Air Purifier FAQ

What is an air purifier?
An air purifier is an appliance that removes certain airborne contaminants from the air and improves the indoor air quality. They are most frequently used in homes and offices and helpful to people who suffer from allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity and other respiratory related symptoms.

How does an air purifier work?
An air purifier draws polluted air from a given space into the unit and passes it through several layers of filtering devices. Particles, allergens and contaminates are trapped onto a filter and the clean or purified air is then recycled back into the room.

Why do I need an air purifier?
An air purifier will improve the overall indoor air quality and in turn, improve your health. We tend to associate air pollution only with outdoor air; however The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air pollution levels can be as many as two to five times higher than outdoor pollutant levels. In fact, indoor air pollution is one to the top environmental concerns in the country. Many of the pollutants removed by air purifiers are known to trigger allergies and asthma; therefore an air purifier will offer relief to those suffering and lessen the possibility of a person contracting them if they don't already suffer from them. Infants and small children are especially susceptible to contracting asthma and allergies since they spend a majority of their time indoors.

What contributes to poor indoor air quality?
Modern homes are built and sealed to be energy efficient and hold air inside. While this is great for reducing your energy bills, it doesn't allow the home to breathe. Pollutants such as pollen, mold, dust, pet dander and tobacco smoke then become trapped indoors instead of being released outside by natural means.

How do I know what air purifier I need?
Since air purifiers vary in their effectiveness based on different problems, you should first determine what problem you are trying to solve. Some air purifiers are better at removing particles, others are better at getting rid of odor and some are better at removing chemicals. Once you've determined the problem, determine the best technology and choose the right model for the room size. If you have asthma or morning congestion, you would want to look at purchasing a HEPA air purifier, especially one to keep in the bedroom. If you have a moldy basement, you would require an air purifier than can remove both airborne mold spores as well as, the musky odor. If you have a smoker in the house, you would need an air purifier with lots of activated carbon. If your home has indoor pets, you'll need an air purifier that can get the pet dander. If you have no specific purpose other than air cleaning, then any of our air purifiers will work for you.

Are air purifiers loud?
Air purifiers are comparable to the sound of a house fan. Most air purifiers have multiple speeds with the highest setting generally equal to the level of normal conversation; the same is true with a fan. In most instances, you would only use the high setting for a quick cleaning then turn to medium or low in order to maintain the clean air levels. The medium and low settings are usually no louder than the central heating or air conditioning and similar to white noise which is beneficial for concentration, relaxation and better sleeping.

How often should I run my air purifier?
For optimum operation, all air purifiers should be run continuously. When the air purifier is turned off, indoor air pollution returns to its pre-treatment state.

Where should I put my air purifier?
Naturally, it's best to place the air purifier in the room where you spend the most time. For most people, this is the bedroom. If you're allergic to pet dander then you may want to keep your air purifier in the room where your pets spend the most time. Also, you should not place an air purifier in the corner of a room, it should be placed at least a couple of feet away from the walls for maximum air flow.

Can I open my windows in a room where an air purifier is running?
Yes, it is perfectly fine to mix in a little fresh air while the air purifier is working.

Will an air purifier clean my whole house?
There are air cleaning systems available that can be installed to clean your entire house, however they tend to be more expensive than a portable unit. If an installed system is a budget constraint, then portable air purifiers in key rooms is the way to go.

How do I know if my air purifier is working?
After just a few days of installing your air purifier, the room will be cleaner and no longer feel heavy. You should be able to breathe easier and morning congestion as well as allergy symptoms should be lessened. When you change your filter, you will visually see how dirty it has become.

How much does it cost to operate an air purifier?
There are two factors you need to take into consideration: the cost of replacement filters and the annual electricity cost. High quality air purifiers generally use minimal electricity as they are engineered to be energy-saving. You can determine the annual operating cost by adding up the annual electricity cost and the filter replacement cost.

Are there side effects to an air purifier?
Quality, non-ozone producing air purifiers improve health and pose no side effects.

What is the difference between ozone and negative ions?
Ozone is a harmful gas that can affect your health. Negative ions are believed to alleviate depression, boost our daytime energy and relieve stress by producing biochemical reactions that increase levels of serotonin.

What does CADR rating mean?
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and is the measurement for the volume of filtered air delivered by an air purifier. It is given in three measurements: one for pollen, one for tobacco smoke and one for dust. The higher the CADR number, the faster the unit filters the air.

What is the best air purifier for someone with asthma?
HEPA air purifiers are best for customers who suffer from asthma. Asthma sufferers should avoid ozone generators and ionic air cleaners.

How much does it cost to operate an air purifier?
There are two factors you need to take into consideration: the cost of replacement filters and the annual electricity cost. High quality air purifiers generally use minimal electricity as they are engineered to be energy-saving. You can determine the annual operating cost by adding up the annual electricity cost and the filter replacement cost.

Are there side effects to an air purifier?
Quality, non-ozone producing air purifiers improve health and pose no side effects.

What is the difference between ozone and negative ions?
Ozone is a harmful gas that can affect your health. Negative ions are believed to alleviate depression, boost our daytime energy and relieve stress by producing biochemical reactions that increase levels of serotonin.

What does CADR rating mean?
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and is the measurement for the volume of filtered air delivered by an air purifier. It is given in three measurements: one for pollen, one for tobacco smoke and one for dust. The higher the CADR number, the faster the unit filters the air.

What is the best air purifier for someone with asthma?
HEPA air purifiers are best for customers who suffer from asthma. Asthma sufferers should avoid ozone generators and ionic air cleaners.

Will an air purifier cure my asthma or allergies?
While an air purifier will lessen the effects that airborne pollutants have on your health and give allergy and asthma sufferers much needed relief from the symptoms, it will not cure them.

What is a HEPA filter?
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and is type of highly efficient filtration media that removes microscopic particles from air passing through the filter. HEPA is a standard given to filters that remove at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns.

What is the HEPA filter made of and how does it work?
HEPA is a paper-like material made of densely spaced glass fiber. A washable pre-filter traps all larger particles then the HEPA filter removes at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. Allergens such as pollen, pet dander, mold spores and dust get trapped in the dense fibers of the filter. Many HEPA air purifiers also contain a carbon filter to capture chemicals, odors and gases. Once the dirty air is purified, a fan sends it back into the room as clean air.

How often do I need to replace the filter?
If you are buying a HEPA air purifier, don't forget to check how much the replacement filters will cost. If your unit includes both a HEPA filter and a carbon filter or other combinations, they will most likely need to be replaced separately and may last for different periods of time. Generally pre-filters need to be changed every 4 to 5 months and HEPA filters every 2 to 4 years. Home environment factors such as indoor pets, tobacco smoke, a fireplace or someone with moderate or severe allergies or asthma can play a big role in how often the filters need to be replaced. Some brands have electronic indicators and others have a manufacturer designated time period that the filters should last.

What is the outdoor Air Quality Index (AQI) and what does each of the colors mean?
The Air Quality Index is the system used to warn the public when the air pollution is dangerous. The AQI is divided into six color code categories and advice to go along with it:

GREEN- Good; no advisories.

YELLOW- Moderate; unusually sensitive individuals should consider limited prolonged outdoor exertion.

ORANGE- Unhealthy for sensitive groups; children, active adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

RED- Unhealthy; children, active adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

PURPLE- Very Unhealthy; children, active adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid outdoor exertion; everyone else should limit outdoor exertion.

MAROON- Hazardous; everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors.