Ionic air cleaners are designed to purify the air you breathe. They work to remove particulate matter like allergens and dust particles. These air cleaners are available in a variety of sizes from large room-size models to personal units you wear on your body.
Ionic air cleaners work by electrically charging air molecules. Usually this is done by emitting negative ions. These negative ions combine with particulates and cause them to cling to a filter or another object much in the same way that static electricity works.
An air cleaner that emits negative ions causes the dust and allergens to fall out of the air and cling to objects in your home like the furniture or carpet. To rid your home of this precipitate, you must vacuum regularly.
Some ionic cleaners go a step further and use an electrostatic precipitator. This means that they charge the air after it enters the cleaning unit so that the fall-out sticks to a metal plate that can be removed and cleaned. In a similar way, media-charged ionic cleaners attract particulate matter to internal filters that must be changed periodically in order to remain efficient.
Of the three types of ionic air cleaners, the electrostatic precipitators are most popular because they make cleaning the fall-out the easiest. You do not have to worry about constantly vacuuming to get rid of allergens. You can simply remove the plate and wash it. Of course, the media-charged cleaners are even easier to maintain since all you need to do is throw the filter away rather than clean it, but you have the added expense of replacement filters.
Ionic air cleaners create ozone as they operate and this might cause an unpleasant smell in your home. The negative ion generators tend to produce the most noticeable odor. On the other hand, air cleaners can help remove other odors from the air like smoke, mold, and pet odors.
Indoor air pollution is a serious concern today as reports of ‘sick’ buildings make the news. Being cooped up in an office building all day may be hazardous to your health. You may be interested in ionic air cleaners that are small enough to sit on your desk at work. They were created to keep the immediate space around you cleared of contaminants.
If anyone in your family suffers from asthma or allergies, ask your doctor about using one of these devices in your home. Ionic cleaners may be able to improve the quality of the air you breathe at home. They are said to remove common allergens like tobacco smoke, pollen, and pet dander.
The price of ionic air cleaners depends upon the size you buy. Your unit must be able to clean the air in a room several times an hour if you are buying one for home use. Other things to consider are the types of filters your device uses. HEPA filters are necessary for removing allergens from the air and higher end units will come with these and a warranty as well.
