Air Filters And Purifiers
Air cleaners are generally classified according to the technology they use to remove particles or gases from the air. These include mechanical filters, electronic air cleaners, hybrid filters, and gas phase filters. You can also buy chemical process air filters (such as ozone generators).
The filter you buy will depend on what you need it to do. If you've got an asthmatic in the house, you're going to need filters that perform at a much higher level than is necessary for a non-asthmatic household. Self-contained portable filters may need to be used to get specific rooms as pollutant-free as you need them to be.
Types of Air Filters and Purifiers: Distinguishing between Many
The three main types of air filters are: mechanical, hybrid, and electronic air cleaners. Mechanical filters use a fan to force air through the filter. They feature increasingly smaller and tighter filters to trap successive sizes of particles. The filter is usually made of a low density fibrous material that is sometimes coated with oil to make it even more sticky. You can also get pleated or HEPA filters. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters were originally created during WWII to prevent radioactive particles from being let loose into the air. Although they used to be used solely in hospitals and industrial contexts, more and more home air filters are making use of this technology.
Electronic filters, generally marketed as electronic air cleaners and formerly referred to as electrostatic precipitators, use an electrical field to trap particles. Electronic filters can be used in portable units with fans, just like mechanical filters. Electronic filters are inexpensive to operate because they have a low pressure drop. Air filters and purifiers come in a wide range of models and forms, so it's good to research a potential product to see what each incorporates.
