Mold and bacteria can be a serious problem in your home or workplace. They creep up out of nowhere and can be challenging to contain.
Luckily, air purifiers are a great way to filter the air in your home, but still, many wonder, ‘Are air purifiers a waste of money?’
[ez-toc]
To answer this question, we consulted the experts and gathered their advice and opinions. So, in this article, we’ll talk about the different kinds of air purifiers, how they work, and whether you need one for your home.
Let’s take a look.
What Is an Air Purifier?
An air purifier is a device that removes dirt and dust from your home by filtering the air. It looks simple enough, but it can make a huge difference in the quality of the air of your house!
There are many types of air purifiers on the market, with the most common being fan-based units. These act like a vacuum to collect dirt and dust. Finally, the air comes out of the other end.
The second most common type is ion-based. These high-tech units use electricity to create a stream of negatively charged ions, which are blown into the room. Harmful airborne particles are then collected by the negative ions within the unit and clump together.
This makes them less harmful to our respiratory systems. Plus, they’re easier to vacuum and clean up.
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
The air indoors can quickly become damp, especially if you live somewhere humid, like Florida or Texas. This moisture can lead to mold and mildew, which can be harmful to your health.
Air purifiers purify the air by creating a vacuum inside their chambers that sucks in small particles and dirt specks. Next, pollutants are purified through the filters within the unit or picked up by negative ions in the case of ionic air purifiers.
This process keeps repeating as the air circulates multiple times through the purifier’s system. Eventually, the air becomes pollutant and odor-free.
What Are the Best Types of Air Purifiers for Your Home?
All purifiers have one thing in common: they’re designed to collect particles larger than 0.3 microns and filter out particles smaller than 0.2 microns.
Yet, each type has different features to ensure your home is free of unwanted odors and pollutants.
Another thing to keep in mind is the noise that they produce. So, when choosing an air purifier, try to find out what it sounds like when powered on. For example, does it have a soft hum? Or does it make a loud purring noise?
If you’re buying it at a store, ask the salesperson to give it a test run. Or, if you’re buying it online, check to see what other customers are saying about the noise level.
Below are the most common air purifiers you’ll find on the market.
Ionic Air Purifiers
Ionic air purifiers are the most common type on the market. They’re simple devices that use a combination of ionic and magnetic fields to remove pollutants from the air.
When you turn on your ionic purifier, negatively charged ions are released into the air to catch any unwanted particles. They’re great because they’re quiet and easy to operate.
There are two types of ionic air purifiers:
Electrostatic Precipitators
This purifier doesn’t release ions into the air and mainly filters out larger particles. Yet it’s still categorized as an ionic air purifier because it doesn’t use a filter.
The way they work differs slightly from traditional ionic air purifiers. First, a fan pulls pollutants toward the electrostatically charged plates and collects them. Then, unlike HEPA filters, you have to clean the plates regularly rather than simply replacing the filter.
Air Ionizers
Air ionizers create negatively charged ions that bind to dirty particles, making them too heavy to float in the air, so they just settle on various surfaces in your home. To remove the pollutants from your home, simply clean as you normally would.
HEPA-Style Air Purifiers
HEPA-style air purifiers are also pretty common. They’re similar to ionic air purifiers in that they use a combination of HEPA filters and magnetic fields to trap particles in the air. Then, they remove them using a vacuum.
Some HEPA filters come with anti-microbial coatings that prevent mold spores from multiplying within the filter and contaminating your home even further. Other HEPA air purifiers come with an additional carbon filter that helps filter fine particles, fumes, and smoke.
HEPA filters are generally more efficient at cleaning the air. That said, they usually fall into a higher price range than the other types.
The Pros and Cons of Using Air Purifiers
Air purifiers can be an excellent investment to ensure you and your family are living in a pollutant-free home.
Nevertheless, even though they’re an effective way to clean the air of contaminants, air purifiers come with their own set of potential drawbacks.
Let’s take a look at them.
Advantages
Improve the air quality in your home or workplace
Help to remove pollutants, particles, dust, and pollen from the air
Disadvantages
Air purifiers are more effective in smaller spaces where there’s less air to filter out
Not suitable for large areas
Some models can be a bit expensive
Needs to be regularly cleaned and maintained
Can make it difficult to keep your home at a steady temperature
Final Thoughts: are air purifiers a waste of money?
So, are air purifiers a waste of money? You can now be the judge of that!
Buying an air purifier improves the air quality in your home and workplace while removing unwanted smells and odors. There are a handful of makes and models, which can make it challenging to find the right one.
If you’re looking for something efficient but still budget-friendly, go with the ionic air purifiers. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something to filter out even the tiniest air particles, then HEPA-style purifiers are your go-to solution.
