Air Purifiers

Indoor Air Pollutants

There are 3 types of indoor air pollutants – Particulates, Microbials, and Gases. Therefore, in order to make an apples-to-apples comparison, we must compare what each type of indoor air quality product is attempting to do.

There is an industry rule of thumb:
“If it is alive you have to kill it.”
“If it is dead you have to trap it.”

Particulates

Particulates are tiny particles suspended in the air. Common particulates include residential pollen, dust mites, dust, smoke, and dander (skin flakes). Particulate diameters are measured in microns and range from .001 to 1,000 microns. These dimensions represent the continuum from a few molecules up to the size where particles can no longer be airborne.

Microbials

These are bacteria, germs, viruses, fungi, spores, and mold. Although bacteria are small in size and usually microscopic, they have an amazing ability to do damage to all living organisms including humans. Many everyday illnesses are also caused by viruses like the common cold or the flu. Mold can be a dangerous allergen, cause infections, and destroy property requiring extensive repair and rebuilding.

Gases

Indoor odors are caused by things like pets, cooking, the garbage that exists in every home and office. Gases, such as benzene, formaldehyde, chloroform, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, etc., are released from furniture, cabinets, carpets, cleaning chemicals, insulation, insect sprays, hair sprays, etc. Manufactures use chemicals to make these products and they off-gas, or evaporate, these chemicals into the air in your home.