The difference between a HEPA Air Purifier and Ozone Ionizer Air Purifier

Air Cleaner

HEPA is not a brand of air cleaner, it is the type of air filter commonly used in air purification and cleaning equipment such as air purifiers, air cleaners and high quality vacuum cleaners. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particle Arrestor.

HEPA air filter and remove allergens such as smoke, dirt, pollen, animal dander and dust mite. The cleaners will filter particles in the air to 0.3 microns with an efficiency rating of 99.97%. They excel at dangerous jobs like the removal of asbestos in buildings or the clean up of toxic spills are accomplished as a result of the use of the HEPA filtered air cleaners and vacuum cleaning equipment. The air cleaners filter the particles in the environment through a HEPA filter and trap the allergens returning only clean air into the environment. The more times the air passes through the HEPA air purifier, the better the air quality will be.

The range of HEPA air cleaners are generally limited to one room or open space.

Air Purifier

High quality HEPA air cleaners have the added feature of medical grade ultraviolet light systems. These air cleaners are known as HEPA Air Purifiers because the use of the ultraviolet light systems quickly kills viruses, bacteria and fungus. Contaminated air containing allergens such as dust, Dust Mite allergen, pollen and smoke enters the air purifier which by its advanced technological design protects your indoor air environment from biological and virus contamination.

The very best of the HEPA Air Purifiers model is the T.R.A.C.S – Total Room Air Cleaning System. These high-end quality units contain pounds of activated carbon and Zeolite to quickly pull in and remove chemicals and odors from the home and office indoor air atmosphere.

The T.R.A.C.S HEPA air purifier ultraviolet light system has the potential to kill dangerous viruses like H1N1, bacteria and mold spores. The TRACS HEPA air purifier includes activated carbon pre-filters that filter large dust particulates to protect and prolong the life of the HEPA filter for up to 6 years.

The activated carbon in the T.R.A.C.S air purifiers adsorbs the harmful odors, chemicals, gases and once saturated, the carbon can actually expel the trapped contaminants.

T.R.A.C.S Ultraviolet air purifiers use two non-ozone producing hospital grade UV lamps that are in a highly reflective UV kill chamber which continually reflects light on the dirty side of the air purifiers HEPA filter; the opposite side of the HEPA filter that the particulate and biological contaminants are trapped on. UV radiation is known to deactivate and destroy airborne and land-based microorganisms including molds, viruses and bacteria.

Ozone-Ionizer Air Cleaner

Ozone-Ionizer Air Purifiers are commonly confused with HEPA filtered Air Cleaners and Air Purifiers. The reality is that there are significant operational differences between the two. Ozone-Ionizer Air Purifiers do not use the method of filtration to clean the air that HEPA air cleaners utilize.

The ozone-ionizer air purifier uses a two step process to clean the air. The ozone begins by purifying the air through oxidation. Ozone is a gas that exists naturally. It is created when lightning interacts with the oxygen in the atmosphere. The O2 molecule is split into the O3 molecule and ozone is created. The odor that is emitted after a thunderstorm is the ozone that has just been created. Ozone penetrates the cellular wall of odor, fungus and bacteria molecules; rupturing the cell wall of the particle. Once the cycle is completed, the level of odor and amount of contaminants in the air is significantly reduced.

The second step in the ozone-ionizer air purifying process is ionization.

There are two types of ionization:

· Needlepoint ionization charges the particulate that is in the air directly in front of the unit with negative ions. The ionic charges cling to airborne allergens such as smoke, pollen, animal dander, and dust forcing the particles to fall down to the ground and out of the air that consists of the breathing environment. The needlepoint ionizers generally have a range of a five to seven foot area in front of the ionizer.

· The second kind of ionization is radio ionization. Radio ionization is a more advanced technology that is similar needlepoint ionization except that radio ionization uses a safe, but specialized radio wave that ionizes the air for up to fifty feet in all directions. This technology penetrates walls so you can actually clean the air by killing particles in surrounding rooms. These kinds of air purifiers work very well on removing cigar, cigarette smoke and other unpleasant odors. One unit can often cover an entire home.

Main Points

· HEPA Air Cleaners are excellent at removing airborne allergens, bacteria and odors from your indoor air environment.

· HEPA Air Purifiers with Ultraviolet Light Systems offer the essential benefit to kill and control mold spores bacteria and viruses in your indoor air environment.

· Ozone-Ionizer Air Purifiers are great at removing cigar and cigarette smoke, odors and pollutants that contribute to allergies from your indoor environment.

NOTE: If operating an air purifier that produces ozone, make sure to adjust the ozone level according to factory instructions. Ozone is a known irritant to mucus membranes and can be especially problematic for people with asthma and lung problems.