Homeowners spend a staggering $250 million every year on air purifiers. Asthma and allergy sufferers drive most of that spend. But the market is flooded. Testing shows many units do nothing. Some might even make things worse.
Indoor air is often dirtier than outdoor air. Why? A house traps contaminants. Moisture breeds mold. Mold releases spores. Forced-air HVAC systems circulate dust and bacteria through vents. Pets shed fur. They shed dander. Smokers introduce toxins directly into the air. Pollen blows in through open windows. It gets trapped in carpets. It sticks to upholstery.
The result is a concentration of pollutants indoors. For a healthy adult, this is usually manageable. For children? Not so much. People with respiratory issues feel the impact immediately. Lowering contaminant levels helps. Air purifiers are one tool to achieve this. But which one?
We need to look at the five basic types of air purifiers available today. Not all air cleaners are created equal. Some use filters. Some use ions. Some use UV light. Each method has pros and cons. Understanding the technology is the first step toward cleaner air. You don’t need to guess. You need to know what works.
