| Whether you're an allergy or asthma sufferer, or | | | | effectiveness of an air purifier. |
| someone who is concerned with providing your family | | | | HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters set the |
| with the best indoor air quality, finding a solution to | | | | standard for effective air cleaning. HEPA filters have |
| the airborne contaminants in your home is a very | | | | been tested and certified to remove particles that |
| important issue. The Environmental Protection | | | | average 0.3 micron in size. Particles of this size are |
| Agency (EPA) determined that most indoor air is | | | | likely to be inhaled and deposited into the lungs and |
| three to five times dirtier than outdoor air. This | | | | trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions. |
| startling revelation led to a boom in the production of | | | | To qualify as a true HEPA filter, the filter must |
| air purifiers, but do they really work? | | | | remove at least 99.97% of airborne contaminants, |
| Most air purifiers remove airborne pollutants like mold | | | | including mold spores, dust, pollen, smoke, and pet |
| spores, pollen, dust, bacteria, and pet dander. But | | | | dander. There are many generic "HEPA-like" filters on |
| determining whether an air purifier is effective is | | | | the market today; however, true HEPA filters are |
| measured by its ability to capture particles and the | | | | marked as such on their packaging and provide the |
| amount of air it can process in a given time. | | | | most efficient filtration. |
| Translation: If an air purifier can't catch particles of all | | | | Most air purifiers on the market are tested and |
| sizes and process enough air to make a difference, | | | | certified by the Home Appliance Manufacturers |
| it's probably not worth the cost of shipping. | | | | (AHAM), using the Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR. |
| The effectiveness of an air purifier is generally based | | | | The CADR measures how many cubic feet per |
| on the effectiveness of its air filter. The American | | | | minute of air is cleared of certain size particles. Three |
| Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning | | | | particle sizes are rated: smoke (small), dust (medium), |
| Engineers (ASHRAE) tests and certifies air filters, | | | | and pollen (large). |
| using a rating system to ensure accuracy. The first | | | | Rating air purifiers is simple: the higher the CADR |
| rating, Initial Staining Dirt Efficiency, measures how | | | | rating, the less time the unit needs to remove a |
| well the filter removes microscopic staining particles | | | | given quantity of particles from the specified size |
| such as tobacco tar, allergens, and grease. The | | | | room. The room size is indicated on the packaging of |
| second rating, the Average Arrestance Test, | | | | the air purifier and all AHAM-certified models are |
| determines the percentage of ordinary dust, hair, lint, | | | | marked with CADR data, as this information acts to |
| and other large particulate matter removed. It's | | | | distinguish each air purifier from its competitor. You |
| important to know which rating is being used when | | | | can use the CADR ratings to determine which air |
| comparing air purifiers. | | | | purifier works best in your home. |
| The size of air contaminants like dust and pollen | | | | As you can see, there are many standards and |
| particles is measured by the micron. The human eye | | | | ratings requirements used for all air purifiers. These |
| cannot see particles that are smaller than 10 microns, | | | | requirements are used to ensure that every |
| as one micron equals 1/25,400 of an inch. Particles like | | | | consumer receives the benefits they've been |
| lint, dust, and pollen can all be seen by the human | | | | guaranteed by the manufacturer. Air purifiers can't |
| eye, but smaller contaminants like bacteria and | | | | guarantee the elimination of allergies or asthma. |
| viruses will escape the detection of our eyes and | | | | However, HEPA air purifiers can guarantee the |
| some filters. Finding a filter that will eliminate air | | | | elimination of harmful airborne contaminants. |
| impurities of all sizes is important to ensure the | | | | |