What is an air purifier?

         In the simplest form, it is a device that pulls air into itself, runs that air through a filtration device, and then pushes the air away from itself. There are cheap options that use subpar filters to quality ones that use true HEPA filters and carbon pre-filters. These air purifiers clean everything from bacteria and mold to pollen and pet dander out of your air. Their sole purpose is to clean the air and provide you with a cleaner and safer environment to breathe in. But every air purifier has pros and cons. Clover Contracting is always here to help our customers select the best options and answer questions about the best air purifier.

Filtered air purifiers

         If you purchase a standalone air purifier, a true HEPA filtered unit is good. Ensure that it says true HEPA, not HEPA-like, or a type of HEPA. Purchasing one with a true HEPA filter and a carbon pre-filter is an even better option, as it can trap the particles more efficiently being spread across two filters, instead of it all gathering on one.

It is not recommended to install a HEPA air filter in your HVAC system and assume it will do the same thing. Most HVAC systems are not equipped to pull air effectively through such a dense filter which will cause your unit to be far more inefficient. However, buying an air purifier designed to work with a HEPA filter is a good option. The filtered air purifier pros and cons are listed below.

Pros

·   They can remove 99.7% of particles down to 0.3 microns

·   They are more affordable than other options

·   They have lots of different options

·   Some of them will have a UV pre filter light installed

Cons

·   Require some maintenance

·   Filters will need replaced regularly

·   Does not filter odors

·   The smallest particles will still be able to get through the filter

UV light purifier

         You may have never heard of a UV light purifier before now. A UV light purifier is a bulb that produces a UV light, has been proven to kill bacteria, germs, mold spores, and more. The UV light that is produced is most commonly UV-C light. Which performs ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, which breaks the germs and bacteria’s DNA apart. Like how the sun affects our skin cells. Here we include a list of pros and cons of air purifiers using UV light.

Pros

·    Targets the microorganisms

·   Excellent choice for medical environments

·   Works alongside other filtration systems, such as HEPA

·   Kills the organisms in the air, so they do not stay trapped in the filter

Cons

·   The effectiveness is debated on

·   It could potentially produce ozone

·   May not be as effective as a HEPA filter on its own

·   Does not do a great job at reducing odors

Adsorbent air purifiers

Adsorbent air purifiers work a little differently than the other filter systems that we have discussed. Adsorbent air purifiers will attract the pollutants and contaminants to itself through a chemical process called adsorption. There is also a physical version of adsorption that does not use chemicals. But normally it will be the chemical version of adsorption that is used. Carbon is a common compound for this filter style, it is chemically charged, and as the air passes by its adsorption takes place and it pulls the contaminants into the carbon filter. Here are the pros and cons of air purifiers using adsorbent air products.

Pros

·   There are no harmful by-products

·   Can remove odors that other filters have difficulty with

·   Can be added to other filters, like in front of a HEPA filter

Cons

·   Cannot remove the airborne particulates

·   Often sold with a HEPA air purifier, not as a standalone unit

Ionic purifier

         Ionic purifiers gained a lot of popularity in the late nineties and early two thousand. However, this was quickly shifted over to make room for the HEPA filter craze. The decline of the ionic purifiers was largely because it could potentially cause ozone to build up in your home. This can not only be dangerous to you, but it can also be dangerous to certain species of pets.

         Ionizers are commonly known to put out negative ions that connect themselves to the pollutants and contaminants in your air. Once the negative ions connect themselves to these things, they become heavy and fall, and are hopefully pulled through a quality filter so that they will no longer be in the room.

         Ionizers commonly force these particulates to the ground by adding negative ions. What if they are not pulled through a HEPA filter, or a good quality air filter? Then they stay on the floor. Once you walk through the room, or your pets or kits run through, they are back up in the air waiting for you to breathe them in.

         Electrostatic precipitators have become more popular than ionizers because they work on a similar concept as an ionizer, but they have plates that the charged particles will stick to. So instead of having a floor full of negative ionized particulates, you have a couple of plates that you will have to wipe off occasionally for it to continue cleaning your air. Let’s go over some ionic air purifier pros and cons below.

