So, you may be operating an air purifier without even realizing it, but in that case, especially if it is an older one, it could be doing you more harm than good. This is because a dirty filter will be blowing unpurified air into the room at best, but in the worst case scenario, it might even be blowing contaminated air at you. Modern air filters do not only stop flies or even pollen from getting into the set-up through the air intake, they go as far as trying to block common germs too.

So, you have two options. If you have never changed or cleaned your air filter or if you did not even realize you had one and the air conditioner or air purifying unit is over a year old, you should do something about it right away. Start by reading the handbook. If you do not have one go on line and look to see if there is any information on your model at the maker’s website or even just anywhere on the Internet. If on the other hand, you have been cleaning and replacing your filter methodically, think about getting a better quality filter next time.

You can go about finding the best brands of air filters for your particular type of unit by writing down any serial numbers and identification numbers and names. The brand and model are very helpful too. You have two options here too. If you like going around the shops, take this information with you and ask about the best filters in several outlets A large DIY or department store could doubtless help here. Write every name and detail they give you down on paper and take it home. I prefer to go on the Internet first and take that information around the shops.

Check everything they have told you on the Internet. Check it with the manufacturer’s web site and compare prices. Decide what you want to buy and where from. Get a year’s supply in one go, it saves a lot of bother. Three or four units should last a year, if they are cleanable.

A high quality air filter will work better than a cheaper one. It will trap more pollutants, including smoke and fumes – even some germs, if it has been impregnated with a germicide. Many come with a long-lasting mild air freshener too, which will save you buying sprays.

Better quality air filters will save you money and hassle by lasting longer in good serviceable condition. Cheaper ones may say they last as long, but the germicide and the air freshener may have evaporated within a week or two. Try to get a filter that is cleanable. The best ones can be cleaned two of three times before they have to be changed. If it is three times then it will last four months, meaning that you only need three a year at most.

If you have purchased an unknown make of air conditioner or purifier, there is a good chance that it was still made by one of the big names or it a copy of a famous name, in which case a better filter may still fit into it. In this situation, take your old filter to the shop with you to get it compared.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with central air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

How Activated Carbon Is Used In HEPA Air Purifiers

Choosing HEPA air purifiers is often the first time most people encounter activated carbon. They begin their search because of allergies or asthma, but they have no real idea how these machines work. As they look deeper, they’ll start to learn that odors and chemicals are what’s actually causing the vast majority of the issues they’re trying to remedy. Most quality HEPA air purifiers are designed to eliminate allergens as well as odors and chemicals in the air. This is where the activated carbon comes in.

Activated Carbon Before HEPA Air Purifiers

Activated carbon has actually been around for quite a while, and though it sounds quite scientific, our ancestors have made good use of it for at least the last two centuries. Back then, they already knew of activated carbon’s extraordinary absorption qualities. In the early 1900’s, the stuff was produced and sold commercially in the form of a powder. At the time it was only used to remove color from sugar or taste or smell from water. Although we didn’t know it at the time, that was barely the tip of what this stuff is capable of. In World War I, the military discovered that they could use activated carbon in gas masks, filtering chemical agents from the air for the soldiers. The soldiers also used it for water purification, just like their ancestors. By this point, it was also available commercially as a granular form instead of just powder, which was when it began finding uses in even more situations.

What The Word “Activated” Means

Most people have a general idea of what carbon is – it’s a mineral. The most basic example would probably be charcoal. Activated carbon is what you get after heat is used on the carbon to drive all of the impurities out, leaving room for more to take their place. Think of it as a sponge, only instead of using pressure to extract the contents, we’re using heat. Once the activated carbon is full, it can actually be reactivated by re-heating, though this is considered by most to be both impractical and dangerous. So, in this case, activated basically means empty.

Are There Different Types Of Activated Carbon?

There are different types of activated carbon, and it’s often described in different ways. Generally, however, activated carbon will include a wide variety of amorphous carbon-based materials. These materials will have many holes, or a high degree of porosity, covering a relatively large surface area, giving the material great absorbent ability. These characteristics are why it works so extremely well in filtering both water and air.

Want to learn more about HEPA Air Purifiers? Check out HEPA Air Purifiers Info.

What Is Hunter’s Background?

