What is the HEPA Air Purifier Ionizer Feature?

A HEPA air purifier, especially when it is combined with an ionizer, is a great way to effectively clean odors and particles out of the air in a room. It removes up to 99.97 percent of the contaminants in the air, nearly 20 percent better than the nearest competing filter. But to illustrate how good a HEPA filter is, it may be best to give you a little background on how HEPA came to be, and some of the very distinguished recognition it has gotten along the way.

What is HEPA Filtration?

The HEPA air purifier was developed immediately after World War II. It was developed by the United States government as a way to reduce the risks associated with working at a nuclear reactor. The specification that had to be met was that no particles larger than three-tenths of a micron could pass through the filter, small enough to catch radioactive isotopes. Because it was developed by the government, HEPA technology is now available to many different companies, and it can even be found in other household devices, such as vacuum cleaners.

How Well Does HEPA Work?

HEPA filters can remove mold spores and tobacco smoke. They are recommended for people who suffer from allergies or asthma, along with other medical conditions where breathing is easily affected by air quality. If any air purifier can take an odor or type of particle out of the air you breathe, a HEPA filter is likely to be the best choice. You have probably seen the television ad that has a vacuum cleaner removing all of the smoke from a large container as you watch; a very good demonstration of hoe HEPA filtration performs. To make the decision simple, no other filtration device is certified by the EPA and prescribed by doctors, but that is because there isn't another filter like the HEPA system.

How Dependable are HEPA Results?

HEPA is the only type of filter that has been certified by the EPA to reduce allergens and other room contaminants. OSHA specifies a HEPA filter as an acceptable filter for workplaces with air quality hazards. It was designed to be able to remove radioactive particles out of the air in nuclear generating stations, and is capable of removing particles down to 3/10 of a micron in size. There is not currently any other type of air filtration on the market that is able to remove pollutants from the air your breathe than a HEPA filter, without exception.

Increased Filtration with Pre-Filters

Some types of HEPA filter require an outer pre-filter which is used to remove larger particles before the air reaches the HEPA filter. This outer filter extends the life of a HEPA filter by as much as 50 percent, and has the added function of reducing odors as it filters. If you use them, however, take note that a pre-filter needs to be changed no less frequently than every 6 months, insure proper operation. The HEPA filter works with a pre-filter, but it will have to be cleaned or replaced more often.