Pros

·   They are low maintenance

·   Much quieter than other options

·   Can be paired with other filter options

Cons

·    Less effective than a HEPA filter

·   May produce ozone (California has banned the sale of ionizers)

·   Can injure certain pet species if you have them

This sums up the pros and cons of most air purifier types you’ll find on the market. If you’re still looking for help with finding the right air purifier for you, contact us today, and we’d be more than happy to help.

How will an air purifier help my home?

         Indoor air quality (IAQ) is far more important than most people realize. Pollution is something that we deal with every day, especially in the big cities. We breathe in everything from car fumes, tobacco smoke, even bacteria daily. We don’t consider that it gets in our home and stays there, where we are forced to breathe it in.

         Using an air purifier, especially a high-quality air purifier, will benefit your home. They will remove all the dander, bacteria, pollen, and other contaminants will leave a better IAQ for you and a better IAQ for your pets. However, if you’re looking for an air purifier safe for pets, there are products that you cannot use with certain types of animals in your home.

How does unpurified air affect our pets?

         While we regularly leave our homes and can breathe in outside air. Our pets are often trapped in the home, with all the polluted air. If you are smoking in your home, you are risking your own health, but you are also putting your pet’s health in danger. 

This is a common reason some pets, especially dogs, can develop serious health problems, including cancers – lung cancer, bladder cancer, and nasal cancer are the most common. But are air purifiers safe for pets? Yes, and no. Most air purifiers are perfectly safe, but not all of them.

Which air purifiers are the best for your pets?

Most air purifier companies will want to make sure that they can provide a quality product to you, or at least one that will not get them in trouble. Air purifiers must be put through tests to assure that they are safe for your home before they are able to be put on the market. That test will include the basic things like being operated around your average household pets.

Are ozone air purifiers safe for pets? No, there is at least one animal that it can be deadly towards. If you have birds in your home, then an ozonator or “Ionizer” may kill your pet. An ozonator works by killing all the bacteria, smells, and bad things in the air and leaving behind pure oxygen. Birds are at risk when pure oxygen content is too high. So, if you have birds in your home, you should consider staying away from ozonators or anything with the word ionizer in its name.

A quality air purifier equipped with a true HEPA air filter and a carbon pre-filter will be the best option for your home. With this system, the air will travel through the carbon filter first, which will catch all the larger items. The mold spores, allergens, dander, and things like that. Then it will pass through the HEPA filter, which should filter 99.7% of the contaminants down to 0.3 microns. These will filter anything left except for the smallest and most miniscule products out of your air. Leaving clean breathable air behind. This will be one of the best air purifiers for homes with pets.

Another option will be a UV-C filtration light. This is an ultraviolet light that as the air passes by it, the ultraviolet light reacts with all the bacteria, mold, and germs and kills them instantly. This is also a good option to use in conjunction with the HEPA + Carbon filter set up, because the HEPA filter does only catch germs and bacteria but does not kill them. This will give you the extra piece of mind that the germs have been eliminated, not just sitting in your air purifier.

Filters that are “permanent” or washable should also be avoided. It may seem like a good idea, and it may save you money because you will not have to buy more filters, but these do not work as well as you hope. Once they get gummed up, it can be hard to wash them out. And once you start washing them out, they lose some of their filtering capabilities and will continue to do so every time you wash them out.

Units that say they have a permanent filter are wrong. A permanent filter cannot last without being changed or washed. It will begin to become full of dirt and junk until it is no longer doing its job and will need to be thrown away. Therefore, you should not purchase a cheap purifier to try and save money. Overall, you will save money by purchasing a quality air purifier from the beginning. These are not good air purifiers for homes with pets.

Benefits of air purifiers for homes with pets

         Once you have your air purifier working properly you can come home to a fresh clean smelling home, instead of walking into a house that smells like a dog. We tend to get used to our own animal smells as well as other smells from the home, but when you have company over it can be embarrassing to know your house smells. With the proper air purifier, you do not have to worry about that anymore. You can invite your guests over to a clean smelling home without a second thought. 

