Rotating News Article

For: Week of December 15, 2003

By: Linda K. Bowman, Ext. Agt. IV - Family & Consumer Sciences

Santa Rosa County Extension Service

Telephone: 850/623-3868 or 939-1259, ext. 1360

Air Cleaners

With the increasing concerns over pollution and air quality, the sale of air cleaners, also known as “air purifiers,” has skyrocketed. Consumers bought 3.4 million air cleaner units in 2002; that is a 70% increase in sales from the year 2000.

But, do air cleaners really remove all of the pollutants from the air as the ads claim? Is the air in your home so dirty that you need an air cleaner to provide allergy and asthma relief? How do air cleaners work?

Do you need an air cleaner?

Does anyone in your family have asthma or suffer from allergies? If the answer is “yes,” then a carefully selected air cleaning system may be of some benefit. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends ventilation and eliminating or controlling the source of indoor air pollution before air cleaning. Examples of source control include banning indoor smoking, vacuuming regularly, and washing laundry in the hottest water possible to kill dust mites. Examples of ventilation include opening windows and using the exhaust fans located in kitchens and bathrooms.

The general medical community remains skeptical about air cleaners. Dr. R.A. Woods, director of Pediatric Allergy Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore said, “People who do not have any respiratory diseases are very unlikely to be affected unless their indoor air quality is dramatically bad.” The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies said air cleaners are probably helpful in some situations in reducing allergy or asthma symptoms, but are not consistently and highly effective in reducing symptoms.

How do air cleaners work?

There are three basic types of air cleaners.

1. Filter

With this type of air cleaner, a fan pulls air through a paper or fine mesh filter. Most room air cleaners use a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.

2. Electrostatic precipitation

This type of air cleaner draws air through an electrical field, where particles become magnetically charged. These particles are then trapped on oppositely charged collection plates. Many of these types of air cleaners generate a small amount of ozone, which has an odor that some consumers may dislike.

3. Hybrid

This type of air cleaner combines a fan and electrostatic precipitator.

There are also whole-house air cleaners and room-sized units. The whole house systems are much more effective than room-sized units, but they are also more costly. Because of limited air circulation, room units are not very effective.

Whole-house units use forced air heating and cooling systems and should be professionally installed. The least expensive type of whole-house systems use filters. Filters restrict some airflow, especially when using high quality filters. These systems are not very effective against small particles and smoke. The whole-house electrostatic precipitators that are available do not restrict airflow as much as filters.

When shopping for air cleaners, look for the certification of the cleaner. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) certification gives the maximum coverage and clean air delivery rate of the cleaner. Also be sure to check the details of the warranty.

Air cleaners are moderately successful at reducing smoke particles, pollen, pet dander, and dust particles (but not dust mites, since they are rarely airborne). They are not successful in removing odors, gases, such as carbon monoxide, or viruses. Lastly, keep costs in mind when shopping for air cleaners. The overall costs of the air cleaner will include the initial purchase of the cleaner, maintenance costs (costs of new filters), and operating costs (costs for electricity).

Do not purchase an ozone generator, even if it is sold as an air cleaner. Ozone is considered a lung irritant by the American Lung Association. Ozone in larger quantities can be especially damaging for persons with asthma, children, and the elderly.

For further information contact: Linda Bowman, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, The University of Florida--Santa Rosa County Cooperative Extension Service--IFAS, at 850-623-3868, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Hearing-impaired individuals may call Santa Rosa County Emergency Management Service at 983-5373 (TDD).

Extension Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin. The use of trade names in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee, warranty, or endorsement of the product name(s) and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others.