With the help of Allergy & Air, an online appliance company with a mission to improve indoor air quality, Warner Service counts down the most common air filters and purifiers for your home.
Activated Carbon Filters
Used with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) or other filters, this option pulls impurities from the air using a process called absorption. The oxygen in activated carbon filters creates openings to pull odors, gases, vapors, and volatile organic compounds (if the filter contains chemical chemisorbant).
Air Scrubber by Aerus
Using only 18 watts of electricity to extend the life of an entire HVAC system, the Air Scrubber by Aerus is an all-in-one must-have device for your home.
To start, it prevents you from getting sick. According to its product brochure, the Air Scrubber Plus® is "the highest standard product to protect your family," especially allergy sufferers and those who can’t afford to get sick.
The device uses ActivePure Technology™, which destroys up to 99 percent of all surface contaminants from school, daycare, and the office that land on your door knobs, countertops, and floors. The technology fights serious illnesses, including staph, strep, hepatitis A, swine flu (H1N1), E. Coli, and MRSA.
Dust, mold, pollen, and other allergens and pathogens in your home cause similar symptoms, including a lack of sleep, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. ActivePure Technology™ creates “enviro-scrubbing molecules of oxygen and hydrogen, which purify the air and reduce irritating particles that” worsen symptoms during allergy season.
Secondly, it helps you breathe easier. Aside from killing allergens and pathogens, the Air Scrubber by Aerus “scrubs, purifies, and cleans the air...by reducing approximately 90 percent of airborne contaminants,” as concluded by controlled testing at the University of Cincinnati.
This photocatalytic device also prevents odors, including cigarette smoke, wet dog, paint fumes, and burnt food. It works 24/7 using proprietary lightwaves and a specialized catalytic process to “significantly reduce dust, pet dander, and odors in your home.”
Lastly, the Air Scrubber by Aerus has Certified Space Technology™ and is “guaranteed to have originated from technologies that came from space exploration.” This device “was originally developed in cooperation with National Aeronautics and Space Administration to create a safe atmosphere for astronauts on the International Space Station.”
This product is California Air Resources Board certified and complies with all Federal Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. It even has Mom Approval™ based upon a more than 99 percent satisfaction rate from thousands of installed units in 2013.
Charged Media Filters
These filters remove and filter impurities, as particles are collected on a disposable filter. However, this process causes respiratory problems for those with a predisposition to lung irritation.
Electrostatic Precipitators
This option uses a similar process as charged media filters but with plates instead of filters. The plates need to be replaced regularly, and this precipitator isn’t the best option for those with respiratory issues.
HEPA Filter
This is the most popular home filter, because it removes nearly 100 percent of air particles by pulling the air into its fine mesh. HEPA filters are built under strict standards and were originally made to pull radioactive airborne dust particles. The filters are used with most cleaners, purifiers, and vacuums.
Portable Air Purifiers
If your home doesn’t have forced air through a heating or cooling system, this one-room purifier is your only option. It works well, especially if you get one with a HEPA filter. They’re less expensive than whole-home options and are moved easily.
Whole-Home Air Filter
If you want an easy-to-use solution that doesn’t require professional installation, a whole-home air filter is an inexpensive option. They attach to furnaces as a replacement to the original air filter. It filters the returning air and traps particles.
Whole-Home Air Purifiers
If your home has a heating or cooling system, this is an option for you. It’s more expensive than a portable purifier, including professional installation costs. It’s great for severe allergy sufferers and those who need to purify a large space.
For more information on how to improve indoor air quality in your home, download Warner Service’s Guide To Home HVAC During Allergy Season:
