How Air Cleaning Systems Work

Air cleaning systems work to remove and collect impurities found in the air. These impurities typically include chemicals, gases, smoke, and various microorganisms. When considering what air cleaning system to purchase, you have to take into consideration what pollutants it is able to effectively remove, its collection efficiency, energy efficiency, whether it is able to cover large areas, where you will need it (your bedroom, a conference room, or inside an industrial area) and whether it is high maintenance or not. You could opt to check different air purifiers review websites online to help you with your selection. Make sure to consult specialists as well who could give you their recommendations based on your specific situation.

How do indoor air purifiers work? Here are some examples of commonly-used air cleaning technology:

• Electrostatic air filter. Electrostatic air filters work by removing impurities from the source of circulating air. It is mounted on an existing cooling/heating unit; it then attracts large particles such as house dust, pollen and mold spores (making it effective in mold control) and collects them. The air that goes out of the unit is thereby effectively freed from such impurities. If you purchase an electrostatic air filter, you have to make sure that you clean it regularly in order to maximize the air flow from your cooling/heating unit, and so that the captured organisms won't breed inside the filter. One weakness of an electrostatic air filter is that it is limited to cleaning the air that comes from a specific unit; it does not effectively collect airborne particles from distant areas of the room. It also does not capture very small particles such as germs and viruses nor remove undesirable odors within a room.
• Carbon air filter. Carbon air filters work much like electrostatic air filters, with their main difference being in how they capture impurities. While electrostatic air filters attract impurities because of their electrostatic charge, carbon air filters absorb particles much like a sponge, due to their numerous, microscopic pores. While electrostatic air filters effectively capture relatively large microorganisms, carbon air filters are more effective at removing odors such as tobacco smoke and chemical fumes from a room.
• Air ionizer. Air ionizers let off an electrical field, which ionizes (adds or removes an electron from) potential allergens in the air. Once that particle has been ionized, it will be attracted to a negative or positive metal plate within the air ionizer, and will therefore be removed from the air. Another way that an air ionizer works is that, once a particle has been ionized, it will be attracted and bonded to another particle of a different charge; when enough particles have bonded, they will be too heavy to remain airborne.
• UV light. Some air purifiers emit ultraviolet radiation in the air in order to make the harmful microorganisms within that area harmless.

There are so many other available means to purify air, such as by using ozone generators, HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air, much like an electrostatic air filter but capable of collecting smaller particles) or even through eco-friendly means such as putting plants around your home (this is also a good decorating scheme, as well).