Hunter is a name that’s been around for quite a while. Although their current products all require electricity to work, they were actually around before everyone had electricity in their homes. Their first product, which they introduced and began shipping in 1886, was a ceiling fan that was driven by water. Can you get more innovative? Today’s Hunter is known for electric ceiling fans and electric thermostats. Obviously they make air purifiers, too, since they’re the subject matter.

Comparing Prices

There are three groups Hunter HEPA air purifiers. HEPAtech purifiers are the bargain basement of air purifiers. As of this writing, they are no longer being made, but are still available as new from quite a few retail outlets. If you’re looking for a cheap HEPA air purifier with a proven name, then Hunter’s HEPAtech is definitely the way to go. As with all HEPA filter air purifiers, you will have to change the HEPA filter occasionally. Many Hunter HEPA air purifiers are actually cheaper than the replacement filters of their competing devices. Hunter’s replacement filters are also quite reasonable, and generally come in packs. Their current series, the QuietFlo, are also very aggressively priced.

Does Hunter Make A True HEPA Air Purifier?

Each Hunter machine is a true HEPA air purifier, except the old HEPAtech series. Being “true” certifies them as filtering 99.7% of those particles that are most dangerous to us, and hardest to filter. Without the “true” label, HEPA air purifiers could simply be expensive, ineffective fans. Unless you really believe in the name, you should probably steer clear of HEPA-type machines.

Why Choose Hunter?

Hunter HEPA air purifiers stand out in a couple of different ways. The first, most obvious, would be the price. A Hunter HEPA air purifier will probably be the cheapest in a comparison between it and others with similar capabilities and features. Then there are the features themselves. In each size, Hunter offers various feature sets. There are more than a dozen models with different feature sets in their newest series, the QuietFlo, enabling you to pick and choose what you want or need instead of being forced to pay for every feature under the sun. Is it safe to say that Hunters makes the best HEPA air purifier? That’s probably a stretch, but when it comes to value, they’re hard to beat.

Want more information about HEPA air purifiers? Check out HEPA Air Purifiers Info!

Who Is The Ionic Pro Air Purifier Made By?

The Ionic Pro Air Purifier is built and sold by a company named Ionic Pro, LLC. They’re not owned, in part or whole, by another company. Actually, until recently, they had sold the Ionic Pro air purifier only on TV. Now, though, you can find these all over the place, Wal-mart included. That this company only makes air purifiers can be seen in a few different ways. Logically, as they only make various sizes of the Ionic Pro Air Purifier, they would easily be able to make a high quality product. Of course, being so small would make it easy for them to vanish as well.

Compared To The Ionic Breeze Air Purifier

Ionic Pro air purifiers share all of their advantages with the very similar Ionic Breeze Air Purifier. The most obvious, the main, and many times only difference between them, is the design and shape of actual machine. The Ionic Pro Compact Air Purifier is similar in size to a smaller model of the Ionic Breeze. The Ionic Pro usually is available for less, though. As ionic air purifiers are fairly simple, you can probably safely buy the cheapest that is available to you.

Compared To HEPA Air Purifiers

It’s not as simple as you might think, comparing HEPA air purifiers to ionic air purifiers. Although they’re not quite as efficient, ionic air purifiers do basically the same job as a true HEPA air purifier. They use only a minimum of electricity, and are designed to run full time to compensate for the lower efficiency. Once the machine starts making a little buzzing noise, the bar that gathers all the junk has to be wiped off, but there’s never any filters to change. The filter itself is usually a HEPA air purifier’s biggest limitation. They are governed by the size of the holes in the filters, which is where air is forced through, blocking things that are not just air. Those air particles that are the most important for any air purifier to stop are 99.7% removed in a true HEPA air purifier. There is no such guarantee or standard when it comes to HEPA-type air purifiers, though. With ionic air purifiers, though, the biggest limitation is the air flow. While HEPA-type air purifiers can only filter what can’t pass through whatever size holes are in their filters, the ionic purifiers will eventually catch anything that’s attracted to that magnetized bar. This is important information to use when comparing the two. One disadvantage to an ionic air purifier is that it will only filter particles that 1 micron or bigger. The most dangerous and hardest to filter particles are 0.3 micron, and that’s what true HEPA air purifiers stop nearly 100% of.

