Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
An air cleaner's effectiveness is measured by how thoroughly it captures particles and the amount of air it can process in a given period of time. In other words, it's only as good as its ability to catch particles of all sizes and process enough air to make a difference.
To this end, the finer the sievelike action of a mechanical filter, the smaller the particles it can block. However, the finer the sieve, the more quickly the filter clog sup with dust. Though most mechanical filters actually catch more dust as they become more saturated, airflow grows increasingly stymied, reducing overall effectiveness. The best mechanical filters have a very fine sieve and a large surface area to maximize both dust collection and airflow.
Note that ionization air cleaners that emit ozone have fallen under serious scrutiny because of the hazards associated with ozone's effects on the body. California, in fact, has banned the sale of all air cleaners that emit ozone.
Filters that use electrical attraction to grab particles are different. Most don't slow air as they “fill up,” but their charge is diminished by the accumulation of particles. They're most effective when they're clean and when the air passes through them at a relatively slow rate.
Dust particles are measured by the micron (one micron equals 1/25,400 of an inch). The human eye can see lint, pollen, and dust particles larger than 10 microns. Most air cleaners eliminate a large percentage of visible dust that passes through them, but to be really effective, an air cleaner should eliminate most microscopic particles, too.
The standard of effectiveness for eliminating tiny particles was long ago set by the HEPA filter, which is tested at its ability to eliminate particles that average .3 micron in size. This is the particle size most likely to be inhaled and deposited in the lungs and the most difficult for mechanical filters to catch. More recently, the ULPA filter was developed and is capable of removing particles as small as .1 micron.
The effectiveness of a filter is tested and given an ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) rating. The first rating, Initial Staining Dirt Efficiency, is a critical measurement of how well the filter removes microscopic staining particles such as tobacco tar, allergens, and grease. The second rating, Average Arrestance Test, refers to the percentage of ordinary dust, hair, lint, and other large-particulate matter removed. When comparing ratings, it's important to know which of these two is being listed.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) certifies some portable air cleaners with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). This measures how many cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air are cleared of a certain size particle. Three particle sizes are rated: smoke (minute), dust (medium), and pollen (large). The higher the CADR rating, the less time the unit needs to remove a given quantity of certain particles from a specified room size. AHAM-certified models are marked with CADR data.
Related Search Terms:
air cleaner, air purifier, high efficiency particulate accumulation, HEPA filtration, ULPA filter, HEPA air filter, electret air filter, electrostatic air filter
