The air pollution outside our homes may be a cause for worry, but the air inside may not always he quite as pure as we’d like to believe it is. Enter air purifiers. These units are designed to remove a variety of pollutants – including smoke, dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, and some chemical odors and gases from the air. Do they work? Yes and
no. Studies show that some types of air purifiers are effective against some types of pollutants. The key to buying one is knowing which pollutants you want to target and how much money you want to spend; prices and maintenance costs vary greatly.
Choosing the right unit
To rid your home of noxious odors particularly those that emanate from formaldehyde, pesticides, perfume, and tobacco smoke the best choice is a unit that uses an activated carbon filter. (Note: Air cleaners that do not contain special media, such as activated carbon, will not remove gaseous pollutants, including radon, or reduce their associated health effects.)
Electronic air purifiers may also reduce cigarette smoke, but they may not eliminate the odor. Different varieties, called electrostatic cleaners, electric cleaners, and negative ionizing cleaners, charge particles in the air so that they can be collected, either by a special filter or by your walls, floors, and furniture. These units neutralize some offensive odors but won’t remove odorless gases like carbon monoxide. Neither will they alleviate your allergy to cats, pollen, or dust.
If allergies to dust, pollen, and mold are your biggest complaint, look for a mechanical filtration system that traps large particles. A so called HEPA filter (high efficiency particulate air filter) is a good bet. But there’s a catch: these units filter only particles that are airborne; most allergens quickly settle on surfaces, where air purifiers can’t touch them. (In fact, you may not even need an air purifier to filter allergens from the air; at least one study showed that air conditioners do the job almost as well.)
To remove gases and odors in addition to pollen and dust, you’ll need a hybrid unit that uses more than one type of filtration system. If you have central heating or air conditioning, you may not need to buy an air purifier at all: you can have an electronic or mechanical filter installed in the ducts.
Recognize the drawbacks
Electronic air purifiers and negative ionizing cleaners may produce ozone, a lung irritant, especially if they are not properly installed and maintained.
And negative ionizing cleaners, especially those that lack a collection system, may eventually create an ugly black film on your walls and furniture. Also, many even most units designed to remove gases may actually send the gases right back into the air over time. And some devices fool you into thinking that they work better than they do by releasing scents in order to mask odors.
Know which pollutants you want to remove.
Match the purifier to the room size. Look for the CADR (clean air delivery rate) to learn how many cubic feet oft air per minute the unit can clean.
Tabletop units are relatively ineffective, unless used in small areas. No air purifier is 100 percent effective on its own. You must also control the source of pollution. For people with allergies, an air purifier with a HFPA system is a fair bet but not a surefire solution.
Refrigerator & Freezer Smell & Odor Eliminators – Fridge Aid & Ice Aid
|
|
4 INCH HYDROPONIC INLINE AIR CARBON FILTER ODOR CONTROL $49.90 |
|
|
4 INCH HYDROPONIC INLINE AIR CARBON FILTER ODOR CONTROL $32.95 |
|
|
4 INCH HYDROPONIC INLINE AIR CARBON FILTER ODOR CONTROL $49.90 |
|
|
4 INCH HYDROPONIC INLINE AIR CARBON FILTER ODOR CONTROL $49.90 |
|
|
4 INCH HYDROPONIC INLINE AIR CARBON FILTER ODOR CONTROL $49.90 |
|
|
simplehuman Odorsorb Trash Can Odor Filters, 2-Pack $5.60 The simplehuman activated carbon filter naturally absorbs odors. After extended use, the filter’s odor absorbing ability can be recharged by placing it in direct sunlight. To use, simply peel off the double-sided adhesive tape on the back of the filter and attach to a clean surface area where there are odors, such as the underside of your trash can’s lid or inside a cabinet door. Each pack contain… |
|
|
Miele S300-S600 Series Active Air Clean Filter (For Odor Control) $36.95 Miele S300-S600 Series Active Air Clean Filter (For Odor Control)… |
|
|
Miele Active Air Clean Filter for Canister Vacuum Cleaners $36.95 This filter combines the Super Air Clean Filter with an active charcoal cassette which absorbs odors from the dust bag – especially useful if you have pets. This filter retains 99.95% of particles down to 0.5 of a micron (only 1& 1/200th the width of a strand of human hair) and has a life of 50 hours or 12 months of use…. |
|
|
Cinnamon FilterFresh Filter Fragrance All FilterFresh products contain an odor counteractant working with the fragrance to help eliminate odors. Remember to use FilterFresh with a clean filter for days of refreshing fragrance!… |
|
|
Bye Bye Odor Deodorizer 7.5 oz Bottle, 1 Each Apricot Scent $4.90 Neutralizes offensive odors completely. Will filter into the room to attack malodors and freshen the air. Non aerosol formula. Ultra concentrated deodorizer. Will absorb odors chemically. Will control environmental odors. Deactivates foul odors on contact. Reduces airborne bacteria…. |