         We think that pet dander and pollen only affect us, but it affects our pets too. Watching our animals sneeze or rub at their nose may seem cute, but it could be because we are not giving them the IAQ that they deserve.

         With an air purifier running you will be less likely to have bacteria and germs in your home. If the filter is doing its job and catching or eliminating the bacteria and germs in your home, then you may begin to feel healthier. You will not be breathing in all those bad things anymore.

         You and your pets may have a better quality of life. Let us face it, it is hard on our lungs to breathe in pollutants all day, and the same goes for our animals. If we can surround ourselves with cleaner air, to where our body does not have to fight off the germs and bacteria as much, then that frees up more energy for us to live our lives. Cleaner air means you and your pets have a more meaningful life.

         HEPA filters can be expensive, which means that you will want to get all the use out of it that you can by keeping them clean and functional. So, the question is can you wash a HEPA filter? Or is there an acceptable way to clean a HEPA air filter? The professionals at Clover Contracting are always happy to answer any questions you have about HEPA filters and air purification. Let’s go over the details of HEPA air filters and how you can clean them properly.

What is a HEPA air filter?

         The EPA references a HEPA air filter as a mechanical filtration device. For it to be a true HEPA air filter, it must filter out up to 99.7% of particles in the air down to 0.3 microns. This is extremely small as a single human hair ranges from 80-100 microns.

         HEPA filters exceed this limit and can trap particles to an even smaller degree than 0.3 microns. These are usually used in the medical industry and in the manufacturing plants of high-end electronics. Regardless the filter must be able to filter at least 99.7% of the 0.3 microns for it to be considered a true HEPA filter.

Can you wash a HEPA filter?

         HEPA filters are designed to trap particles that can get caught in the closely webbed fibers. They are not designed to be able to capture things such as odors and smells like smoke. The density of a true HEPA filter means that it can catch up to 99.7% of particles down to 0.3 microns.

So, can HEPA filters be washed? The answer is no – for these filters to be able to reach this level of filtration they need to have exceptionally fine fibers. These fibers will be very fragile, which means that you will want to try and avoid touching the filter material itself, even when installing it. This also means that doing something like using an air hose, garden hose, vacuum, or shaking the filter out can cause severe damage to the filter, resulting in it not working to its desired filtration level.

Reasons not to wash a dirty filter

         As stated, the mesh fibers that make up the filter are fine and fragile. If you try to clean them with water or a vacuum, then you are highly likely to tear up the fibers which will affect its filtration. If you’re still wondering if you can wash your HEPA filter, here are some other reasons why it may be a bad idea to do so.

• Counterproductive

 HEPA filters are designed to catch all kinds of minute particles that you do not want to have floating around in your home. If your filter manages to remove antimicrobial bacteria out of your air, then attempting to clean it can spread the antimicrobial bacteria back into the air. If it had time to grow on your filter then it may make the issue even worse. Taking your filter out and trying to clean it, makes it likely that you will redistribute at least some of the particles back into your home.

• Filter your filter

 If you were to go ahead with an attempt to clean your filter with a vacuum, then you would need to have a HEPA filter for your vacuum. Otherwise, all those small particles that your filter was able to pull out of the air, would get blown right back into the air by the vacuum’s exhaust.

• Wet filters need to dry 

If you have decided that you can wash your HEPA filter then you will need to wait at least 24 hours for the filter to dry. Mold will be able to grow throughout your filter, if you do not let it dry sufficiently. If your filter is drying, then it is not filtering your air.

What if it is a “Permanent” or “Washable” HEPA filter?

         Depending on the purpose of the filter you may be able to clean certain HEPA filters. A vacuum filter may be able to be cleaned and reused, depending on what you are vacuuming. However, a HEPA filter cleaning the air of an active OR will have to be replaced every single time it is deemed dirty.

         What if you have a HEPA filter labeled permanent? Can you wash a HEPA filter if it says permanent? Some HEPA filters claim they are permanent and are therefore more durable, but these are most definitely not washable. If you were to utilize a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter installed, then you could lightly vacuum the filter and get most of the filth off it.

