The purpose of an Air Purifier is to remove all the contaminants from the air. Asthma patients and people who are allergic to air-borne particles are the prime beneficiaries of these purifier units. These devices are also helpful in filtering out second-hand tobacco smoke that cause unnecessary hardships to non-smokers. Residences generally use stand-alone Air Purifier units while commercial users are known to employ HVAC systems that come equipped with Purifier systems. A number of purifiers are available, with prices ranging from 20 US Dollars to a whopping 1000 US Dollars or more. The differentiating factor among the array of units is the filtering capability.
Air Oasis PCO Air Purifier
Photo Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) filters have been creating quite a buzz over the past few years and Air Oasis has capitalized on this opportunity by employing this principle. The unit releases catalysts that then react with a range of volatile contaminants present in the air. The broad UV spectrum available via natural sunlight acts on the compounds, breaks them down and eliminates them. The primary advantage of the unit is that the ozone released is well within FDA regulated limits. In addition, a fan is not required. These complex purifiers are not inexpensive and cost approximately 400 US Dollars.
Hepa Air Purifier
The US Government invested in the Research and Development of HEPA Air Filters in the mid 1940s to protect the people working on the atomic bomb from airborne atomic particles. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filters that do not have a standard regulation. A good HEPA filter does away with 99.97% of all particles that have dimensions greater than 0.03 microns. The presence of a fan in every HEPA filter unit allows it to process more air compared to similar-sized filters using other principles. They are not very effective while eliminating odor. A basic Holmes HEPA-type Air Purifier costs less than 40 US Dollars.
Vornado Air Purifier
Vornado's unique selling proposition is the vortex technology that it employs in all its purifier units. The modus operandi of these purifiers is to spin the air leaving the machine, akin to a tornado. This creates a much wider distribution pattern for the purified air. Two HEPA filters are housed within the unit to catch all the particulate matter. The Vornado AQS 500 Purifier is capable of serving almost 255 square feet and is available for less than 100 US Dollars. The pricing is highly attractive when compared to similar competitors. The vortex fan at the top of the unit can be extremely noisy and this takes a few points away from the Purifier.
.
Want to find out more about Air Purifiers, then visit our site on how to choose the best HEPA Filter for your needs.
Posted under Allergies
This post was written by Eldon Cornelio on March 15, 2011
