Indoor air pollutants are unwanted, harmful materials present in the air. Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks. The risk of indoor pollution can be reduced by controlling or eliminating the sources of pollutants, and to ventilate a home with clean outdoor air. Even by providing ventilation too you can reduce indoor air pollution, but this method is limited by outdoor pollution or weather conditions. If these measures are insufficient, an air cleaning device may be useful.
There are several types of air purifiers available in the market. They are both expensive models as well as cheap models, but by buying an expensive one you can save on the costs of maintenance and repair of your systems.
Reusable/washable filters: People may opt for reusable filters for the number of reasons as it can repay some amount when disposed. However this filters are generally not efficient at purifying the the indoor air. Not to mention, the cleaning process is time consuming and also untidy. You must find the suitable area for cleaning and removing the filter. Often these cleaners may contain toxic chemicals, which can be absorbed by the filter and recirculated through your indoor air once your filter is replaced in the system. You must also make sure that the filter is dry, before replacing it, as a wet filter can introduce mold into your indoor air, causing further health hazards. The only advantage of purchasing a reusable filter is the reduction of environmental waste. If your goal is environmental sustainability, you may opt for a washable air filter instead of a disposable one.
Standard Panel Fiberglass AC Filters: Fiberglass air purifiers available in the market are cheaper than other filters. They are also of the cheap quality. They let large quantity of pollutants and pet hair in to the system, decreasing its efficiency over time. Furthermore, these filters are made with fiberglass media, housed in a rigid panel, which begins to degrade soon after being inserted into your heating and cooling system. This fiberglass may then end up in your system and ultimately in your indoor air, exposing you to further health risks.
Pleated Furnace Filters: pleated furnace filters are of upgraded quality from the standard fiber ac filter systems. These are made of a woven polyester fabric like material, which is tight enough to filter out smaller particles. Its media is housed inside the rigid panel, but is pleated to provide a much larger surface area for filtration. As a result, these furnace filters are more efficient at cleaning your indoor air than the previous two types, ultimately extending the efficiency and life of your HVAC system.
Electronic air conditioning filters: Electronic air conditioner also made up of pleated material, but are of even more efficiency than regular pleated air filters, because the filter media is electrically charged. It acts as a magnet, drawing more particulate matter for more efficient indoor air filtration. These filters also inhibit the growth of the bacteria, which is a common problem to all systems.
HEPA filters: HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air, and these are some of the most efficient filters you can buy. These advanced air filters are able to trap 99.97 percent of contaminants including pet dander, dust and smoke.
The above is the information on various types of air purifiers.