| Whether you're an allergy or asthma sufferer, | | | | air purifier. |
| or someone who is concerned with providing | | | | |
| your family with the best indoor air quality, | | | | HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) |
| finding a solution to the airborne | | | | filters set the standard for effective air |
| contaminants in your home is a very important | | | | cleaning. HEPA filters have been tested and |
| issue. The Environmental Protection Agency | | | | certified to remove particles that average |
| (EPA) determined that most indoor air is | | | | 0.3 micron in size. Particles of this size |
| three to five times dirtier than outdoor air. | | | | are likely to be inhaled and deposited into |
| This startling revelation led to a boom in | | | | the lungs and trigger allergic and asthmatic |
| the production of air purifiers, but do they | | | | reactions. |
| really work? | | | | |
| | | | To qualify as a true HEPA filter, the filter |
| Most air purifiers remove airborne pollutants | | | | must remove at least 99.97% of airborne |
| like mold spores, pollen, dust, bacteria, and | | | | contaminants, including mold spores, dust, |
| pet dander. But determining whether an air | | | | pollen, smoke, and pet dander. There are many |
| purifier is effective is measured by its | | | | generic "HEPA-like" filters on the market |
| ability to capture particles and the amount | | | | today; however, true HEPA filters are marked |
| of air it can process in a given time. | | | | as such on their packaging and provide the |
| Translation: If an air purifier can't catch | | | | most efficient filtration. |
| particles of all sizes and process enough air | | | | |
| to make a difference, it's probably not worth | | | | Most air purifiers on the market are tested |
| the cost of shipping. | | | | and certified by the Home Appliance |
| | | | Manufacturers (AHAM), using the Clean Air |
| The effectiveness of an air purifier is | | | | Delivery Rate, or CADR. The CADR measures how |
| generally based on the effectiveness of its | | | | many cubic feet per minute of air is cleared |
| air filter. The American Society of Heating, | | | | of certain size particles. Three particle |
| Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers | | | | sizes are rated: smoke (small), dust |
| (ASHRAE) tests and certifies air filters, | | | | (medium), and pollen (large). |
| using a rating system to ensure accuracy. The | | | | |
| first rating, Initial Staining Dirt | | | | Rating air purifiers is simple: the higher |
| Efficiency, measures how well the filter | | | | the CADR rating, the less time the unit needs |
| removes microscopic staining particles such | | | | to remove a given quantity of particles from |
| as tobacco tar, allergens, and grease. The | | | | the specified size room. The room size is |
| second rating, the Average Arrestance Test, | | | | indicated on the packaging of the air |
| determines the percentage of ordinary dust, | | | | purifier and all AHAM-certified models are |
| hair, lint, and other large particulate | | | | marked with CADR data, as this information |
| matter removed. It's important to know which | | | | acts to distinguish each air purifier from |
| rating is being used when comparing air | | | | its competitor. You can use the CADR ratings |
| purifiers. | | | | to determine which air purifier works best in |
| | | | your home. |
| The size of air contaminants like dust and | | | | |
| pollen particles is measured by the micron. | | | | As you can see, there are many standards and |
| The human eye cannot see particles that are | | | | ratings requirements used for all air |
| smaller than 10 microns, as one micron equals | | | | purifiers. These requirements are used to |
| 1/25,400 of an inch. Particles like lint, | | | | ensure that every consumer receives the |
| dust, and pollen can all be seen by the human | | | | benefits they've been guaranteed by the |
| eye, but smaller contaminants like bacteria | | | | manufacturer. Air purifiers can't guarantee |
| and viruses will escape the detection of our | | | | the elimination of allergies or asthma. |
| eyes and some filters. Finding a filter that | | | | However, HEPA air purifiers can guarantee the |
| will eliminate air impurities of all sizes is | | | | elimination of harmful airborne contaminants. |
| important to ensure the effectiveness of an | | | | |