| Complete Guide to
Buying an Air Purifier.
1. The More Air Purification Technologies The Better
2.
Particle Removal & Collection
3.
Removal of Chemicals, Gases, & Smoke
4.
Destruction of Micro-Organisms
5.
Thorough Coverage Throughout the Home
6.
Odor Elimination
7.
Filter Sanitization
8.
Price and Replacement Costs
9.
Electricity Consumption
10.
Noise
1. The More Air Purification Technologies The
Better
 Every air purification technology has its strengths
and weaknesses. In which case, an air purifier that offers multiple
technologies is generally best, in order to combine the advantages, and
eliminate the disadvantages of each air purification method.
About the Top Air Purification
Technologies:
Hepa Air Filtration
Summary. Hepa air filters are the most efficient type of air filter available.
They are 99.97% effective at removing particles as small as 0.3
microns. Hepa air filters were developed
by the Atomic Energy Commission during the second World War to remove
radio active dust from their plants, and are recommended by the
U.S.
Dept.
of Homeland Security.
Hepa
Air Filter Strengths:
- Removal
of
dust, pollens, mold spores, dust mites, and other allergens.
- Removal
of many bacteria.
- Solid
particles captured are not released into the air again.
Hepa
Air Filter Weaknesses:
- Difficult
time removing airborne particles from across the room, since they
must be drawn through the filter.
- Do
not remove chemical fumes, gases, cigarette smoke or odors.
- Do
not capture ultra-fine particles, viruses or germs.
- Micro-organisms
captured in filter can breed and/or reproduce, resulting in
increased micro-organism populations.
Technologies that Compliment Hepa Air Filters:
- Ionizer to cause finer
particles to magnetically attach together, making them easier to
capture, and to better remove airborne particles from across the
room, since ions can be circulated.
- Activated Carbon Air Filter
to capture the chemicals, fumes, and cigarette smoke that Hepa
filters cannot.
- Germicidal UV Lamp to
destroy viruses and germs that are not captured by Hepa air filters,
and that also prevent micro-organisms trapped in the Hepa filter
from breeding and/or reproducing.
- Ozone Generator to remove
odors that are unaffected by Hepa air filters. Should be able to be
turned completely off.
Air
Ionizer
Summary. An air ionizer creates negative ions,
which change the polarity of airborne particles, causing them to
magnetically attract together. As a result, they become to large to
remain airborne, and fall out of the air that you breathe in. The most
effective ionizers use a stainless steel "needlepoint" to
produce negative ions.
Air Ionizer Strengths:
- Removal of particles from the air,
including ultra-fine particles as small as 0.01 microns.
- Neutralization of viruses,
bacteria, cigarette smoke and chemical fumes.
- Can circulate throughout the room
to remove airborne particles that are across the room from where the
air purifier sits.
Air Ionizer Weaknesses:
- Does not collect many or most of
the airborne particles removed from the air.
- Does not remove odors.
- Does not kill germs, fungi
(although it does remove them from the air), and not all viruses.
- Does not remove all chemicals.
Technologies that Compliment Air Ionizers:
- Hepa Air Filter to collect
ionized particles.
- Ozone Generator to remove
odors. Should be able to be turned completely off.
- Germicidal UV Lamp to kill
germs, viruses, and fungi.
- Activated Carbon Air Filter
to effectively capture chemical fumes.
Germicidal
UV Lamp
Summary. Ultraviolet (UV) lamps
effectively destroy micro-organisms that pass by the bulb, including
germs, viruses, bacteria, and fungi (such as mold). UV Light radiation
is recommended by the Centers of Disease Control to prevent illness and
disease.
UV Lamp Strengths:
- Ability to destroy micro-organisms,
such as germs, viruses, bacteria, and fungi (including mold).
- Helps prevent illness and disease.
UV Lamp Weaknesses:
- No affect on particulate, including
most allergens.
- No affect on chemical fumes, gases,
or cigarette smoke.
- No affect on odors, unless designed
to produce ozone, which may not be desired under all circumstances.
Some UV lamps are designed not to produce ozone.
Technologies that Compliment UV Air
Purifiers:
- Hepa Air Filters and Air
Ionizers to remove and capture solid particles, including dust
and other allergens, which are not affected by UV lamps.