         If your HEPA filter is labeled washable then can you wash your HEPA filter? Yes, you can, but you will only be able to gently wash it. It is important that you continue to not touch the filter material with your hands, and only allow the water to come into contact with it. It is also vitally important as previously stated that you let the filter completely dry out before you reinstall it, to prevent mold growth.

What should you do?

         If you do not have a permanent or washable HEPA filter then it is widely agreed upon by the filtration companies that you should replace your filter. This is even more important if you are considering what to do with a filter in a high-risk area, such as a medical facility or a densely populated office building.

         If you have purchased a HEPA filter for your home, why would you risk cleaning it yourself, dispersing all the harmful particles back into your home, and losing the capabilities of the HEPA filter. It is always better to purchase a new filter. For the efficiency of the filter, for the safety of your health, and for your peace of mind that it is doing its job. If you still have questions, the professionals at Clover Contracting are experts on filtration and can help you find a solution.

There may never be a more important time in your life than right now to worry about the quality of the air that you’re breathing. When looking at air purifiers, whole-home air filters, even vacuum cleaners, you will see words like HEPA, true HEPA, or HEPA-like. What is HEPA, and what does it mean for your air? What is the difference between HEPA and true HEPA? We’ll aim to answer that. 

Throughout this article, we will discuss what HEPA is, what it means, and what you need to know to decide your next air cleaning device.

Understanding industry standards

Whether you are a facilities manager, medical professional, small business owner, or homeowner you should understand the importance of Indoor Air Quality, (IAC). It is an ever-increasing issue, especially with the effects of the worldwide pandemic over the last several years. Everything from car exhaust fumes to pollen and other allergens can enter our home every day. Without proper filtration or air exchange, all those pollutants are trapped in our home. The professionals at Clover Contracting know exactly how important air purification can be. 

The commercial industry standard for rating filtration abilities uses the MERV scale. The MERV scale is a scale from 1 to 20, with 1 being the lowest filtration level and 20 being the highest. In other words, 1 is the least dense filter, 20 is the densest. The CDC has recommended that you use at least a MERV 13 rated filter to help eliminate germs, allergens, and other pollutants, including the COVID-19 virus.

What is a true HEPA filter?

         First, what does HEPA stand for? This term means High Efficiency Particulate Air, and any filtration device capable of a certain standard of filtration is given a HEPA rating. HEPA filters were first created in the 1940’s by the Department of Energy, (DOE). The filters were created to filter nuclear debris caused by nuclear testing during the Manhattan project. Nowadays, this technology is used to keep our air clean and safe to breath from all kinds of pollutants

         True HEPA filters as defined by the DOE must be able to filter out at least 99.7% of contaminants down to 0.3 microns. That means that for every 10,000 particles that come at the filter, only three of them will be able to get through it. Another example is that a single strand of human hair is anywhere from 80-100 microns in diameter, and only the particulates that are 0.3 microns or less can get through the true HEPA filter.

         This means even the filter caught the tiniest particles like pet hair, pollen, allergens, germs, pet dander, viruses, and mold. This would take all these potentially harmful contaminants out of the air and away from your lungs, allowing you to breathe easier. Alongside air scrubbers and purifiers, your filter is important for keeping your air quality at acceptable levels.

What is a HEPA filter?

         Due to licensing issues, poorer quality filter manufacturers have been able to style their products as HEPA filters, or HEPA-like filters, and boast that they have a 99.7% filtration rate. This makes distinguishing between true HEPA vs. HEPA that much more confusing for consumers. 

HEPA and HEPA-like filter manufacturers can make some very misleading claims, as they do have a 99.7% filtration rate, but only for particles down to two microns. This is a much larger particle size compared to the true HEPA that can filter all the way down to 0.3 microns. When looking at a filter, you should check to see what the smallest micron filtration is listed; do not go on the percentage alone.

