Ever wondered what are the different purification technologies and why is it even important?
Air purifiers aren’t all the same. They may have the same outcome (they remove particles from the air in an indoor environment), but the technologies behind their functioning can be different depending on the brand and model.
When we know about the different technologies, we discover that the outcome is not actually always the same: for example, some air purifiers only deactivate pathogens, while others took particles away from the flow of air.
Let’s take a look at the different air purification technologies so that you can understand what works better for your needs.
Key Takeaways
- An air purifier sucks the air in the device. Inside the device, the air flows through the filters and then is blown back into the room.
- You can choose from four different types of filters: Ionic, Carbon, UV, and HEPA, based on your needs.
- HEPA filters are the most expensive but are the best.
Also Read: What Is A Medical-Grade Air Purifier?
Air Purifier: How Does It Work
An air purifier sucks the air in the device. Inside the device, the air flows through the filters and then is blown back into the room. All air purifiers work like this, but the type of filter may change.
Filters can be based on different materials and technologies: their technology is the main difference between one air purifier and the other.
1) Ionic Purification
Ionic purification utilizes ionic filters. These filters are capable of charging the ions negatively.
When this happens, air particles are attracted by static electricity and remained “glued” to the ionic filter. This way, when the air is blown back into the environment, it is purified.
Ionic filters need to be regularly maintained. When the air purifier’s filter system tells you so, it’s important that you replace the filter as soon as you can.
The main advantage of an ionic purifier is that they are quite cheap. The main disadvantage is that they are not the most effective.
2) Carbon Filters
If you want to go even cheaper, opt for carbon filter air purifier. Carbon filters purify air because the pores of the carbon retain a lot of particles from the air that blows through them.
Again, the fact that they are cheaper has a downside: carbon filters and air purifiers aren’t the most effective.
3) UV Filters
UV filters don’t remove anything from the air that flows through the filters. They work in a different way: inside the device, there are UV lamps.
The air passes through a chamber that is, therefore, enlighted with UV rays. UV light is capable of killing pathogens and microorganisms.
These particles aren’t, therefore, removed from the air, but killed, deactivated, and made unharmful.
4) HEPA Filters
HEPA filters are the most expensive. This may seem like a disadvantage but the advantage that comes with them is that they are highly effective.
In fact, HEPA filters are the absolute best filters you can have on your air purifier. They remove over 99% of microorganisms of different nature from the air. 1
Also Read: What Is CADR Rate?
Conclusion
Sometimes, air purifiers have a double filter system to be 100% effective. One of the most common combos is the one that includes a HEPA filter plus UV lamps: this would be the absolute best, and most expensive, air purifier you could get.
Also Read: What Is AOCTM Carbon Filter?
FAQ’s
Which is the best purification technology?
A single purification technology cannot help you obtain best results. You need some kind of combination for it to work in the best way.
What is the downside of using an Air Purifier?
How should I choose an Air Purifier?
You should choose an air fryer that serves the purpose you want to tackle. Look for the grade and kind of filter the purifier has, and you are good to go.
Kylie has been studying air purifiers for the last 20 years and is an expert in the field. She tests and reviews different air purifiers, letting people know they are worth buying. Kylie writes blogs about the latest air purifiers, their features, health benefits, and more. When she’s not writing or spending time with her granddaughter, Kylie can be found testing new air purifiers to see how they perform.
ARTICLE SOURCES
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- https://www.filtrete.com/3M/en_US/filtrete/home-tips/full-story/~/why-you-should-purify-your-air/?storyid=eb519632-1671-4947-8ee6-af8daa7cb00b#:~:text=Air%20purifiers%20are%20portable%20devices,continually%20boosting%20indoor%20air%20quality.[↩]
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