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Choosing The Best Air Cleaners For Your Family
There are so many different models, styles, brands and designs of air purifiers on the market and choosing the best air cleaners can sometimes seem a bit overwhelming.
There are some key points that you need to consider when deciding which model will do just what you need to keep your air fresh and clean in your home.
Filters and Air Cleaning Methods
One of the first considerations is the filter system that the air cleaner uses. Some cleaners use a Hepa filter, which is considered one of the most efficient filters on the market.
A hepa filter is naturally very delicate and the highest quality filters are made from a very thin layer of compressed paper. The pleats in the hepa filter should be numerous and completely identical.
It is important that the pleats not be too close together or compacted or they will restrict airflow through the cleaner.
Generally the larger the hepa filter the more air that can be moved through the cleaner and the less frequently you will need to change the filter.
Once a hepa filter becomes dirty it stops allowing air to move through the cleaner and virtually shuts down the process.
Some models use an ionization process that traps the various particles in the air by changing their polarity so that they stick on a magnetic trap.
This allows the home \owner to simply remove the magnetized strip and wipe clean, eliminating the use of filters that clog. It is still important to keep the air cleaning system as clean as possible.
Since particles such as bacteria, mold, fungus and even smoke are very tiny, it is important to read the information on the machine to find out if it can filter particles from the air that are 0.01 to 0.3 of a micron in size to choose the most effective and best air cleaners.
Size of the Room
Be sure to measure the room before you choose the best air filter for your home.
Air cleaners should clearly indicate the volume of air that they can exchange or process within an hour. Ideally the filter you choose should be able to complete exchange the volume of air in the room you are placing it in between two to eight times per hour.
The more sensitive you or your family are to allergens or pollutants in the air the more frequently the air should be exchanged or filtered. For those with asthma or severe allergies 5 times per hour should be the minimum exchange rate.
Placing the Air Cleaner in the Room
Ideally the best air cleaners can function almost anywhere in the room, however the closer to the center of the room you can place the filter the better.
Unfortunately this is often not possible simply because the air filter requires an electrical source, as well as the fact that it often doesn't look pleasing to the eye to have the air filter in the middle of the room.
Consider placing the air filter as far away from a wall as possible to increase air circulation around the filter. Placing the filter on a stand or end table may also increase the circulation around the lower area of the filter as carpeting may again restrict the flow of air.
Fan Noise
There are some new, ultra quiet models that have very little if any fan noise. Some of the older models, especially those for large areas, do have a noticeable noise when operating.
If you wish to reduce fan noise consider buying an air cleaner that is for a larger room than the one that you plan to use the air cleaner in.
This allows you to run the cleaner on a lower setting, reducing the noise from running the unit on its maximum setting to clean a room that is close to its full potential.
You may also wish to consider a newer model that has an automatic pollutant detection device that automatically turns the air cleaner on and off when required.
Choosing the best air cleaner for you and your family doesn't have to be difficult if you research the model and read some reviews.
