So, you've been disappointed with air filtration, & are now considering an air purification system of some sort.
Given the obvious drawback of filtration (polluted air needs to get to and through the unit), the next step appears obvious. Why not go on the offensive? Let's hit the pollution where it resides; out in the room, in the corners, behind furniture, walls, etc.
Let's try an Active Technology.
In this area of air purification, you need to beware of old technology, copy cats and scams. As I mentioned before, this is an estimated $90 billion market and there are many opportunists trying to relieve you of your hard earned money. Many claims and promises are made but can they deliver?
There are some very good air purifiers on the market by such companies as Oreck®, Honeywell®, Austin®, Friedrich®, Hunter®, Kenmore®, IQAir®, Blueair®, Electrolux®, Panasonic®, Airfree®, Holmes®, Prozone®, FreshAir®, EcoQuest®, Biozone®, Bionaire®, Whirlpool®, Sharper Image®, Sila®, Hamilton Beach®, GE®, Lumipure®, Amcor®, Lifewise®, Bell & Howell®, Delonghi®, Aranizer® and Surround Air®, but you must understand the technical differences among these purifiers before you can find one that's right for you.
The Conventional Air Purification System
Let's discuss some of the different types of air purification system available. You have a lot to choose from and will need to consider them in relation to what you would like to accomplish. In order to focus your search you should know that an air purification system will fall into three basic classifications:
ozone generators
ion generators and
germicidal irradiators (lamps)
Ozone generators
The danger with these kind of devices is that they can produce too much ozone. Current Federal guidelines restrict the level of ozone in occupied spaces to 0.05 ppm (parts per million). A good quality ozone generator should have built in safety controls to ensure this limit is not exceeded. Fortunately, most people can detect the smell of ozone down to about 0.01 ppm and at that level the air smells fresh and clean; similar to the smell you get after a thunderstorm or in the mountains. As the level increases, the odor can become irritating and constricting.
Ozonators that exceed federal guidelines should only be used at times when you are away from the house. At such times they can do a very good job of removing odors and sanitizing your home. When you return you will need to turn off the device and open windows to remove excess ozone. You might choose to purchase this type of machine if your goal is to remove an offensive odor that refuses to leave. Realtors and auto rental businesses are good candidates for an ozone generator. You may be too if your child spills milk in your van or your son's hockey equipment becomes too much. (caution: ozone will age elastic products so make sure you cover elastic/Velcro straps with plastic)
Ion generators
An air purification system using an ion generator creates static charges to remove particles from the air. An ion generator will send negatively charged ions out into the surrounding air to attach themselves to the particles in your breathing space. The particles will then be attracted to positively charged objects such as walls, floors, furniture, drapes, etc.
This is a good thing, because the particles are effectively removed from your breathing space and you now have clean indoor air. Unfortunately, this attraction to objects in the room can cause soiling and a massive clean up job.
Some manufacturers make claims that the negative ions in the air have positive health effects on people; they say that you will become energized. I personally feel that there is some truth to this but the science is not available to back up such claims. Perhaps in the future ....
Germicidal Irradiation
If you have a mold issue on your air conditioning coils, a germicidal irradiation lamp may be the answer. They have been known to be very effective in this application and are considered inexpensive. They have also been used in ductworks for additional air purification but are not a practical solution for air borne mold spores.
Many conventional air purifiers use a combination of these technologies as well as filtration with varying degrees of success. (Some examples of an
air purification system
) Unfortunately they all have their limitations and may or may not be the answer you are looking for.
These limitations are all addressed with the new "Space Age Technology" More on this later but first let's look at
NASA's problem.
