More often than not the air inside the average American home is dirtier than outdoor air. Indoor air can be loaded with dust, molds and spores, cigarette smoke, odors, pet dander and pollen. Many homeowners find it necessary to have an air purifier at home. Experts recommend the use of HEPA air purifiers to remove most of the airborne pollutants and irritants in your environment.

HEPA Air Purifiers
Air cleaners and purifiers are designed to filter out harmful particles and allergens from the air. There are different types and sizes of air purifiers and the most popular is the HEPA air purifier. HEPA means High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor/Air Filter. This type of air filter is often used in air cleaners, air purifiers, and high quality vacuum cleaners.

A HEPA filter can remove airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size and have an efficiency rating of 99.97%. Allergens including dust, pollen, dust mite allergens and pet dander can be filtered and removed.
HEPA filters must be replaced regularly to ensure optimal performance of the air purifier. It will also extend the life of your air purifier.

Air cleaners trap airborne particles by passing dirty air through a HEPA filter and allowing clean air to return to the indoor environment. Better air quality is achieved with air cleaners that exchange the air in the room more number of times. Thus, the higher the air exchange rate per hour, the cleaner the air will be. HEPA air purifiers are designed to service one room or area at a time.

A HEPA air purifier can be placed in bedrooms or home office area where one is needed. You may also need one in your family room. When choosing a HEPA air cleaner, look for one with a high cubic foot per minute (CFM) of air output. The ideal number of air exchanges per hour is between 4 and 6. Lower quality brands of air cleaners may not be able to provide enough air exchanges to make much difference in the air quality.

HEPA air cleaners can have a medical-grade ultraviolet light system to purify the air. UL light systems kill viruses, mold spores and bacteria. This type of air purifier is capable of protecting your indoor air environment from microorganisms as well as dust, pollen, dust mites, out-gassing chemicals and odors. High quality units are equipped with activated carbon and Zeolite blends to absorb odors and remove out-gassing chemicals.
Lower quality HEPA air purifiers in the market often contain pre-filters that have been sprayed with a small amount of carbon dust. These pre-filters are short-lived and practically useless for removing odors and out-gassing.

Benefits of HEPA Air Purifiers
Air purifiers remove harmful particles from the air and can destroy molds, bacteria and viruses. HEPA air purifiers are useful in improving the quality of indoor air and removing allergens. These devices are important for people who want to enjoy fresher and cleaner air in the home. They are also beneficial for people with asthma or allergies. By understanding the key differences in the different types of air cleaners, people can make an educated decision when choosing an air purifier.

HEPA Air Purifiers Videos

True Hepa Air Purifiers

HEPA Air Purifiers Q&A

Are air purifiers as strong as a fan?

Right now I'm thinking of buying the $100 or so HEPA type air purifiers. I would like to get an air purifier for my apartment, but want to know if they can double as a fan. Do they usually blow like a fan as well, or do they just purify the air without the breeze? If not, are there some you can think of that blow as well as purify? Which ones can you guys recommend?

The purpose of the air purifier is to process all the air in the room, which means it has a blower fan and the air must move. The problem with moving air is it creates noise, so the manufacturers of the air purifiers must move the air as effectively as possible without making too much noise. The result is a high volume of air being moved with low velocity or speed. Usually, you want high velocity for a cooling fan, since it is the breeze that makes you feel cooler. So, don't expect to get cool from your air purifier.

If you want my advice on an air purifier, buy one that works. Take a look at the Sun Pure units at http://www.smoke-eaters-supply.com/home-smoke-eaters.html These are the units used in hospitals for their efficiency and effectiveness. I hope this helps.

Does anyone know of a good air purifier that will suck up cigarette smoke and isn't loud or expensive?

I'm looking for a good air purifier that will suck up cigarette smoke out of the air. I don't want to spend alot of money though. I have one already that I use in the bedroom, it's a GE Hepa air purifier. I'm not even sure they make these anymore since I bought it several years ago. I love it, but it's loud. I'm wanting to get one for the living room, but my husband won't accept it if it's loud, so I really need some advice as to which one to get.

ionic breeze quadra...little expensive but well worth the money...i have two and wouldn't trade them for anything