A lot of people are concerned about the environment in which they live both at home and at work. The stories of pollution are grounds for immense anxiety to a lot of people.

A lot of people blame their allergies and other skin conditions on 'bad air' and there is proof to support their conjecture too.

One remedy for 'bad air' that people are turning to is that of air purification. Air purification can be achieved with a dedicated air purifier or by use of high-powered filters in an air conditioning system.

It is usually cheaper to modify an existing air conditioning system than to buy a new air purifying unit, particularly if you want this new, clean air to become available in every room of your house.

Air purifiers are apt to work best in small restricted spaces like an office or a child's bedroom. lots of the companies that make air purifiers boast that they will clean the air in a room of 180 square feet. Well, OK, but let us merely stop and think about that.

That is a room of 15 feet by 12 feet - I am six feet long, so what they are actually talking about is a good sized bathroom or a small bedroom. For that, you pay around $150, but you do not have to purchase new filters, says the company proudly, you can clean and reuse the old one.

Others use replacement filters. These units are normally a little cheaper. They will filter (clean) the air in approximately the same area, but the filters can cost $50-$60 each. They frequently use what are called HEPA filters and they are (or can be some of the best on the market.

It is certainly worth bearing in mind the term HEPA filter, once you have made up your mind how you are going to suck or pump air through it.

If you are looking for an air purifier because you spend a lot of time in one room, especially if the windows open onto a busy road or your spouse smokes, procuring a portable air purifier could be an solution for you, but check the specifications very carefully against the dimensions of your room.

If you try to save on the cost of an air purifier, you have thrown your money away - you might as well have tied a hanky across your nose.

Powerful, expensive air purifiers will work well in a limited space, but are portable and will probably do a better job than an air purification system affixed to your air conditioning unit.

However, if you would like to raise the general standard of the air right through the whole house in one fell swoop, you cannot beat attaching a high quality HEPA filter to a central air conditioning system.

If you use a stand-alone air purifier, you will have to keep the doors shut to hold your clean air in and nag everybody to keep shutting the doors too, but with an air purifier bolted on to to a central heating unit, you can live normally.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with central air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Posted under Allergies

If you are in the market for an air purifier then it is likely that you are concerned about the quality of air in your home or office. This could be because of tobacco smoke, because you have pets, you suffer from an allergy or because you are worried about the amount of traffic or industrial pollution in your area.

Many people would choose to research and buy an air purifier on line and since you are reading this, you are most likely one of those people, as am I. However, there are many surfers who cannot shop online for various reasons - they may not have a credit or debit card or they may not trust sending their credit card data over the Internet. Whatever the reason, some people would rather to do their shopping in the mall.

If you would rather purchase an air purifier from one of your local retail stores, you will need to look in stores in the categories of department stores, home stores, and home improvement stores. There is quite a bit of overlap in which products these different types of stores stock, but they are dissimilar categories if you want to look them up in Yellow Pages.

Home stores may be your best gamble if you are looking for air purifiers, but do not rule out the others too. You might also consider buying from a catalogue and having it delivered. I personally, like to shop in a hybrid form. I research on line and even send for brochures and leaflets so that I can get as much information as possible.

Once I have the promotional material, I come to a decision which three models would be the best for my circumstances and then I go on line again to get prices. I mark the leaflets with the best three prices I can find for each model and write down the URL of the stores selling them on a separate sheet of paper. Then I go to the mall and talk expertly with the store assistants and negotiate the price down showing them my leaflets and brochures with the prices on as evidence. I never say where those prices came from. That is my secret.

This method of shopping works well for more highly priced items such as air purifiers and will make certain that you get a good deal on the air purifier that best suits you, because you will realize, while you are doing your inquiries that not all air purifiers can do the same job or even try to. There are horses for courses even in the field of domestic or office air purifiers.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with split air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Posted under Allergies

Are you one of the growing numer of people who suffer from an allergy? If you are then you have probably already tried several ways to control your allergy, but have you ever thought of using an anti-allergy air purifier? They are not that expensive, but the real question is, whether anti-allergy air purifiers work or not.

However, the answer to this question is not quite so easy. In brief and in general, yes, anti-allergy air purifiers do have the desired result, but there are a few catches. Not all substances that cause allergies are easy to trap and not all anti-allergy air purifiers are as good as each other. Furthermore, it takes different types of air purifiers to get rid of different allergens. You are unlikely to find one portable anti-allergy air purifier that will trap all allergens.

In short, anti-allergy air purifiers work by drawing in air from its surroundings and blowing it back out through a filter. Two things are important here: the volume of air that the pump can handle in an hour and the properties of the filter.

Therefore, it is essential to buy a model with a high through-put and a high-quality filter and that filter has to be kept in shape by either cleaning or renewing it on a regular basis.

