Ozone is only helpful in higher atmospheres where it helps filter ultraviolet radiation caused by the sun.  Ozone that is used in our breathable atmosphere is harmful to our respiratory systems.  Added with other pollutants and hydrocarbons that are already floating in our air by automobiles and chemicals, ozone is not a good mix.

For over a century, health professionals have refuted the claim that ozone generators can safely and effectively control indoor air pollution but manufacturers continue to make them, convincing the public that the zap of ozone to pollutants can clean the air.

Air cleaners are designed to be an air to your respiratory system and not harm with ozone that are not safe for our bodies in our atmosphere.  Be careful when choosing an air cleaner that is called an ozone generator.  Look for mechanical or electronic air cleaners that are EPA approved or AHAM certified for best results that will not further harm your lungs.

Some air cleaners are designed to remove only large particles while others remove small particles.  An air cleaner also cannot remove every square inch of air in a room and clean efficiently before particles settle on furniture and other surfaces.  Other allergen preventative measures have to be incorporated with air cleaners.  These include frequent vacuuming, dusting, and washing of bedding at least weekly.

If you work outside of the home, you will probably notice a dramatic difference when you walk into your home due to the freshness and purity of a clean atmosphere compared to your work place.  Some use an air cleaner in their bedroom to help alleviate the respiratory distress of the day and to get recharged while they sleep.  After all, you can’t carry around your air cleaner with you so get quality air while you can.

An air cleaner can make a large difference in your overall health but is not a cure all for your individual situation.  The federal government can offer many excellent ideas for controlling allergies at www.epa.gov/asthma to help incorporate a good air cleaner with other healthy steps.

The effectiveness of air cleaners is measured by clean air delivery rate (CADR).  This method was designed and currently used by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to evaluate the amount of clean air produced by a unit.

It is difficult to measure a CADR value when your air cleaner is used in different sized rooms but it does give manufacturers a scale to compare to other units so you know how good your unit is compared to competitors.  For example, given the same conditions, an air unit may be tested and deliver a rate 100 cubic feet per minute of contaminant free air.  A similar sized model with the same size fan may deliver a rate of 250 cubic feet per minute.  The larger the cubic feet measures, the more effective the unit.

You can find CADR values on the Internet by visiting www.cadr.org to make the best choice in portable air cleaners for your home.

There are two basic types of air cleaning units that remove particles from the air, electronic air cleaners, and mechanical air filters.  Mechanical air filters remove polluted particles from the air by bringing in the air and capturing the particles on filter materials.  Electronic air cleaners use an ionization section within the unit to give any particles an electrical charge then they fall to flat plates where they are oppositely charged.

Also classified as an electronic air cleaner is the ionizer that zaps the particles then releases into the air where they hunt for flat surfaces like walls and furniture.  Gas-phase air filters are yet another type that removes gases and odors by using activated carbon.  These are not recommended as they do not remove particles from the air but are specific only to a few select gasses.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) cleaners will destroy bacteria, allergens, and molds in the air or growing on HVAC surfaces, such as ductwork or the cooling coils on refrigeration units but also produce ozone gas that irritates your lungs.  This seems a little counterproductive, doesn’t it?

As air quality becomes more relevant in today’s society, be careful in choosing an air cleaner that will perform the duties that you wish to see.  All air cleaners are not alike in what they are designed to do.

1971 brought a great victory for the Hammes brothers when they began manufacturing residential air purifiers and in 1990, models of cabin air filters and Mercedes-Benz automobiles put their company Incen AG, on the international map.

Today, Klaus’s son Frank, heads IQAir one of the most prestigious names in the air purification industry.  Incorporating H13 class certified HEPA filters, capturing up to 100 times more particles than the conventional HEPA filter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gaseous chemicals are included in the removal of air borne contaminants.

All development, testing and manufacturing continues to be conducted at IQAir production facilities in Switzerland.  IQAir North America, Inc. services the states and is proud to be a contributing partner with the American Lung Association.  Approached by designers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to create ultra-high performance air cleaning systems for families with HIV, cancer and other life-threatening conditions, IQAir was able to expand their research and work to provide answers to respiratory problems of today.

Look for their expanded line of commercial products for office buildings and public structures where filtered air is definitely needed.

The 3M Filtrete Ultra Clean Air Purifier is designed for single room use with a three-speed fan that is known to capture 90% of large airborne allergens.  Microscopic pollutants are also trapped in the disposable filter and there is an indicator light that lets you know when the filter needs replaced.

First tested in 1993, 3M added the Filtrete filter to its extensive line of products and continue to develop even better technology to their air cleaners today.  The 3M Filtrete Ultra Clean Air Purifier is designed for rooms where daily activity is frequent.  There are also filters available for furnaces for whole house filtration but room purifiers can further add protection for those who have serious allergies and respiratory problems.

Tested and proven to capture pollen, mold spores, dust mites, dust bacteria smoke, smog, and particles that carry viruses and odors, the 3M Filtrete filters are becoming very popular among those who spend much time indoors.  The quiet nature of this unit could possibly make it the best on the market for work at home individuals.

It wasn’t until the 60s that government regulations were put into place to insulate homes as tightly as possible to prevent heat loss.  This was a great idea for keeping your heat bill as low as possible but at the same time, new products for the home were emerging that contained petroleum based materials.

People spend 80% of their lives inside, trapped with recycled air that picks up dirt, dust, mold, mildew, chemicals, and pet dander.  These same pollutants enter our respiratory systems and weaken our lung capacity.  It is no wonder that over 50% of the American population suffers regularly from some type of recurring respiratory problem.

The good news is that a HEPA air filter can remove up to 99.7% of all pollutants in our enclosed air with a three-element system that pulls air into its unit and traps dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke and other unhealthy, unseen particles from our breathing space.  HEPA units have improved to include several selections of portable, room size, and whole house air cleaners for your protection.  Prices have also gotten more inexpensive over the past twenty years and they are easy to find.

Don’t wonder why allergies are getting the best of you but treat them instead with a HEPA filter.

High-Efficiency Particle Arresting (HEPA) filters go have a three-mechanism system designed to trap and hold on to particles without releasing back into the atmosphere.

The Interception layer first collects the stream of air coming into the machine.  Secondly, the Impaction stops larger particles with fibers.  The third mechanism, Diffusion, causes gas molecules to collide with tiny particles and embeds them into specially made fibers.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is very strict with their requirements for HEPA as this filter serves many high technology agencies, such as aerospace and nuclear facilities to combat the spread of pollutants and particles.  Copycats try to seize upon the name by using ‘HEPA-type’, ‘99% HEPA’ or something similar to mislead you into purchasing their products.

Models range from whole-house units to smaller portable air cleaners.  But wherever you use a HEPA air cleaner, you know that 99.7% of pollutants in the air that pass through its filters will stay there.  Just because your home is clean doesn’t mean that there aren’t pollutants.  Over 99% of the particles in the air are not seen by the naked eye because they are so small.

An air cleaner that has the HEPA filtration system is more expensive than many other units but you are guaranteed relief from pet dander, viruses, pollen, dust mites, mold spores, odors, and bacteria.  For the severe allergy sufferer, this is music to their ears.