Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Four Major Types of Air Filters

Hygienic air is essential to human life, and in this modern age, that requires air cleaners. There are a few different methods of air cleaning, like Filtration, Electro-static Precipitation and Ion Generation. Air Filtration cleans air through the removal of sub-micron particulate, gases and odors. If you are plagued by allergies or asthma, an air filter might help you. Air filters are the best tools for eradicating allergens from the house. Particularly for those people who are suffering from asthma and allergies, both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association recommend air filtration.
The ability to remove allergens and contaminants depends on the amount of air drawn through the filter. Factors that affect filter efficiency include fiber size, fiber density, airflow rate, and particle diameter. Air filters may be centralized, in-home filtration systems or portable devices. When the air quality problems exist throughout the house, then a centralized filtration system is needed. Otherwise, portable cleaner may serve the purpose of air filtration.

There are four major types of air filters, depending on specific needs. They are:

Mechanical Filters

These filters force air through a special screen that traps pollen, dust particulate, smoke and air-borne irritants and pet dander. The best example of this type of filters is HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.

Gas Phase Filters

These air filters are used for removing odors and other types of pollutants such as gases from cooking, paints, perfume etc. These filters are not meant for the removal of allergens in the home.

Electronic Filters

In these types of filters, allergens are trapped through electrostatic precipitators with a fan. Electronic filters use electric charges to attract contaminants.

Hybrid Filters

These air filters combine electrostatic and mechanical filters. These are used to trap allergens rather than gas based contaminants.

Another type of air filters is the Ozone air filter, but it is not environment-friendly.

When purchasing an air filter, one has to consider things like which type of allergens will be removed, the filter’s efficiency with respect to HEPA standards, the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the filter, the ease of changing the filter, and the noise that it will make. Changing air filters regularly facilitates is ability to improve the quality of air.

How To Clean The Air Of Pet Hair

You love your dog and he has perfect habits. He doesn't poo or pee in your house. He barks when he wants to do that so you know he will never intentionally urinate in your beautiful carpet. But then he plays around your house and leave dog hair everywhere. Everyday you clean the house for dog hair but everyday its there. Worse among worse, your youngest child starts to have asthmas. What can you do then? Get rid of the dog? But you don't have the heart to do that. You don't have to do that extreme action anymore. You can get a air filter for pet hair.

Before purchasing a Clean Air Filter for pet hair, you must be aware of some considerations. Ask yourself the following questions:

What are the areas that need Air Clean Filter for pet hair?

Where does your dog play or stay around? If he is almost everywhere then you must install Air Clean Filter in every room. However, there are air filters that can work in much bigger areas such as one floor of the house. It is necessary therefore to choose an air filter that shall fit with your needs.

This question is directly related to the first. It all depends on the size of your house and the brand of purifier that you are buying. Try to be wise in your purchases. Sometimes buying more than one small ones if added may cost more than one highly efficient air filter. Better the more costly one if it is more effective in cleaning your home.

It all depends on the air filter model that you have purchased. There are air filters that need to be soaked in warm water for a couple of hours and then should be dried before installing it again. The disadvantage here is that you have no filter for several days. But there are filters that can be cleaned through vacuum and then immediately install it back again after a few minutes. There are also air filter models that give a signal that it is time to be cleaned.

You should change your Clean Air Filter for pet hair once a month during extreme weather such as the winter and summer months. If you are using disposable filters, don't use them again because they are not washable and are not very effective when vacuumed.

It is also important to vacuum your air filter before cleaning them because the accumulated dust and pollutants will be messy when you take them out.

Purchasing a Clean Air Filter for pet hair is a must if you want your pets around the house. But you must take your time to do some research on the type of Clean Air Filter for pet hair that you shall eventually purchase. It is always better to buy an expensive one that works effectively than to buy small and cheap ones that does not work good.

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