Comparing The Ionic Pro Compact Air Purifier With Other Ionic Pro Machines

Ionic Pro makes things fairly simple by including most of the features in all of their ionic air purifiers. The differences between the full-size and the compact are really only related to capacity. The Ionic Pro Compact Air Purifier is intended for use in a small room or office. It also has one less fan speed than the standard sized device, using only High and Lo. Since the Ionic Pro Compact Air Purifier is about half the price of the standard size, it may actually be worth getting two compacts instead of one standard.

Want to learn more about the Ionic Pro Compact Air Purifier, as well as the alternatives? Visit Ionic Air Purifier Info.

Why is HEPA Capitalized?

HEPA is written in caps because it’s an acronym, like DARE or MADD. The acronym stands for “high efficiency particulate absorbing”. Or, alternately, it could mean “high efficiency particulate arrestance”, which is basically the same thing. In everyday English, HEPA air purifiers either stop or absorb particles of matter that are way too small for the human eye to detect.

How Can A HEPA Air Purifier Help Me?

As many of these particles come from manufactured sources, our respiratory systems often take exception to their presence. We will sometimes notice these particles as allergens or odors, but not always. In all too many situations, or bodies have no way of recognizing these particles, leaving them to wreak havoc with our bodies. This is why having something either stop or absorb these tiny particles can be such a boon to our health.

Are HEPA Air Purifiers Special Compared To Others?

Some air purifiers are not as effective as others. Most anyone who rates air purifiers go by what is called the HEPA standard. This is because HEPA air purifiers are widely known to be the best at filtering air, and have been for a while now. HEPA filter air purifiers are so vaunted because they stop air particles that are 0.3 micrometers in diameter. There is a purpose behind the focus on that specific particle size. The human body’s respiratory system have a hard time stopping that particular size, and they are the most dangerous to us, moreso than particles both larger and smaller.

Is There Really A Difference Between HEPA-Type And HEPA Air Purifiers?

HEPA standards ensure that every true HEPA air purifier is up to par. To pass, they must be capable of stopping 99.7% of all 0.3 micron particles. There is a lot of science behind this, and the buyer can expect a price tag that reflects this. HEPA air purifiers are generally not cheap. You can also purchase HEPA-type air purifiers, generally right along side the true ones. These cheaper purifiers are not held to any standards at all. If you purchase a HEPA-type air purifier, you could easily get nothing but a highly ineffective fan. Don’t put too much stock in HEPA air purifier reviews, either. The vast majority of things that we can smell are not 0.3 micron particles, which means our noses have no way to know which is the best HEPA air purifier.

Still not sure that a HEPA air purifier is for you? Visit HEPA Air Purifiers Info for answers to all of your questions.

It’s Been Said That The Ionic Breeze Air Purifiers Is Not Effective

The Sharper Image never claimed that the Ionic Breeze cleaned the air as well as True HEPA purifiers. Like good business people, they avoided the subject of efficiency altogether, for the most part. The stuff hit the fan when Consumer Reports said the Ionic Breeze silent air purifier cleaned only 30% of pollution out of the air. However, you have to consider that 100% of the polluted air will have to pass in and out of the machine quite a few times. Getting something 30% clean over and over again will, after time, get you almost to 100%. No, it’s not as efficient, but one could say that ionic air purifiers, if given plenty of time, will do the job just as well as anything. They’re also much cheaper to purchase, operate, and maintain. Also, don’t forget that Consumer Reports only compared to True HEPA air purifiers as opposed to the much more common HEPA-type purifiers. HEPA-type air purifiers have no particular efficiency, while True HEPA machines are out of reach for many consumers.

It’s Been Said That The Ionic Breeze Pollutes The Air

The theory is that ionic air purifiers release a ton of ozone when cleaning the air. But that’s just not the case. The best explanation for this misconception is that people don’t know the difference between ionic air purifiers and ozone generators, which are somewhat similar, but do use ozone to clean the air. There is no factual data stating that ionic air purifiers put out unsafe amounts of ozone, and Consumer Reports even said that the Ionic Breeze air purifier passes HEPA guidelines in regards to ozone. Actually, the Ionic Breeze silent air purifier passes every HEPA guideline except for efficiency.