- Activated Carbon Air Filter
to remove chemical fumes which are not affected by UV lamps.
- Programmable Ozone Generator
to increase odor elimination capability, which can be completely
turned off if not needed, allowing the use of a non-ozone producing
UV lamp.
Activated
Carbon Air Filter
Summary. Activated carbon air filters consist
of a vast system of pores of molecular size. These pores are highly
adsorbent, forming a strong chemical bond/attraction to odorous,
gaseous, and liquid contaminates.
Activated Carbon Air Filter Strengths:
- The most absorbent filter
available, making it highly effective it capturing chemical fumes,
gases, cigarette smoke, and odors.
- Does not release captured
contaminates back into the air.
Activated Carbon Air Filter Weaknesses:
- Does not effectively remove dust
and other allergens.
- Does not effectively capture
micro-organisms.
- Has a difficult time removing
contaminates from across the room, since they must travel through
the filter.
Technologies that Compliment Activated Carbon Air
Purifiers:
- Hepa Air Filter to capture
allergens and other particles that activated carbon cannot.
- Ionizer to remove chemicals
from across the room.
- Germicidal UV Lamp to
destroy micro-organisms not affected by the activated carbon filter.
Ozone
Generator
Summary. Ozone is a highly reactive oxidant
that destroys certain bacteria and chemicals, including odor-causing
bacteria and chemical agents. Ozone is highly effective against strong
odors, but is not always needed or wanted under normal circumstances. In
which case, it is best if it can be completely turned off if not
desired.
Ozone Strengths:
- Highly effective against odors,
including cigarette smoke odors.
- Helps to destroy certain chemicals
and bacteria.
Ozone Weaknesses:
- The smell of it can be bothersome
to some.
- Can cause irritation of the eyes,
nose, and throat if occurring in high enough concentrations.
- No affect on solid particles, such
as allergens.
- Does not neutralize most chemicals.
Technologies that Compliment Ozone Air Purifiers:
- Hepa Air Filter and Ionizer
to remove solid particles from the air.
- Germicidal UV Lamp to remove
micro-organisms not affected by ozone.
- Activated Carbon Air Filter
to remove chemicals not neutralized by ozone.
- Ozone Controls in order to
adjust the ozone level to the desired concentration, or even to turn
completely off if it is not needed or wanted.
2. Particle Removal & Collection
Certain technologies have little effect in removing
solid particles from the air. UV purifiers or ozone air purifiers
without a separate ionizer (such as needlepoints, many only
produce small amount of ions as byproduct) and/or a Hepa air
filter will not be able to remove dust and other allergens from the
air, the most common types of airborne pollutants people want removed.
Ionizers without a filter can remove solid particles,
but do not actually collect much of the particulate. Hepa air filters,
such as the filter used on the
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier, capture allergens and other particulate, removing them from the
environment, while preventing them from re-entering the air.
3. Removal of Chemicals, Gases, & Smoke
Other air purification technologies are ineffective at
these common contaminates, created by household cleaners, construction
materials, cigarettes, etc. Activated carbon air filters are the
most absorbent type of filter for chemicals, while Hepa air filters have
not effect on these pollutants. The
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier uses an activated carbon air
filter in addition to its Hepa air filter.
Ozone and negative ions have some ability to destroy
certain micro-organisms, but UV (ultraviolet) light is the most
effective at destroying the greatest variety of micro-organisms. UV
light destroys viruses, germs, bacteria, and fungi (such as mold) in
order to help prevent illness and disease. The
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier incorporates a UV lamp,
ionizer, and ozone generator (which can be completely turned off) to
team up against micro-organisms.
5. Thorough Coverage
Throughout the Home
Multiple Units Most Effective. The most
effective way, and sometimes even the more economical way to purify the
air throughout the room is through the use of multiple portable air
purifiers. Some companies claim their portable air purifier will purify
an entire home. However, this is an inaccurate claim due to the fact
that portable air purifiers cannot normally purify more than one room or
open area at a time. Even an air purifier that uses negative ions
(ionizer) and ozone purification cannot effectively circulate the ions
and ozone throughout a home.
