If you are looking to buy a new home air purifier, check our tips that will help you make an informed decision.
Air purifiers have become an essential component in many households today. Home air purifiers filter out allergy-provoking substances, such as dust mites, chemical and organic odors, pet dander and plant pollen. These devices are especially good when a person has a suppressed immune system and is more susceptible to infections. It’s a proven fact that home air purifiers help in such medical conditions as allergy, asthma, and hay fever.
A home air purifier draws in air, filters out the dust, pollen, bacteria and scent molecules, and then emits the clean scentless air into the room. The air would not be completely pure and sanitized, but it would contain significantly less dust particles and allergens.
There are several types of filters used in home air purifiers. Filters with added activated carbon – similar to the one used to treat food poisoning – serve as pre-filter, which captures large particles. Then, HEPA filter absorbs small particles. Some purifiers add a natural organic filter that neutralizes volatile compounds from household chemicals or smoke.
Less common filter types used in home air purifiers are electrostatic or ion filters that attract particles by static electricity and therefore can create unnecessary electric tension in the household. Hybrid purifiers employ more than one particle-collecting method. The fairly new method used in home air purifiers is ozone filter that filters the air and purifies it with ozone. However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that ozone generators can be harmful to people affected by asthma. Many experts think that ozone is generally ineffective against air pollution.
HEPA-certified filters are most common in home air purifiers. The next generation of filters is ULPA (ultra-HEPA) filters that remove close to 100% of particles. Uncertified HEPA-like filters have proved to be less effective.
All homes and offices have different air conditions which depend on the age of the building, materials used in the construction, and a number of plants nearby. That’s why is impossible to predict the effect of home air purifier on the overall air quality. In general, dust and pollen particles are usually filtered, at least as much as tobacco-smoke particles.
When choosing an air purifier, look at the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). This rate indicates how many cubic feet of air is cleared of airborne particle. Smoke is considered a smallest particle, dust is medium and pollen is the largest one. The higher the CADR rating, the less time your new air purifier needs to remove particles from the room.
Even though air purifiers can become a holy grail for many allergy sufferers, experts suggest that no one should rely only on air purifiers while trying to keep the air at home healthy and clean. The best strategy to achieving breathable air in your home would be to use an air purifier along with natural window ventilation.

Some popular air cleaners actually pollute the air with ozone, a known lung irritant. Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms; it’s the same molecule that makes up the ozone layer of our upper atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone is a good thing because it protects us from dangerous UV rays; however, ozone in the air we breathe is harmful. (Here is a safe one)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that “relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.”
Ion generators are sold as air cleaners, but they actually pollute the air; they emit ozone, which can irritate the lungs and even cause asthma. On top of that, despite their popularity, ionic air cleaners do not work very well. They create charged particles (ions) and emit them into the surrounding air. These ions combine with impurities (like dust) in the air, forcing the impurities to cling to a nearby surface. Consequently, ion generators often produce dirty spots on nearby walls and floors because they do not eliminate impurities; ion generators simply force impurities to cling to a surface (in the same way that static electricity can make a sock cling to a shirt). HEPA air purifiers, on the other hand, actually trap pollutants inside the filter.
The EPA tells us: “Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution.”
The American Lung Association (ALA) agrees that “ozone is a potent lung irritant and exposure to elevated levels is a contributor to the exacerbation of lung disease; it is especially dangerous for persons with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, children, and the elderly.”
The ALA does not suggest the use of ozone generators because “ozone generators, negative ion generators, and certain other electronic air cleaners that are not listed by the FDA, or cannot otherwise prove that their ozone emission levels are lower than 0.05 ppm, may produce levels of ozone recognized as unsafe for humans and are not recommended for use in occupied spaces because of the risk of generation of ozone.”
Consumer Reports (1992), the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (1995), and the U.S. EPA (1995) concluded that tabletop and room unit ozone generators are not effective in improving indoor air quality.
The EPA advises the public to “use proven methods of controlling indoor air pollution,” which include eliminating or controlling pollutant sources, increasing outdoor air ventilation, and using proven methods of air cleaning, such as HEPA air purifiers.
“Many of our competitors sell ozone generators and ion generators as air cleaners,” says Cade McDonald, CEO of achooallergy.com. “But you want find any of those machines at achooallergy.com. Our mission is to help people breathe better with products that are scientifically proven to work safely and effectively – and we would never sell a product that may be harmful to your health. That’s not a chance we’re willing to take.”

HONEYWELL AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM