Do Room Air Purifiers Work?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

• When we think of all the outdoor air pollution from autos and manufacturing we rarely consider what could be going on inside our own homes. The pollution that permeates the air outside is oftentimes highly concentrated in our homes due to improper ventilation. Building materials such as carpeting and plywood emit formaldehyde, and paint produces volatile organic compounds (VOC's), so cleaning our indoor air is a goal for many, especially those who suffer from breathing or allergy problems. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states indoor air can be as much as one hundred times more polluted than the outside air.

Air Cleaners vs. Purifiers

• Cleaning indoor air begins with a whole-house furnace filter, which is fairly effective at removing dust and pollens, but are lacking at removing smoke or smaller particulate matter. Used in conjunction with the furnace filter, High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA), made from pleated paper, are considered the best by many in their ability to clean larger contaminants from the air.

Ionic Air Purifiers

• Ion Generator Air Purifiers are generally small, portable units that can be moved from room to room. It purifies the air by sending out negatively charged ions. The charged ions react with particulates and when the pollution contacts collection blades inside the unit they stick. Generally considered as a good way to purify air, these types are used in chicken farms to reduce feather dust, as well as on U.S. submarines.

Unit Maintenance

• Paper air cleaners, along with furnace filters simply stop pollution from passing through and they must be cleaned, or replaced, every few months. A noted drawback to using this type of filter is as they become more clogged with particulates air flow is reduced.

  Even though Ion purifiers do a better job in removing pollution from the air, they also have their own issues with cleaning. As the collection blades become littered with particulates, some of them have a tendency to blow out of the unit dispersing a product known as "black dust," air that is dirtier than if not cleaned at all. Regular cleaning of the collection blades is a must. Generally speaking, room purifiers remove particulates from the air if they are properly maintained.

Preventing Indoor Pollution

• Not all room air purifiers are created equal. One should conduct extensive research before making a purchase. But prevention will go a long way toward reducing indoor pollution. Installing hardwood floors, rather than carpeting will keep pollution levels down. Keep chemicals and solvents only in a well ventilated garage and control mildew and bacteria in bathrooms. Whichever unit you decide on, be it a whole-house filter, or a portable purifier, make sure you check the posted reviews of each model and call the Better Business Bureau to verify the history of the company offering it.