How Effective Are Air Purifiers?
There is no doubt that the technologies used in high-quality air purification equipment today are effective:
- HEPA filters are capable of removing up to 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns from the air, and have been used for decades in industries requiring exceptional air quality (e.g., aerospace, medical, high-tech);
- Activated carbon has been proven to be highly effective in adsorbing gases and odours. It is the same substance used in military gas masks to protect wearers from volatile organic chemical fumes;
- UV light is an effective means of killing viruses and bacteria, and is the industry standard for the sterilization of medical facilities and instruments.
In addition, many well-known organizations use Austin Air, IQAir and AllerAir air purifiers to address their mission-critical air quality issues:
- Austin Air was chosen by the U.S. Military and the American Red Cross to address the challenging air quality concerns in post 9/11 New York City;
- IQAir was selected by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority for use in the fight against SARS, and is used in hospitals around the world;
- AllerAir is used by institutions such as the Mayo Clinic to maintain their medical clean rooms, and by high-tech companies such as Boeing and IBM to provide a contaminant-free environment in their manufacturing plants.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT RELY ON AUSTIN AIR, IQAIR AND ALLERAIR AIR PURIFIERS
| Hospitals, Labs and Universities | Government | Businesses |
|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic | US Army | IBM |
| UCLA Medical Center | US Navy | Boeing |
| Duke University Medical Center | US Homeland Security | Bombardier |
| Hong Kong Hospital Authority | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Lockheed Martin |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory | The Pentagon | Cryovac |
| John Hopkins University | The Smithsonian Institution | Verizon |
| Cal Tech | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |
| The American Red Cross | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | The Salvation Army |
But perhaps the best indication that air purifiers can be effective in helping to remove allergens, toxins and odours from the air are testimonials from people that have purchased them:
Product Testimonials
“When we decided to improve the air quality in our day care center, we purchased an AllerAir air purifier on the advice of personnel at the Lung Association. There was such a major improvement in the health of the care giving personnel as well as the children at the center, the directors decided to buy 8 more units.”
Suzanne Latreille, Seattle
“My wife’s trips to the hospital for sinus headaches have decreased dramatically since using the Austin Air HealthMate.”
Dr. R.Y., Chandler, AZ
“Our son had been sick for 4 months and on a Nebulizer twice a day when we decided to get an air purifier. After putting the AllerAir 5000 Exec UV in our son’s room, he has made a 100% recovery! He’s off all medications and is not wheezing at all anymore.”
Heather, Jason & Colby Barth
“I have personally witnessed the extremely effective qualities of the Austin Air HealthMate. It has proven itself as an effective method to reduce problems associated with chemical sensitivities.”
Dr. J.D., Ann Arbor, MI
“The Austin Air HealthMate is very useful in combating allergy related problems. I have one at home for my own mold spore sensitivity.”
Dr. L.G., Bronx, NY
“After having the [AllerAir] unit in the office for a couple of weeks we definitely noticed a difference in the air quality. The staff indicated that the headaches and the fatigue that they were experiencing were greatly reduced.”
Kathy Willis – Executive Director
Over 50% of customers who purchase an air purifier from us later buy a second unit because they discover “It actually works.”
Room Air Purifiers vs. Whole-Home Units
While whole-home air cleaning systems are certainly a step in the right direction, they do not set up a strong enough air current throughout the house to properly clean the air. Portable room air purifiers are much more efficient because they are capable of performing six to eight complete air exchanges per hour, which is required to effectively clean the air in a room.
The effectiveness of room air purifiers is confirmed by two highly respected sources. In a review of residential air cleaning devices, the American Lung Association concluded that a highly efficient room unit is more effective at removing pollutants in the room where it is located than a central filtration system. Consumer Reports also recommends a portable air purifier for cleaning the air in a room or several rooms, over a central system.
Despite their proven effectiveness, air purifiers are sometimes dismissed as novelty items or “gadgets” that are not very good at cleaning the air. Although this can be true of cheaper units, this is a misperception that can unfortunately dissuade people from purchasing an air purifier and experiencing the benefits.
This misperception is perpetuated by a number of different sources:
Consumer Reports: The good, the bad, and sometimes… the inaccurate!
There have been many reviews and tests conducted by consumer magazines and websites on air purifiers over the last few years, resulting in a torrent of conflicting evidence as to the effectiveness of indoor air purification products in general. As a result, the average consumer has become confused as to whether or not to make the important investment in a room air purifier.
While reviews are a good place to start your initial research, they may only test one aspect of air cleaning (e.g., particle filtration), while totally ignoring other important factors that might pertain to an individual’s specific needs (e.g., chemical and odour control). One review we looked at was so concerned about the performance, cost and aesthetics of the unit, that they totally missed the fact that the unit they “highly recommended” was one of the biggest producers of harmful ozone on the market!
More importantly perhaps, consumer buying guides often test substandard units in the $100-$200 price range, or poor performing electrostatic and negative ion air cleaners (rather than more effective HEPA / activated carbon units), thereby generating less than impressive test results and further contributing to the misperception that air purifiers are not effective.
More about substandard products and the Modern Alchemy Difference
The Manufacturers: The truth, the whole truth and…nothing but the truth?
Sometimes individual manufacturers are to blame by exaggerating performance claims, providing incomplete or misleading technical information, or by producing a poor quality product. Some manufacturers will over-state the maximum room size the air purifier can clean, leading consumers to purchase an under-powered unit or one that will never be operated on the necessary fan speed setting because it is too noisy. In one particular case, a manufacturer stated the air flow rates for their units with no filters installed!
Worse yet, some manufacturers make air purifiers that can actually do more harm to your health than good by producing ozone or emitting other toxic gases.
The Retailer: “Yes, I think that this thing should be able to do something like that!”
Many problems associated with the effectiveness of air purifiers are generated by the retail businesses that sell the units because store personnel know little, or in some cases, nothing about the products they are selling to customers. How could they possibly recommend a suitable unit with no knowledge of what the air purifier is designed to do in the first place? Or more importantly, the things that the unit is not capable of doing!
This lack of knowledge, coupled with the fact that many stores carry only one brand or type of air purifier, can result in a mismatch between a customer’s needs and the air purifier that is sold to them, fostering perceptions that the unit doesn’t work all that well.
The Customer: “I need to change the filters? This thing has filters?”
Sometimes it’s the actual customer who is responsible for the poor performance and bad word of mouth surrounding some air purifiers. If a consumer purchases a small table-top unit and expects it to clean the entire room efficiently, they will most certainly be disappointed. Also, by not following the manufacturers’ suggested maintenance schedule, the performance of the air purifier will be severely impaired.
Most importantly though, by running an air purifier only occasionally (e.g., when they remember to turn it on), they are not receiving the full benefits that the air purifier can provide. If the unit is turned off at night, you can’t expect to wake up feeling refreshed and less congested in the morning!
Air cleaning is not an ‘event’ like dusting or vacuuming. You cannot simply run the unit for a couple of hours and say “the room is clean.” An air purifier should be left on continuously to achieve the optimum benefits.
Air purifiers are as individual as the people who use them, with each unit having distinct advantages and disadvantages. In addition, units can use a multitude of technologies (e.g., HEPA filtration, activated carbon, ultraviolet light, electronic, negative ion), sometimes in combination with each other. With such a wide range of choices, it’s no wonder that consumers are confused about what type/model/brand of air purifier is most effective for their needs. This is where Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers can help. Contact Us
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