The Sharper Image Filed For Bankruptcy Because Ionic Breeze Air Purifiers Sucked

The Sharper Image did end up filing for bankruptcy in 2008, but not due to lack of sales. The reason they went under is because The Sharper Image was a publicly traded company, and their reputation had been so badly damaged that the price of their stock plummeted to well under a dollar per share. Even at the time of bankruptcy, the company actually had over $50 million equity, not including liquid cash. They simply couldn’t overcome the bad publicity, regardless of the quality of their products.

How Are Newer Ionic Air Purifiers Different?

As the technology is quite simple and effective, there really isn’t much room for improvement, even in the newest ionic air purifiers. The more fans you add, the faster and better it cleans the air, but even without fans, ionic breeze air purifiers eventually do the job. And although you may have a hard time finding the original Ionic Breeze, there are newer versions with The Sharper Image name on them (they got bought and resurrected), and also the Ionic Pro air purifier which is pretty similar to the original.

Want to learn more about the ionic air purifier? Visit Ionic Air Purifier Info.

Consider The Ionic Pro

The Ionic Pro is a lot like The Sharper Image’s Ionic Breeze, but it’s a lot cheaper than the original ever was. It offers the same lack of maintenance as well. Just pull out the magnetized filter bar, clean it off, then replace. There’s nothing more to it than that. As there’s no fan, it’s uses a lot less energy and is quite a bit less noisy than HEPA air purifiers, though generally less effective. However, if a cheap solution for cleaning the air in a 500 feet is what you’re looking for, but you don’t want anything that makes noise, then an ionic air purifier might still be your best choice.

Generic Ionic Air Purifiers

There are also some ionic air purifiers out there that don’t have branding on them. They’re offered by various websites or bargain stores and are generally around or less than a hundred dollars. Just because they’re not branded doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t work as well, though you may be dependent on the retailer’s warranty alone. Still, the technology behind ionic air purifiers isn’t terribly complicated, so off brands should be somewhat safe.

Noisy Ionic Air Purifiers With Fans

Generally speaking, an ionic air purifier doesn’t use a moving fan. Instead, it will use the motion of the air particles that are magnetically pulled toward the machine to create a very slight breeze. Consumer Reports did not feel that this was enough, however, and only certified one that did use a fan. This might not work for some people, though, since they may be considering an ionic air purifier simply because it is silent, even though it’s less effective. The advantage of cheaper, filterless maintenance still stands, though.

HEPA Air Purifiers

The other option would be a HEPA air purifier. Although they promise the same things, they work quite differently. HEPA air purifiers have filters that have to be replaced and, of course, cost money. If you use an ionic air purifier, you don’t have to worry about replacing filters as the pollutants will get stuck by static on the bar that just has to be wiped off. Most studies show that ionic air purifiers are not as effective as HEPA air purifiers, though.

Check out Ionic Air Purifier Info for all the information on ionic air purifiers that you could possibly need.

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1. No leakage of gass (such as ozone)

2. Make sure that the amount of particles that are filtered is up to HEPA standards.

3. Is the purifier well built or will it fall apart in a few weeks?

4. Are part easily replaced? Can you replace filters yourself?

5. Do the filters last long? How much do they cost?

6. Does the purifier make much noise?

7. Is the company who makes the unit trustworthy? Is the returns policy kept to?

8. Do we think that the purifier is good value for money?

9. Have customers made complaints about the purifier?

10. Is the design attractive?

We find that following this particular approach helps us to create a fair and informative air purifier review.

Watch out for reviews that are:

1. Highly positive or any those don’t mention any downsides.

2. Any review that is very short as its likely the tests might not be through enough.

3. A site magazine or site that is aimed at selling one type of purifier. This review will likely be biased.

Reviews that contain any of the above three points will often be untrustworthy and are not worth reading.

It is helpful to combine reading reviews at air-purifier-reviewsite.com with amazon.com and epinions.com. Using these big retailers you can find customer reviews for most of the popular air purifiers. Overall star ratings will be provided for most products so you can quickly see problem products.

Most reviewers will only target the most popular purifiers from brands such as Alen, Honeywell, Sharp, Oreck and Sharper Image.

We will recommend that new customers should go with the popular brands as its easier to find reviews, parts and replacement filters with ease.

For every review you should look for tests that involve conditions that you are most likely to use your purifier for.

After conducting different tests we found that the Oreck XL Range beat the competition in every category. Do you want more information about Air Purifier Ratings then feel free to visit our blog.

