Air purifiers with replaceable filters. Are they effective?
It's about creating a pure air in the places where we spend most of our time: in the office and at home. It's not as difficult as it sounds at first glance - everything you need has already been developed, tested, and successfully exploited for the benefit of mankind.
Are washable HEPA filters effective?
Various filters are used to clean the air from dust, mechanical particles, and harmful compounds in household appliances. A set of new filters can cost up to 30% of the cost of a new appliance - so questions arise, but do they have to be changed as often as the manual prescribes? Some of it does, but others can be simply cleaned.
HEPA filters are fine filters that can block up to 99.99% of incoming fine dust, bacteria, and fungi. They are usually installed after the foam and are used for final air purification. HEPA filters have been used in air cleaners for a long time, and in recent years, such filters can also be found in vacuum cleaners.
It should be noted that while the usual filters are, roughly speaking, a very fine sieve in which large particles are sifted out, HEPA works not only on this principle. For example, fine dust can be deposited on the elements of such a filter due to electrostatics. In addition, filtration is also provided by other processes: adhesion to fibers, forces of inertia, and so on.
It is impossible to completely clean the used filter from contaminants. But there are washable HEPA, which is based on fluoroplastic fibers. They can be cleaned with a strong stream of cold water and then dried at room temperature. Such filters are just as effective, but, unfortunately, it is impossible to clean them completely at home. Although such a filter will last much longer, don't think you'll be able to use it forever.
Most HEPAs are paper and fiberglass-based. They are disposable, you can't wash them - only replace them. Fortunately, they last a year or more.
Are air purifiers a waste of money?
Installing an air purifier in your home can provide many wonderful health benefits.
Air purifiers reduce the number of pollutants in your home:
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Dust;
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Flower pollen;
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Mold;
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Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners, and personal care products.
An air purifier can reduce other symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:
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Itchy throat, eyes, nose, or skin;
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Headaches;
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Fatigue;
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Dizziness;
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Nausea.
Sometimes it can be difficult to identify visually indoor air quality problems because they can be related to other health conditions. However, if you notice that you feel better after you leave your residence, it is likely that the problem is related to indoor air quality.
Persistent odors, including the smell of cigarette smoke or cooking, are difficult to eliminate. If you find it difficult to get rid of pungent odors in your home, professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with charcoal or an activated charcoal filter. But the best result against bad odors can be achieved with ozone generating air purifiers.
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthy, especially during the cold season. To take full advantage of this benefit, you can use a UV air purifier. UV disinfection gives you an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
To really improve the air quality in the house and not suffer from the noise produced by the climate equipment, you can use a complete HVAC ventilation system with climate control. But it is quite expensive. Luckily there are some quite affordable air purifiers that are mounted in duct of your HVAC.
The EcoDucts with ozone can be installed in your inflow section of HVAC and effectively remove the most of airborne contaminants, odors and germs. Learn more here, if you are interested: https://ecoquestpurifiers.com/shop/hvac_air_purifier/
The efficiency of filterless air purifiers
Air purifiers with filters take up 98% of the global market. The obvious disadvantage of such devices is the need to periodically replace the filters. If you make it irregularly and not in time, any filters become a source of dangerous PM 2.5 particles, starting to spread it back in the air, when overflowed. Another disadvantage of the filters - the air is being purified only at the point of crossing the airflow, generated by the ventilator with the filter itself, while we need the most to clean the breathing area of our room. Filterless air purifiers are devoid of these disadvantages. And yes, filterless air purifiers do exist.
Main principle of filterless air purifiers is not to filter airflow passing through the machine, but to fill the indoor air with cleaning elements, such as several types of ions, ozone and hydroperoxide ionos generated as a result of the photo-catalityc processes. Positively charged ions are best to remove airborne flying contaminants, such as visible smoke, dust, polen, germs, dust mites, pet dander, mold and fungi. These particles are being removed from the breathing zone and settled on surfaces. Hydroperoxide ions are taking care of bacteria, germs and viruses on surfaces and in the air. UV light also takes its part in disinfection of the air.
Odors, mold and fungi are all being eliminated by the ozone. There are several ozone generators or ionizers, but only some of them have the synergy and advantage of all above technologies’ combination. You can find more information about filterless air purifiers by yourself, or use this link to make your opinion about it.
Features of ozone generators
An ozone generator is a device that produces an active oxygen or the most powerful oxidizing gas also known as ozone. Ozone kills most known bacteria, germs and even mold. It is merciless to odors as well. But, as well as any powerful chemical element, you have to use it with precaution and remember that the effects of ozone therapy are dose-dependent. The overdose of any, even very useful medicine can kill. Even water can kill you, if you drink 7-10 liters at once… The overdose of ozone can also be harmful to your body. Oxidizing and aging are two names of the same process, and nobody likes to age too fast. High doses of ozone cause free-radical oxidation and poisoning.
Household ozone air purifiers, which are used in the home, produce very low and therefore safe concentration of ozone. Air Purifiers with ozone by EcoQuest are equipped with adjustable level ozone generators, so you can choose the personal comfortable level of ozone in your premise for its 24/7 work. Another advantage of whole house air purifiers with ozone is the sanitation mode. This is sort of a turbo mode with maximum level of ozone and maximum speed of ventilator for the most effective disinfection of the room. It is called “Away Mode”, because no humans or pets are allowed to be inside the room as long as it’s switched on. YOu set up the timer for 2, 4 or 6 hours of sanitizing and leave the room for that period. Timer will switch it off automatically and the level of ozone will be normalized by the time you back. Under the influence of ozone, all harmful organisms, bacteria, mold and fungi are being neutralized and your room duly disinfected.
Ozone generators vs. ionizers — easy choice.
In fact it is incorrect to compare these two technologies. They are very different by its effect on the airborne contaminants. We should say that you need both of them. Ions are removing flying particles from the breathing zone, while ozone is fighting with odors and harmful microorganisms, germs, bacteria, mold etc. Ozone generators are more effective at neutralizing germs and harmful substances. An ionizer will not have the same disinfecting effect. Therefore for the best effect you need both of it. And this is why leaders of the filterless air purifiers market combine it in their devices, like EcoQuest air purifiers, which are equipped with both of them. Only through combined work of ionizer and ozone generator the "mountain effect" begins to be felt.