An air purifier is a device that removes contaminants from the air, by drawing in surrounding air, forcing it through a variety of filtration systems, and returns clean detoxified air back into the room. People who suffer from allergies, or have asthma problems commonly use these to reduce or even eliminate symptoms. They are available in a wide varieties, and models, and are manufactured for both commercial and residential applications.

Even if you think the air is clear, when you look at it, doesn’t mean it is. There are many microscopic particles that are invisible to the naked eye, but are breathed in on a regular basis. Mold spores, smoke particles, and other volatile organic compounds, or VOCs are undetectable under normal circumstances, but can pose serious health risks, especially if you have mold. An air purifier, with today’s modern technologies, can not only pick up and eliminate these, but also bacteria and viruses.

There are many different kinds of filtration systems available for an air purifier, but three of the most common are HEPA filter, activated carbon, and ionization. With a filter system, particles are forced through a filter that is of a particular size format. Particles that are small enough will pass right through, while larger ones are physically collected on the surface material. In some filters, you can just was it out, let it dry, and put it back in. HEPA filters can pick up up to 99.97% of air pollutants.

While an activated carbon filter is good enough to pick out volatile chemicals on a molecular level, it will not absorb larger contaminants. Usually activated carbon is used in combination with other types of filtering, such a HEPA. An ionizing air purifier uses positively charged ions to pick up airborne particles, and attracts them to a collection plate inside the unit.

Air purifiers can be found in many places, both online, and in local stores. There are units that can be quite expensive, and have many bell and whistles. For example, the I. O. Healthpro series air purifiers have two filtration units, multiple fan speeds, an electronic display, and can filter 900-1000 square feet. This kind of unit will run you well over $700, which to people who spend much more than that each year on medicine, work time lost, and hospital visits may consider this a bargain.

For more reasonably priced air purifier units, Honeywell, Surround, and Sharp being among the top brands. Many of these products are under $100, but usually are mostly available in the one, to two hundred dollar range. You can find them in many retailers, but it may be a good idea to go to one of your local dealers first, to get a hands on look at some offered products, and you can ask as many questions as you like. It is also a good idea to be a price comparison shopper, and there are many websites to cut down on time. You should check with each site anyway, to make sure there are no hidden charges that may not appear on the comparison listing.