The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health, wow! Indoor air pollution can sometimes be two to five times higher – and some of the time more than a hundred times as high – than outside air pollution levels. Poor indoor air quality is one of the top five risks to better health.

One of the best ways to improve the indoor air quality is the use of an air purifier with a HEPA Filter.

What is a HEPA Filter?

HEPA filters are an effective way to capture particulates of smoke, dust, asbestos, actinolite, bacteria and other pathogens, radioactive dust and mold spores. HEPA filters are designed to trap pollutants and particles by trapping or sticking these elements to the filter fibers.

HEPA filters are best for people with allergies and asthma because they offer the fastest way to remove airborne particulate from the air. Many people with allergies have a freestanding HEPA filter in the bedroom, a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum or both.

HEPA filters remove contaminants and purify air

HEPA filters are also used in other places such as hospitals and manufacturing rooms where clean air is absolutely vital important to the well being of the location and people within it.

HEPA filters are critical in the prevention of the spread of airborne bacterial and viral organisms and, therefore, infection. Typically, medical-use HEPA filtration systems also incorporate high-energy ultra-violet light units to kill off the live bacteria and viruses trapped by the filter media. HEPA filters are the only way to remove these types of contaminants.

Definition of a HEPA Filter

True HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are those that are regulated by the Institute of Environmental Science as filters that capture 99.97% of air contaminants at the 0.3 micron size.

HEPA filters are usually of multiple pleated construction. The nature and relationship of the pleats may vary but the filters are commonly comparatively bulky and of generally box-like form. Air purifiers that use HEPA filters will vary in the size and construction of the HEPA filter that is actually used in the unit.

Filtering odors

A HEPA filter usually won’t combat odors as effectively as it will filter fine particles out of the air. For this reason, if you wish to filter odors as well as particles out of the air you will want to find an air purifier that also employs activated carbon to filter odors along with a HEPA filter to filter out the particles.

Activated carbon is the most effective type of filter against chemicals and odors. (dust, pollen, dust mites, dander, mold spores, asbestos fibers, droplets, etc.).

In conclusion

The HEPA filter is the best type of filter available to keep air clean. If you are going to buy an air purifier for use in your home, consider the air purifiers that use HEPA filters to be the best option available.

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Tagged with: Allergies • Carbon • HEPA

Filed under: Air Purifier Technology

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