         You will be able to find the knock off HEPA filters in things such as vacuums, compact and lower priced air purifiers, and lower grade whole home air filters. You will have to move up to larger and more expensive air purifiers and other items to find the true HEPA filters.

What is a HEPA filter made from?

Another factor to consider between HEPA vs. true HEPA is the materials they’re made from. Most common true HEPA filters are made from plastic fibers (polypropylene), fiberglass, or borosilicate glass fibers, bonded together with an acrylic binder to restrict the particles that can get through. These sheets are folded on themselves to increase the layers and the chances of catching all the particles. This usually results in around 2,500 layers at the time of completion.

HEPA and HEPA-like filters are made with less expensive materials and aren’t constructed as meticulously, making them cheaper and worse at filtering out particles.

How does a HEPA filter work?

         As the air moves through the HEPA filter carrying all the unwanted particles from your home, they will get caught several ways. Direct impaction will occur when the particles collide with the fibers head on. Diffusion is when the ultrafine particles moving randomly and rapidly are caught. Sieving when the large particles are unable to pass through the small holes. And interception, when the air pushes the particles around the fibers until the particles are eventually snatched.

         This allows only the pure air to get through your filter, leaving you with a far better indoor air quality. A better IAQ will help with things like coughing, wheezing, runny nose, headaches, and more. 

Where are True HEPA filters used?

True HEPA filters are going to be used in places like medical facilities and computer rooms at all times. Places such as disk manufacturers and pharmaceutical manufacturers will also solely use true HEPA filters. Other places such as public businesses, government buildings, and other public places will use the filters at their discretion. 

While using a HEPA filter in a business is not necessary, it may be a good idea to go the extra mile and provide your customers with quality air to breathe in. When deciding True HEPA vs. HEPA, you have to consider what you are filtering. 

HEPA vs. TRUE HEPA

         As we have found out HEPA is a similarly designed filter to a true HEPA filter that is unable to perform as well. They are found in small cheap purifiers and are not to be relied on. While true HEPA filters are capable of filtering particulates down to 0.3 microns and are found in larger and higher cost purifiers. Depending on what you need the filter for will depend on which one you need. Cleaning up debris will be perfectly acceptable for a HEPA filter unit. 

But if you use a filter for something like an operating room, you will need a true HEPA every single time – there’s no competition between HEPA type and true HEPA filters. The professionals at Clover Contracting are always happy to help you figure out what kind of air filtration you need. 

With this comes an even higher risk of allergies, asthma, pulmonary diseases, and lung cancer (in extreme cases). These health concerns have grown, as most people are spending more than 90% of their time indoors—at home, school, work, restaurants, or when shopping. 

So, when it comes to purifying air, what should you use for your home or commercial space: an air scrubber or an air purifier?

Let’s explore how both function and why you should choose either or the other. 

Air Scrubber vs Air Purifier: What is an Air Purifier?

Also known as an air cleaner, an air purifier is a device that removes contaminants from indoor air. Essentially, it sanitizes the air from pollutants, toxins, and allergens. 

Air purifiers equipped with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) technology filters potentially remove 99.7 percent of airborne contaminants in the home environment. 

The devices come in handy in maintaining clean air for commercial businesses, construction sites, and other projects that require a “safe breathing” zone. For asthmatic people, they eliminate the compounds that aggravate symptoms or those that trigger respiratory infections. 

How Do Air Purifiers Work? 

Air purifiers are fitted with one or multiple filters and fans. The fan—sometimes a system of internal fans—sucks in air, which then passes through the filters. As air flows through, the filters eliminate all contaminants such as dust, bacteria, pollen, mold, and other elements, then disperse clean air.

They’re different from humidifiers and oil diffusers, which add compounds to the air. They also differ from filters in that while filters remove particles, purifiers can sanitize them. 

Types of Air Purifiers

The type of air purifier you choose determines the exact particles removed from the air. The way different purifiers function also varies. For instance, some have filters that trap particles as air flows through them, while others neutralize compounds without filtering the air. 

Most HVAC air purifiers are fitted with HEPA filtration, but some contain other filters such as carbon and UV light. Others have a combination of two or three filters. 

