Home Air Purifiers – A Solution to a Serious Risk
Home air purifiers can help to rid your home of harmful particulate and gaseous pollutants, the two types of air pollutants that are present in indoor air.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is a serious issue. So serious, in fact, the EPA has rated it among the top five environmental risks to human health.
There are many home air purifiers to choose from, and all are eco-friendly in that they remove pollutants from the air. However, there are two home air purifiers that have gone above and beyond just removing pollutants and have earned notoriety for being very eco-friendly.
Blueair Home Air Purifiers
Blueair home air purifiers deliver great results, use 100%, non-toxic, Earth-friendly recyclable materials in their design and are energy efficient. The name Blueair comes from the fact that the purifiers very quiet, especially when compared to home air purifiers by other companies. To achieve this quietness, Blueair home air purifiers combine electrostatic and mechanical HEPA technologies.
Some electrostatic home air purifiers produce unhealthy amounts of ozone, a lung irritant. Blueair’s design does not produce ozone and has even been shown to reduce ozone levels in its purified air product.
There are several models to choose from and the electronic models offer advanced digital controls such as remote operation, timers and automatic pollution-level detection. The maintenance they require includes filter replacement a few times a year and an occasional cleaning of the internal parts. This is a huge bonus from other electrostatic home air purifiers, which require frequent cleaning.
The design does have a disadvantage in that it does not have a pre-filter like many of its competitors. Pre-filters catch larger particles; that helps protect the unit from dirt and extends the life of the main filters. This lack of a pre-filter can raise the cost of the unit due to more filter replacements.
Also, the unit’s HEPASilent filters’ don’t last long, requiring them to be replaced approximately every 6 months. This is short compared to some competitors.
Blueair’s design is environmentally conscious and more durable as they are units are made of galvanized steel rather than plastic. Their filter media does not use chemical additives and the systems are energy efficient. In fact, they are the most energy efficient models on the market and have earned an Energy Star certification, which guarantees up to 35% less energy than comparable units. This makes them cost-effective as well as environmentally friendly.
The quietness, energy efficiency and controls vary on each model and it’s recommended that buyers check each model number for specifics.
IQAir Home Air Purifiers
Another model, IQAir home air purifiers, has earned much attention by producing air of such high quality that its industrial models are used in more hospitals throughout the world. IQAir’s home models can do the same for residential use. Also, IQAir air has been certified 100% ozone-free. Its design and cost-efficiency make it eco-friendly.
IQAir home air purifiers feature a triple-seal design to help prevent internal air leaks. IQAir units also have pre-filters, which means less filter changing and more savings. The design also allows each filter to be replaced independently. This is a big advantage over competitors that require the filters to be changed at the same time even when not needed.
The filters average life spans are 6-18 months up to 2-4 years for the three different types of filters. This, of course, depends on the type of environment the filters will be used to purify.
IQAir features low noise and advanced user controls that include a programmable timer, intelligent filter life monitor and remote control. Each unit uses 85 – 215 watts an hour, depending on speed. Each unit is also made of steel and not plastic.
IQAir also offers one of the best warranties for home air purifiers at a 5-year warranty period. That warranty includes parts and labor, but excludes filters. IQAir also features several models and it’s recommended that the buyer look at each model for specifics before purchasing.
No matter the design, with more people looking to be energy and cost efficient and environmentally conscious, it’s great to see more home air purifiers try to achieve all three of those goals, as well.