There are all kinds of types, shapes and sizes of air cleaners available to you. They range from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others, including most table-top models, are much less effective. Most air cleaners do not remove gaseous pollutants.
The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air (expressed as a percentage efficiency rate) and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element (expressed in cubic feet per minute). A very efficient collector with a low air-circulation rate will not be effective, nor will a cleaner with a high air-circulation rate but a less efficient collector. The long-term performance of any air cleaner depends on maintaining it according to the manufacturer's directions.
Another important factor you should know in determining the effectiveness of an air cleaner is the strength of the pollutant source. Table-top air cleaners, in particular, may not remove noticeable amounts of pollutants from strong nearby sources. If you are sensitive to particular indoor pollutant sources, you may find that air cleaners are helpful only in conjunction with your diligent efforts in removing these pollutants.
Over the past few years, there has been some advertising and talk suggesting that houseplants have been shown to reduce levels of some chemicals in laboratory experiments. There is currently no evidence. However, a reasonable number of houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in homes and offices. By the way, indoor houseplants should never be over-watered because extremely damp soil may promote the growth of microorganisms which can affect allergic individuals.
At present, the EPA does not recommend using air cleaners to reduce levels of radon and its decay products. The effectiveness of these machines is uncertain because they only partially remove the radon decay products and do not reduce the amount of radon entering your home. The EPA plans to do additional research on whether air cleaners are, or could become, a reliable means of reducing the health risk from radon.
Not All Air Purifiers Are Created Equal...
Efficiency ratings of many air purifiers sound very impressive, but the actual air purifier effectiveness does not mirror the claims made for the product.
HEPA-Air Purifiers will often boast of removing 99.97% for particles of 0.3 microns and larger. Very impressive, BUT this claim is based on theory and not on the actual clean air produced by the air cleaner. System leakage and sub-par construction can greatly reduce the air filtration efficiency of an air purifier. Independent testing has shown that many popular air cleaners don't even meet 10% of the claims stated on their label. This is where the IQ Air Health Pro Plus stands above the rest.
Advanced "individual unit" testing in their laboratories determines the actual air filtration efficiency of each unit. Add the fact that the IQ Air Health Pro Plus model was the first air purifier ever to get a "0" rating on the particle counter test...meaning that no particles escaped the advanced Hyper-HEPA filtration
system. Swiss-made IQ Air purifiers are regarded as some of the highest-quality units in the air purification industry. For more than 40 years, the company has manufactured units using superior filtering technology, quality components, and skilled craftsmanship. As a result, their air cleaners have received more #1 product reviews than any other air cleaner manufacturer.
Designed for residential use, the HealthPro series of room air purifiers have a modular tower design and are available in several models including the HealthPro, the HealthPro Compact and the HealthPro Plus.
Here's how they work: The machine draws in air from below, at foot level, picking up airborne mites and dust in the process. It circulates the air inside the machine and filters particles and pollutants through a series of internal filters. Four advanced filtration technologies remove particles, pollutants, odors and allergens. Once purified, the air is released out of the top of the machine, bringing clean air back into the room. Some HealthPro models don't have all four internal filters, so check the model details carefully in deciding which one may be right for you.
Six fan speeds are featured on every model in the series, which allows the user to choose the ideal performance level desired. Included with each model is a remote control, a Programmable Control Panel and an Intelligent Filter Life Monitor. I really like the IQAir control panel because it gives you simple, accurate information about what the unit is doing, while making it easy for you to control its operation. The LCD display tells you the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air being drawn through the machine, and an LED light reminds you when to change the filter.
With 6 fan speeds, you can set the unit to run on certain speeds at certain times of the day, so that, for example, you can run it higher at night, but slower during the day, in order to reduce noise. The only complaint.... I noticed, that at high speeds, the fan was really loud....noticebly loud enough to interfere with communication with my colleagues.
IQAir machines produce no undesirable by-products that could harm the consumer or the environment. All IQAir purifiers are certified by the International Association of Air Cleaner Manufacturers (IAACM) to be 100% ozone-free. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that, while killing bacteria, can also affect the respiratory system and irritate lung function, causing coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable chest-sensation. It can be especially hazardous to people with debilitating respiratory systems.
Being a former distributor for an ozone air purifier company, I fully experienced the irritating effects of ozone. I like the IQAir much better than the Ecoquest Living Air air purifiers. IQAir moves a lot of air, and after reviewing these units, I simply don't believe that you can clean a large volume of air without moving a large volume of air through a filtration unit. A "silent" or "breeze" air purifier, in my opinion, isn't moving enough air to be effective.
After testing the IQ Air Health Pro Plus, I highly recommend these units as the best over-all air purifiers. If you'd like more information on the company and the IQ Air Health Pro air cleaners, click on link or images below...