Here are the most common HVAC air purifiers:

• HEPA Filters: The most common HVAC air purifiers use HEPA filtration to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. These particles are not visible by the human eye. The smallest particles visible to the human eye are between 50 to 60 microns in size. 
• Activated Carbon: These air purifiers use carbon filters that trap odors. Unlike the HEPA filters, they can’t trap viruses and bacteria on their own.
• Electrostatic Precipitators: They use high voltage electrical energy to charge particles as they pass through the filters. The main downside with these filters is the particles accumulate in the electrostatic plates as they’re collected. For the filters to work efficiently, the plates need to be frequently changed, which increases their maintenance cost. They’re also feared to release ozone, a gas that potentially damages the lungs. 
• Ultraviolet Light (UV) Air Purifiers: They use UV rays to kill bacteria and germs in the air. Some UV air cleaners release ozone, so it’s best to check before buying one. Clover Contracting UV air purifiers are certified for maximum efficiency. 
• Ozone Generators: Most of these air cleaners absorb odors but release significant ozone. They’re commonly used in hospitality, especially in hotels.

As you can see, to get the best of purifiers, you need to combine filters. For instance, to get an air purifier that captures minute pathogens and eliminates odor, try purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters. 

Air Scrubber vs Air Purifier: What is an Air Scrubber?

Sometimes known as negative air machines, air scrubbers are highly similar to air purifiers in functionality. Like air purifiers, they are fitted with HEPA filters allowing filtration of pollutants as little as 0.3 microns in size with a 99.97 percent efficiency. 

How Air Scrubbers Work

As air flows through the air scrubber, the small metal tubes produce negative ions that attach to both airborne and surface particles. 

In the air, the negative ions have one goal: to attach with the positively-charged particles such as pollen, bacteria, mold, and other allergies. The bonding creates larger and heavier particles making them difficult to float. Instead, they fall on the ground or surfaces. In so doing, nothing escapes; the negative ions capture even the smallest particles that are onerous to capture with air filtration. When the fan is turned on, it pulls the larger compounds from the floor or surfaces to filter in the system. 

Since air scrubbers are more heavy-duty, they are an excellent choice for construction sites and commercial locations but can be used in homes as well. 

What is the Difference Between an Air Purifier and an Air Scrubber?

Air purifiers and air scrubbers both improve air quality. However, they have some unique characteristics that set them apart that you need to consider when choosing the right one for your needs. 

The main difference between the air cleaner and air purifier is how and where they capture particles. Air purifiers are designed with filters to capture airborne particles as air flows through the equipment. They do not get rid of on-surface particles. 

Air scrubbers use negative ions to attach both airborne and surface particles. These particles rest on surfaces and the floor making it easier to filter. Think of air scrubbers as devices that do the heavy lifting for your surfaces. 

Air Purifier vs Air Scrubber: Which is Right for You?

If you’re looking to purify the air in your space, both air purifiers and air scrubbers will get the job done. In their unique functionality, they deep-clean the air eliminating up to 99 percent of particles. 

The best one for you will depend on your needs. Air purifiers have the advantage that the cleaning process occurs inside the device, leaving the air fresh immediately after installation. 

The downside with them is that they require regular maintenance. They also need regular changing of filters for them to function properly. But that shouldn’t be much of a problem considering filters generally cost about $100 per year if changed every three to four months.  

By comparison, air scrubbers need no maintenance. Air purifiers have a peerless advantage in that they cleanse particles on surfaces like countertops, walls, and doorknobs. Air purifiers will only sanitize airborne particles. As such, if both air and surfaces are of importance to you, an air scrubber is a sure bet. 

Final Words on Air Cleaner vs Air Purifier

With people increasingly spending more time indoors, it’s becoming vital to put purification technologies–air purifiers and air scrubbers—to good use. Choosing the one that’s right for your home or commercial space will depend on your particular needs.  As air purification experts, we will help you choose the right HVAC air purifier systems. From fixing the units, cleaning, to changing filters, don’t hesitate to contact us.