However, not all anti-allergy air purifiers are intended to do the same job. Most anti-allergy air purifiers will trap dust, skin detritus, dust mites and dirt. However, second-hand tobacco smoke is better trapped by liquid anti-allergy air purifiers and bacteria is killed only with a system which passes the air through ultraviolet light. Even so, this UV light must be at least 24,000 microwatts UVGI, or else it is practically useless.

Airborne mold and mildew can be trapped with anti-allergy air purifiers that produce ozone, although you should really call a contractor in to find and cure the cause of the mold or mildew.

After you have found out what you are allergic to and discovered what type of anti-allergy air purification system will eliminate that allergen, you have to decide whether you want a portable system or a whole house air purification system. Portable units are all right for one room, a caravan or a trailer or even a tent, but once someone opens the door, you lose a lot of the air that you have scrubbed.

If you live in a house or apartment with several rooms, then the best option is one of the many whole house anti-allergy air purifiers. The cheapest method of achieving this is to insert an anti-allergy air purifying unit into your existing central heating and or central cooling system.

This cuts costs by utilizing your existing ducting and existing blower. This allows more money to be spent on the filtration system and so, for between $300 and $1,000, you could clear your whole house of nearly all the common allergens.

These latter types of anti-allergy air purifiers really do work and are the most effective defense against allergies on the market.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with split air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Posted under Allergies

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

More and more people appear to be suffering from allergies in the West. It is uncertain exactly why people are becoming so sensitive to common items, which only troubled a very small percentage of mankind for tens of thousands of years. Some people say it is because our world is so clean, so clinical, that our bodies have forgotten how to deal with a bit of dirt and others point to the increased amount of air pollution. So could air purifiers be the solution?

If you have an allergic reaction, the first thing to do is to work out which substance you are allergic to. This is not easy to do alone, so you will almost certainly need some professional medical help. Or you could begin by trying to eliminate dust from your house and see if that helps. You would begin to do this by cleaning or replacing any filters you already have on the air conditioning and central heating and then turning the appropriate one on. Clean the vacuum cleaner's filter too and replace the bag, if it has one. Then vacuum the house thoroughly from top to bottom.

If this does not work, you may be allergic to pollen, mold or tobacco smoke, if there is a smoker in the house, or maybe environmental pollution from cars or and near-by industry. Try installing an electrostatic furnace filter and running your heating or cooling system 24 hours a day to see if that clears it up. The filters can eliminate 90% of household dust and some other allergens.

The majority of airborne mold particles can be removed from your air by the use of specialist air purifiers. These air purifiers usually raise the ozone levels too, which has the effect of clearing up smells and killing some bacteria. However, for a longterm answer, you will need to seek advice from a professional to clear up the source of the mold, which is usually dampness caused by leaking pipes or damp brickwork, caused by a bridged cavity wall.

Second-hand tobacco smoke is unpleasant enough, but it can cause an allergic reaction too. If this is the cause of your problem, you could try one of the liquid air purifiers. This type of air purifier is very effective at its job. Some air purifiers purport to kill viruses too, but beware of such claims. The claim is normally based on the use of ultraviolet light, but any UV light producing less than 24,000 microwatts of UVGI is doubtful to be effective.

Sadly, there is no one total solution to the problem of air pollution, because there are so many sorts of substances that cause allergies. Carpets can be a major source of allergens, as can all fabrics, particularly if you keep pets. Fleas, their larvae and house mites love carpets, curtains and upholstery, so you have to steam clean these at least once a year and spray them with a long-lasting insecticide containing permethrin or remove the carpets altogether and get leather furniture.

It is best to know which allergy you are fighting, but if you carry out the cleaning methods mentioned above and use one of the ozone producing air purifiers, you will have gone a very long way to purifying the air in your home and defeating allergies.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with split air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Posted under Allergies

One of the most irritating and concerning condition that has risen from the polluted world we live in today is allergy asthma. Often referred to as allergic asthma; this condition normally arise as a result of exposure to allergy substances. Inhaling certain allergens like pollens and dust mites will result to allergy asthma.

It is not uncommon to find people who suffer from allergy asthma that comes and goes in a span of one to two weeks. In certain situations, the condition will appear and disappears as soon as the appropriate measures are taken to combat it. In most of the circumstances however, the condition will dissipate once the environmental condition improves.

Prevention before occurrence is always the best measure to take when trying to fight allergy or similar ailments. Before you set out to combat this condition, it is necessary that you understand how it is triggered and what you can do to avoid it. Plainly speaking, asthma is an inflammation of the lungs where the bronchi or the air channel contracts and makes it difficult for a person to breathe. Inhaling fumes, molds, dust mites, and pollens will obviously lead to air channel contraction in some people.

About 15% of people in the United States and the United Kingdom suffer from this ailment every year, and more than 300 million people all over the world go through this sickness each year also. When a person goes through the attack and the bronchi or respiratory airway passage tract contracts, the result is more often than not allergy asthma. When the air pipe swells and burns, a person with this condition may feels like his chest is being constricted and that could lead to difficulty breathing. This is indeed a serious condition, and some people need instant medication to remedy the situation or result could be instant death. Taking allergy drugs like astelin may help calm the situation.

Treatments like inhaler pumps filled with beta-2 agonists or corticosteroids should help to quite this to an extent. However for those who suffer from frequent attacks, it is advised that they stay away from specific allergens that may trigger the situation. Some people go through an attack while they play sports or are busy in other high adrenaline activities. Cough and wheezing are common symptoms for this particular illness; even weather changes can be a contributing factor, so watch out for known causes and avoid them like plague.

Allergy asthma has no known single generic disposition that causes it, only that a mixture of genes and surrounding environmental factors like air pollution, active smoking, exposure to chemicals, stress, menstruation, etc can trigger it. These triggers differ from person to person.

Looking to find the best deal on flonase spray, then visit www.Onlinemedicineinfo.com to learn more, and also find the best advice on nasonex for you.

Posted under Allergies

The term HEPA seems to be everywhere nowadays. There are HEPA filter air purifiers, HEPA filter vacuum cleaners, HEPA air conditioner filters, the list goes on and on. But what, exactly, is HEPA, what does it mean, and how does it work? Let's examine the mighty HEPA air purifier, as well as other applications, to get a better understanding of this often used term.

Why Is HEPA Screaming At Me?

HEPA is written in caps because it's an acronym, like DARE or MADD. The acronym stands for "high efficiency particulate absorbing". Or, alternately, it could mean "high efficiency particulate arrestance", which is basically the same thing. In everyday English, HEPA air purifiers either stop or absorb particles of matter that are way too small for the human eye to detect.

How Can A HEPA Air Purifier Help Me?

As many of these particles come from manufactured sources, our respiratory systems often take exception to their presence. We will sometimes notice these particles as allergens or odors, but not always. In all too many situations, or bodies have no way of recognizing these particles, leaving them to wreak havoc with our bodies. This is why having something either stop or absorb these tiny particles can be such a boon to our health.

What Can HEPA Air Purifiers Do That Others Cannot?

Not all air purifiers are equal. Most entities that test any type of air purification device compare the results to "HEPA standards". This is because, for nearly half a century, this type of air filtration has been the absolute king. What makes the HEPA filter air purifiers so great, though, is their ability to stop particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter. This is not a random number or designation. It has been found that, when it comes to the human body, 0.3 micron particles are not only the most dangerous, but also among the hardest to filter.

Is There Really A Difference Between HEPA-Type And HEPA Air Purifiers?

A true HEPA air purifier is held to certain standards. Chief among these standards is the ability to filter at least 99.7% of all 0.3 micron particles that pass through the machine. This is an extremely lofty standard, and you can expect to pay a premium for this ability. Generally speaking, HEPA air purifiers are not cheap. A HEPA-type air purifier, however, is a completely different animal. It's important to realize that there is absolutely no standard whatsoever that a HEPA-type air purifier must pass. A machine with this designation could be anything from a less effective, less expensive alternative to a completely useless piece of junk. Also, be wary of putting too much trust in HEPA air purifier reviews. The best HEPA air purifier will not only produce clean smelling air, but it will also remove particulates that are not detectable with human senses alone.

Want more information about HEPA air purifiers? Check out HEPA Air Purifiers Info!

Posted under Allergies

Remember all those commercials about the Ionic Breeze air purifier? They also made appearances at Radio Shack and The Sharper Image stores. Then they were gone, along with The Sharper Image, for the most part. Researching the Ionic Breeze air purifier on the net will very quickly yield two facts: the original Ionic Breeze air purifier is nearly impossible to find, and there are a bunch of folks out there that feel The Sharper Image lied about it. Yet, if you look at the reviews from the people that actually bought one, you'll see that they're generally favorable. Let's take a look at some of the claims that eventually killed the original Ionic Breeze air purifiers, and put them into perspective.

Ionic Breeze Air Purifiers Do Not Clean The Air As Well As HEPA Air Purifiers

The Sharper Image never claimed that the Ionic Breeze cleaned the air as well as True HEPA purifiers. Like good business people, they avoided the subject of efficiency altogether, for the most part. The stuff hit the fan when Consumer Reports said the Ionic Breeze silent air purifier cleaned only 30% of pollution out of the air. However, you have to consider that 100% of the polluted air will have to pass in and out of the machine quite a few times. Getting something 30% clean over and over again will, after time, get you almost to 100%. No, it's not as efficient, but one could say that ionic air purifiers, if given plenty of time, will do the job just as well as anything. They're also much cheaper to purchase, operate, and maintain. Also, don't forget that Consumer Reports only compared to True HEPA air purifiers as opposed to the much more common HEPA-type purifiers. HEPA-type air purifiers have no particular efficiency, while True HEPA machines are out of reach for many consumers.

The Ionic Breeze Actually Makes The Air Unhealthy

The theory is that ionic air purifiers release a ton of ozone when cleaning the air. But that's just not the case. The best explanation for this misconception is that people don't know the difference between ionic air purifiers and ozone generators, which are somewhat similar, but do use ozone to clean the air. There is no factual data stating that ionic air purifiers put out unsafe amounts of ozone, and Consumer Reports even said that the Ionic Breeze air purifier passes HEPA guidelines in regards to ozone. Actually, the Ionic Breeze silent air purifier passes every HEPA guideline except for efficiency.

The Ionic Breeze Air Purifier Caused The Sharper Image To Go Bankrupt

Yes, The Sharper Image did file in 2008, but lack of sales was not their downfall. The Sharper Image failed because they were a publicly traded company, and their stock prices dropped like so many rocks once their reputation had been so thoroughly tarnished. Although they had a ton of debt by the time they declared bankruptcy, they still had around $50 million in equity, not to include cash on hand. Unfortunately, however, their investors apparently didn't look the whole picture.

How Are Newer Ionic Air Purifiers Different?

Newer ionic air purifiers aren't significantly different from the original as the concept behind was not only simple, but effective, and wouldn't be easy to improve. Simply put, ionic air purifiers effectively, though slowly, clean air pollution just fine, and they do it quite cheaply. The original Ionic Breeze itself might be hard to find, but newer versions of it as well as the Ionic Pro air purifier and various generics are still easily obtainable.

Want to learn more about the ionic air purifier? Visit Ionic Air Purifier Info.

categories: air,appliances,allergies,asthma,pollution,health,electronics,science,filter,guide,shopping,gadgets,product review,green

Posted under Allergies

When shopping for a HEPA air purifier, you'll often see products labeled as a "True" HEPA air purifier. This can be confusing because, if there's a true, then there must be a false, right? There are a few different things that True HEPA air purifiers are comparing to, but none of them will be labeled as false or sub-standard, of course. It's up to you, the consumer, to know the difference, and know if it affects you. Let's take a look at the True HEPA Air Purifier, and see what they are comparing to.

True HEPA Air Purifiers Are Different

There is a difference between a HEPA-type air purifier, and a True HEPA air purifier, which is also called an absolute HEPA air purifier. Even if folks do not always make it clear, when they're comparing HEPA filters to other air filtration medium, especially if they're referencing the likes of OSHA or the EPA, they're talking about True HEPA filters. Yes, there are many types of air purifiers available, but the only ones that places like labs and hospitals use are True HEPA air purifiers.

Do True HEPA Air Purifiers Stop Particles That Others Don't?

One of the main things that a true HEPA air purifier must be able to do is filter at least 97% of 0.3 micron particles. This may sound like so much technical jargon, but it's actually quite important. 0.3 micron particles are the hardest size for filters to stop, including those particles that are even smaller. Not only that, but they are small enough to very easily bypass the human body's natural defenses and enter the respiratory system, causing all sorts of maladies. Suddenly 0.3 micron particles sound a little less nerdy, and a bit more deadly. If you're interested in how small 0.3 microns actually is, compare it to a human hair. A human hair can be anywhere from 70 to 100 microns in thickness.

Best When Dirty! True HEPA Air Purifies Actually Work Better When Dirty

Another big difference between HEPA-type purifiers and True HEPA air purifiers is how they filter when they become dirty. This is where the "Absolute" part of the equation comes in. Any absolute filter media will actually become more effective as it gets dirtier. The more particles that are trapped in an absolute filter, the more effective it will be. The reason why is actually pretty simple. As dirt and other debris builds up around the air holes, those holes get smaller and smaller, allowing less to get through.

Is There A Way To Tell If A HEPA Air Purifier Is True?

Look for products that actually advertise that they are True HEPA air purifiers. The alternative is the HEPA-type air purifier, which is really just an imitation, and is not held to any particular standard. If you find a purifier that doesn't say either HEPA-type or True HEPA, you can also reference other specifications on the box. Look for one that filters 97% or more of the 0.3 micron particles if you want a True HEPA air purifier.

Still not sure that a HEPA air purifier is for you? Visit HEPA Air Purifiers Info for answers to all of your questions.

categories: air,appliances,allergies,asthma,pollution,health,electronics,science,filter,guide,shopping,gadgets,product review,green

Posted under Allergies