, I would highly recommend using only products that have a good reputation and a good following.

There are two "camps" here. Those that love it and those that don't. The old technology meets the new technology. Make sure you read the In-Depth References if you are on the

fence.

You can probably guess I am pro ozone? I am because I understand it and use the technology daily. Am I trying to sell you on it? No, but I do think it is a valid technology and deserves high

consideration.

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Ozone Air Purifier

Summary

Summary