Air Purifier Buying Guide

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Many of you must be considering an air purifier for your home when you are seeking refuge from the onslaught of haze. So I have decided to compile a simple buying guide for air purifers today. However, before you rush out to get an air purifier, you must know what haze is made up of:

What is Haze made of:

The traditional practices of slash and burn agriculture practice in Indonesia has generated smoke and is made up almost entirely of very tiny suspended fine particles ( i.e. particulate matter 2.5 or 2.5 microns  or smaller).

 

Harmful effects of Haze:
Long-term exposure will cause cardiovascular effects, such as heart attacks and strokes, reduced lung development especially for young children and may lead to the development of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

 

Which air purifier is recommended?

In this case, air purifier should be equipped with the following types of filters to combat the ill effects of the Haze: 

 

•HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Filters:

HEPA filter removes at least 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns. Atomic Energy Commission  developed HEPA air purifiers to capture radioactive dust particles. Hence, only very small particles are able to pass through the HEPA air filters. In addition, they also trap allergens such as dust, pollen, mold spores and tobacco smoke effectively but they are not recommended for trapping ultra-fine particles such as viruses or eliminating Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)(found in a wide variety of common household products: paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, glues and adhesives, and even new carpet and building supplies) or chemical fumes such as like benzene, chloride, formaldehyde, ethylene, and toluene.
 
Watch out for the following:
1. HEPA certified;
2. Square feet: the more square feet indicated for the HEPA filter, the more particulates it will be able to remove;
3. Price: HEPA filter is more expensive due the size, better quality, material, and construction of the actual filter media that contributes to the air purifier's better performance.

 

•Charged Media Filters:
Charged Media filters collect particles on fiber filters and are able to collect very small particles as fine as 0.1 microns. They are ideal for absorbing gases and odors, kitty litter, tobacco smoke, various toxins and gaseous pollutants like indoor pesticides or aerosols that are too small to be trapped by a HEPA filter.  However such filters need to be replaced even more frequent replacements than HEPA air purifier.

 

Watch out for the following:
1. Do not produe Ozone;better ones should not produce ozone; dangerous for people with asthma and other chronic lung diseases;
2. Square feet: the more square feet indicated for the Charged Media  filter, the more particulates it will be able to remove.
3. Price: Charged Media filter is more expensive due the size, better quality, material, and construction of the actual filter media that contributes to the air purifier's better performance
 

Other recommended air filters:

•Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters:
Such filters, as the names suggest, eliminate bacteria and germs and are often used in sterile places such as hospitals and labs.

•Activated Carbon Filters:
 Such filters adsorb odors, gases, chemicals and fumes which are too small to be trapped by a HEPA filte.

•Pre-Filters:
Pre-filters help to remove pet hair and other larger particles and are used in conjunction with the filters listed above. They are either made of foam or non-woven nylon. Do note that changing prefilters regularly will prolong the life span of the other filters.

Factors to Consider Before Buying an Air Purifier:

•Area Coverage:
Ensure the square footage listed minimally the same or greater than the square footage of the room where it is placed.

 

•Air Changes Per Hour (ACH):
Also known as the ACH rating, is the frequency of the air exchange in a given room. I.e. ACH rating of 6 means it can exchange the air in a room 6 times every hour.
 

•Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR):
 CADR tells us  how much air is purified and how well the air is purified. The higher the CADR rating the better.
 
•Filter Replacements:
 Filters are expensive consumables so check out the frequency and  the price of replacement.
 
•Noise Level:
Some air purifiers are extremely quiet while others are noisy. Consider the location where the air purifier will be placed.

 

•Replacement bulb:
For UV air purifiers which makes use of UV blub to reduce airborne germs from passing through the filter, these bulbs are expensive consumables so check out the frequency and  the price of replacement.

 

•Mobility:
If you want to move your air filter around the house a lot, you should consider a model with casters and handles which make it portable.

Happy Shopping and share this post if you find the guide useful! :)
 

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Categories: guide