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Ionizer Air Purifier: Pros and Cons

June 21st, 2010 admin Posted in Ionizer Air Purifier, The Electrostatic Air Purifier, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The ionizer/filter comparison

Which type cleans more air?

Which type is the quietest?

Which is the cheapest to buy?

Which is the cheapest to run?

It really was only about three decades ago when the ionizer air purifier began to make the big splash that it has in the general consumer marketplace. The fact is though that this technology has been around for about 100 years.

In fact the very first of these types of air cleaners were built in the early part of the 1900s for use in metal smelting plants. They were used to remove toxic particles, such as lead and sulfides from the exhaust before it was sent out the chimney.

Now who today hasn't seen household models advertised at malls or on TV? Then when you search online, there they are. Right alongside standard home air purifiers. Units that clean air by forcing it through a standard mesh filter to capture pollution that's suspended in it.

So then here's a short list of some of the basic pros and cons that pop up when these two types of air cleaners are ran through a side by side comparison test. Now one thing to bear in mind though, is that many people actually end up choosing both types and use them for different purposes.

They Tend to Be a Lot Quieter

As an example, ionic air cleaners always tend to be a lot more quiet. The reason for this is that they don't have to force air through a filter system, so their fans tend to be less powerful. This is precisely why so many people prefer this type of machine in their bedrooms at night.

Then again, an ionic cleaner just won't process near the same volume of air that a comparable standard hepa filter unit will. You see the fact that they draw pollutants out of the air with an electrical charge, rather then a filter means that the air must move slower.

No Filters to Buy and Change

No Dirty Filters

Then again the fact that they don't require filters. Combined with the the fact that they use far less electricity and it means that the ionic air purifier is by far the most affordable long term option. Bear in mind that many of the better standard filter units use two types of filters. One long term and one short term that needs frequent changing.

There's also a sterilization effect when air passes through an ionization chamber. An effect that means that an ionizer air purifier actually kills germs and bacteria as the air passes through it. Better quality forced air cleaners also now have a sterilization feature though.

Now as far as the actual price of the units is concerned, the two types are running about neck and neck. All types of air cleaners in general come in a wide range of styles, sizes and prices. Although on the very low end, you can find small filter air cleaners priced as low as $15, while the ionizer air purifier bottoms out at around $30.