Differences! True HEPA Air Purifiers Have Them

A True HEPA air purifier, also known as an absolute HEPA air purifier, is different even from other HEPA air purifiers. When companies reference the effectiveness of HEPA air purifiers as stated by government entities such as the EPA and OSHA, they are generally referring to the True type, even if they do not blatantly say so. Although there are other types of air purifiers out there, True HEPA air purifiers are the only ones that are used in sensitive areas such as hospitals and laboratories.

True HEPA Air Purifiers Stop Particles Of DOOM

Of the different specifications that True HEPA air purifiers have to meet, the most important is probably the 97% of all 0.3 micron particles. This stat is incredibly important, and not as technical as it may sound. Of all the different pollutants floating around out there, it’s been found that 0.3 micron particles generally are the hardest to filter, even including those that are smaller. They also are the most likely to cause problems in the human body, and have no problem scooting right past our natural defenses. See, 0.3 micron particles are more scary than nerdy, aren’t they? If you want an idea of the size we’re talking about, compare 0.3 microns to the human hair. Human hair is generally anywhere between 70 and 100 microns thick.

Do True HEPA Air Purifiers Become Less Effective When Dirty?

Another big difference between HEPA-type purifiers and True HEPA air purifiers is how they filter when they become dirty. This is where the “Absolute” part of the equation comes in. Any absolute filter media will actually become more effective as it gets dirtier. The more particles that are trapped in an absolute filter, the more effective it will be. The reason why is actually pretty simple. As dirt and other debris builds up around the air holes, those holes get smaller and smaller, allowing less to get through.

How Do I Know If It’s A True HEPA Air Purifier?

The easiest way to tell is if the product is advertising that it is a true HEPA air purifier. There are also HEPA-type air purifiers which really have no exact standards to which they are held in regards to how tightly they filter the air. If the packaging says neither “true HEPA” or “HEPA-type”, then look for the efficiency ratings. If it doesn’t filter at least 97% of the all important 0.3 micron particles, then it’s not a true HEPA air purifier.

Still not sure that a HEPA air purifier is for you? Visit HEPA Air Purifiers Info for answers to all of your questions.

When the humidity level goes over 50%, the water vapor in the air can cause furniture to warp, moisture to condense on walls and floors and promote growth of fungus. All that moisture will also make any would you have down there rot quicker. If you have any family members that suffer from allergies, having a basement dehumidifier is something that is crucial for reducing their health risks linked to the toxic fungus’s and molds present in these situations. It is important that you try to find out what the underlying cause of these high humidity is before you go out and purchase a basement dehumidifier. There really shouldn’t be that much of a difference between the temperature of your basement and the temperature of the rest of the house, as it shouldn’t have its own temperatures zone. Try adding weather-stripping to any basement doors and windows. Make sure that the basement has some insulation it, and if it doesn’t you will need to weigh the cost differences between running a basement dehumidifier and the cost of getting the walls insulated.

Doing a little bit of planning before going out and buying a basement dehumidifier is. It is imperative that you know what the cubic footage of the basement is where the dehumidifier will be operating. You also want to take into consideration whether you need a permanent unit versus a portable unit. One more thought for consideration when shopping for a dehumidifier is whether or not the unit will fit into the space that you want it to. You also need to take into consideration the noise levels that dehumidifiers make, as some are quite noisier than others. Either ask for a demonstration if buying in the store, or read the reviews of them if buying online.

Air conditioners and refrigerators work on the same principles as a dehumidifier. The humid air is forced across to some cold coils which makes the water in the air condensate thus it is extracted from the air. The condensation will keep building and dripping off into a collection bucket inside the dehumidifier itself. Meanwhile the dry air flow, heated somewhat by the extraction of humidity, is directed out of the unit back into the room.

Lots of individuals forget to maintain their basement dehumidifier as they are out of sight and they don’t think about it. The buckets inside of these can be prone to developing a bacterial growth if you do not keep them clean periodically. If you are not into having to do this, there are some manufacturers who develop their units to do away with this insight bucket and simply use a hose that is designed to go to a floor drain which is an absolutely perfect solution to this problem.

Dehumidifiers are an effective way to help get rid of the problem of moisture in your home.A basement dehumidifier is built specifically with the demands of a basement in mind. If you would like more information on these then you can get it by going to http://www.dehumidifiersforsale.net/basement-dehumidifiers.php