Negative Ions and Ozone Cannot Purify Entire Home.
Negative ions have a short life (typically about 30 seconds), and can
cover an area of up to about 500 sq. ft. Ozone can travel farther before
breaking down to oxygen, but ozone is not effective against most common
and important indoor air pollutants (except for odors).
Portable Better Than Central. The other option
for purifying the air throughout a home is with an in-duct air cleaner.
In-duct air purifiers are not as effective as a portable unit on a
room-to-room basis. Plus, it is difficult to find an in-duct air
purifier that can offer multiple technologies.
Quantity Pricing. The main limitation to using
multiple air purifiers in a home or office is cost. Most room air
purifiers cost $200 or more per unit, making it cost-prohibitive to use
multiple units for most people. The
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier is priced as low as $129 per
unit (for the purchase of six or more units).
6. Odor Elimination
The most effective air purification technologies for
eliminating odors are ozone purification and activated carbon air
filtration. Ozone is a highly reactive and powerful oxidant
capable of destroying odor-causing bacteria, while activated carbon
is the most absorbent type of filter for removing chemical odor-causing
agents. Using a combination of the two technologies, as is done in the
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier, is the best way to remove
odors.
Ozone is great for environments where strong odors
exist, but can be overbearing when they do not, since ozone has its own
scent. In which case, it is important to be able to control the ozone
output, or even to be able to turn the ozone completely.
7. Filter Sanitization
Air filters serve as a breeding ground for
micro-organisms. The fabrics within an air filter allow micro-organisms
attached to trapped dust particles to reproduce and/or breed. In which
case, it is imperative that an air purifier (such as a Hepa filter) have
a sanitizing device located next to the filter. Otherwise, the growing
populations of microbes will be circulated into the air. A UV lamp,
ionizer, or ozone generator can be used for this purpose, although a germicidal
UV lamp is most effective at destroying micro-organisms.
The UV lamp in the
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier is placed directly behind
the air filter cartridge, enabling it to thoroughly sanitize the air
filter. The Multi-Tech also has an ozone generator located near the
filter that can be activated for even added filter sanitization.
8. Price and Replacement Costs
Price Can Be Deceiving. In the air purifier
market, there are inexpensive air purifiers that are very effective, and
extremely expensive air purifiers that do not clean the air very well at
all. In which case, cost is not necessarily the way to determine the
best air purifier for your situation. Instead, the criteria given in
this Air Purifier Buying Guide is a better way to judge an air purifier.
Know the Replacement Costs. It is also
important to verify replacement costs before buying an air purifier, so
you understand the total lifetime cost. Some air filters cost a couple
hundred dollars a year in replacement filters.
Replacement costs for the
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier are minimal, consisting only
of the Hepa/Activated Carbon filter cartridge ($32 per replacement) and
the UV lamp ($15 per replacement), which last 1-2 years and 1 year
respectively.
Many air filters consume heavy amounts of power,
adding upwards of $200 a year or more to your electricity bill. In which
case, it is important to verify the wattage used by an air
purifier. Anything over 100 watts, can add over $100 a year to your
electricity bill.
The
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier uses just 40 watts of
electricity, costing just a few dollars per month in power consumption,
if run continuously.
Air filtration units with a high wattage rating may be
capable of drawing large volumes of air through the unit, but they are
also very noisy. As a result, you trade in air pollution for noise
pollution.
The
Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier has a powerful fan. However,
it is very quiet, even on the highest setting, and will not disturb the
peace and quiet in your home.
 Surround
Air "Multi-Tech" Air Purifier
(Model XJ-3000C)
Combines the Top
5 air-cleaning technologies
in one air purifier.
Covers 500 sq. ft., Priced as
low as $129.
* High-Output Air
Ionizer for allergens, bacteria, viruses, chemicals and
more.
* 99.97% Efficient HEPA
Filter for particles including dust and mold spores.
* Germicidal UV Light for
destroying microbiological pollutants such as viruses, germs,
bacteria and fungi (such as mold).
* Activated
Carbon Filter for chemicals, gases, odors, and cigarette
smoke.
* Programmable
Ozone for strong odors and filter sanitization. Can be
completely disabled without affecting other functions.
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