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Whether we like it or not, our homes are filled with products that put off toxins. While it would be difficult to remove all of the items that off-gas in your house, you have other options. An air purifier is a perfect way to clean the air in your home or office. Learn more about the different types of air purifiers available and see our air purifier review.
Why Use an Air Purifier
Did you know you’re inhaling toxins like phthalates, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), Bisphenol A, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and dioxins every day in your own house? You may also be exposed to molds and biologic pollutants. According to CNN, “Researchers at George Washington University say 45 toxic chemicals are found commonly in your house dust, with 10 of them lurking in 90% of homes across the country.”
House plants can clean many common toxins out of the air, but they don’t do it all. NASA has researched the air purifying effects of plants for years. They estimate that you’d need one plant per 100 square feet of space to adequately filter toxins. By contrast, an air purifier with a HEPA filter will do so much more. In fact, the EPA says that theoretically speaking, a HEPA filter can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns or bigger.
Air Purifier Options
A quick search on Amazon will show you just how many kinds of air purifiers there are. The five common types are UV technology, negative ion, ozone, HEPA technology, activated carbon technology. There are so many options; it can be hard to decide what’s right for you.
UV Technology
UV tech isn’t always used by itself because it doesn’t remove airborne particles. Instead, it’s better at killing bacteria and viruses. It irradiates the microorganisms as they pass by the UV rays. A UV air purifier also creates ozone, which is used to react with air pollution. They’re designed to only produce small amounts, but ozone can be harmful to your health.
Most of the time, these types of filters are used with another form of filtration to maximize benefits. Just keep in mind you’ll need to replace the light once in a while to keep your machine performing optimally.
Negative Ion
This machine creates oxygen molecules (negative ions) that attach themselves to particles in the air. Since they’re negatively charged, they’ll be attracted to positively charged places like the floor. Some of these machines have a HEPA filter as part of the system to ensure these particles get picked up. Otherwise, you should be sure to clean regularly, or your efforts will be less effective.
Ozone Air Purification
Ozone can be harmful, so it’s not usually used as a primary method to clean the air. An ozone air cleaner shouldn’t be confused with a UV system as they are not necessarily the same thing. When you use one of these, you don’t usually run it continually because of the health risks.
They are, however, very effective at cleaning smells, sanitizing, and cleaning. Ozone generators are good at killing viruses, bacteria, and mold. They are useful, but only when used with caution.
HEPA Technology
Did you know that HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air? HEPA air purifiers remove particles 0.3 microns or larger from the air. A HEPA filter is standard equipment for most air purifying systems. That’s because they are incredibly good at removing particles from the air (like we said earlier). They are multilayer filters made from things like fiberglass threads.
They remove pet dander, dust, smoke, mold, and other matter from the air. They do this by drawing air into the filter where the particles are trapped. HEPA filters aren’t just for air purifiers; you can also buy one for a commercial or residential HVAC system.
Activated Carbon Air Purification
If you’re worried about gaseous toxins and VOCs, then activated carbon is a fantastic choice. They can also remove odors from the air. There’s one drawback, though. This type of filtration system can’t remove particulates from the air, so they won’t help with some of the other things we’ve discussed, such as mold or dust.
Okaysou AirMic4S Air Purifier Review
Now for our air purifier review. The Okaysou AirMic4S is a medical-grade air purifier at a home grade price. It’s specifically designed for small to medium rooms. It has a HEPA filter that filters down to 0.3 microns. It also has a washable prefilter intended to trap large particles like pet hair.
Pros
The Okaysou AirMic4s has a lot to offer, but one of my favorite features is the sleep mode, which brings down the noise level to an easy to sleep with 24 dB. Since I started using the air purifier, I’ve slept better, and my room has been fresher.
The unit’s filter is relatively long-lasting and only needs to be replaced about every 6-8 months. It also has a timer and dimmer buttons to adjust the unit to your needs adequately. It also has a three-stage filter offering the best filtration for most indoor toxins.
As if the features and the performance weren’t enough, the air purifier comes with a five-year warranty in the US and Canada.
Cons
As with anything, this product does have a few downsides. Indeed, they aren’t deal-breakers, but things to consider.
First, it is a bit loud if you use the regular settings and not the sleep mode. If you plan on using it while in meetings with guests around, it may be a little distracting. Second, you do have to replace the filters, so there is a regular maintenance cost.
Overall, it’s a fantastic air purifier at an affordable price. If you liked our Okaysou AirMic4S air purifier review, you can buy on the Okaysou website or Amazon.
Disclosure: I did receive an Okaysou AirMicS for review. All the opinions in this post are my own.
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