HEPA Air Purifiers Clean The Air
A High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter, or HEPA, is designed to capture and isolate ultra-fine airborne particles. HEPA has been tested and rated to trap 99.97% of dust particles, are these filters are among the most efficient pollutant-removers available. HEPA filters excel at filtering out junk in the air such as airborne dust, dust mite debris, cigarette smoke, pollen, and a bunch of other nasties you most likely don’t want to be breathing in.
Like many things advertised such as “light”, “diet” or “fat-free”, advertising plays a role in air filters as well. Some filters are marketed as “HEPA” or “HEPA-type” but they may be lower-grade filters unless the word “true” is preceding the HEPA title. Unless it’s “true HEPA”, it may not provide the air cleaning benefits HEPA is known for.
One of the major benefits of a HEPA filter is its ability to filter out minute particles in the air, way down to .3 microns. Granted, .3 microns might mean diddly to you, but researchers say that these size particles are the toughest to capture. Also, the irritants in this size range include pollutants that pose the greatest health risk for folks beleaguered with asthma, allergies and have sensitivities to certain chemicals.
A HEPA air purifier is a device that marries the best air filtration system for the home with souped-up air purification might. By combining ultraviolet light systems (i.e. EGF systems) into the mix and activated charcoal with a true workhorse HEPA air filter, you get a HEPA air purifier that is by far the most efficient device you can buy to cleanse and improve the quality of air inside your home.
Turbo Charging a HEPA Air Purifier
No question, HEPA filters are awesome. And to make them even function better, a HEPA air purifier synergizes with other filtering components so that the whole is truly greater than its separate parts.
To tackle bacteria and other viruses, some HEPA air purification units are incorporated with ultraviolet light systems (i.e. Enhanced Germicidal Filtration systems – EGF).
As good as HEPA filters are for trapping airborne matter, they don’t have an effect on biological hazards in the air. This is where combining EGF system’s ultraviolet light can deliver the one-two punch. These systems can greatly reduce biological pollutants that are currently present and being circulated by the air cleaning device.
But wait, there’s more! Now that the HEPA filter is effectively removing those tiny irritant particles out of the air and EGF is zapping biological bugs with ultraviolet light, there’s one more step that can be taken to truly purify the air in your home. The third pillar in our triad is an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon filter adds plenty of muscle to a HEPA filter with its unique scrubbing powers at removing unpleasant odors and out-gassing chemicals from the air you breathe as well.
The old saying: “You get what you pay for” is also true when you’re out shopping for a HEPA Air Purifier. Since we’re talking about the air you and your loved ones depend on, this is one piece of equipment worth investing to get the best.
There are cheap HEPA air purifiers on the market and, well, you get what you pay for. For starters, inferior HEPA air purifier models run slower than better-made models.
Slower running units do a poorer job in cleaning the air in your home. The reason? It’s all about air exchanges. A good HEPA air cleaner will exchange the air in a room 10 to 15 times per hour. A cheapie model won’t come close to that kind of ‘turnaround’ time.
Also to save money, some manufacturers will equip lesser quality air purifiers with carbon dust treated filters. Filters of this type have a short shelf-life and they just don’t stack up to features and benefits available in a quality activated charcoal filter.
There’s also the durability factor that can’t be ignored if you’re considering a cheaper unit purchase. Better quality (i.e. more expensive) units are made to last. If you go the less-expensive route, you just may be back in the market for a replacement model in just a few short years.
To save that type of aggravation, you may be way ahead by investing a bit more money now with an efficient and better designed HEPA air purifier. Enough said.