Which Air Purifier is Better: HEPA or Electrostatic?

HEPA air purifiers are known for their high first-pass efficiency rate of 87 to 99 percent, making them more effective at capturing particles than electrostatic air purifiers, which have a first pass efficiency rate of 60 to 80 percent. A true HEPA filter is 99.97% efficient at removing dust particles from 0.3 microns to 10 microns, while a LakeAir electrostatic cell has 97% efficiency in removing dust particles from 0.1 micron to 10 microns.

HEPA

filters are generally believed to be the most efficient air purifiers, although a combination of HEPA and electrostatic air cleaners can further improve indoor air quality.HEPA and electrostatic air cleaners both remove particles from the air, but their processes for doing so differ significantly. HEPA filters capture particles using filter materials, while electrostatic air cleaners trap charged particles.

Ozone is not an effective method for removing dust or particles from the air, as it is mainly used to reduce odor after fire or smoke damage. Ozone is documented as a health hazard by the American Lung Association and should only be used when humans are not around. It can be difficult for the average consumer to evaluate which type of air purifier is best and most effective. All air purifiers have their strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to consider all the variables when deciding on the best air purification technology for your individual circumstances. An important note is that electrostatic cells need to be cleaned regularly or their efficiency will decrease. When choosing an air purifier, there are several factors to consider.

Here is a checklist of twelve items:

• Efficiency ratings
• Filter type
• Filter replacement costs
• Noise level
• Room size coverage
• Air flow rate
• Energy consumption
• Certifications
• Maintenance requirements
• Cost of ownership
• Independent testing data
• Manufacturer's reputation

It's important not to get confused when air purifier manufacturers use the phrase “99.97% filtration at 0.3 microns” as this refers to the capacity of the HEPA filter under ideal conditions and is not synonymous with the actual clean air produced by the device or the overall efficiency of the air purification unit. At Allergy Buyers Club, we review and rate all our products, providing consumers with information about the advantages and disadvantages of each product we sell. Air purifiers are not a magic formula and are no substitute for thorough cleaning of your home and removing settled dust with a good HEPA purifier. For peace of mind in the bedroom, Blueair offers great coverage and excellent allergen and gas filtration, although it sacrifices efficiency a bit and can be quite noisy at high fan speed. IQAir stops most of the house and set it up high when the room is not occupied, as it is quite noisy at high fan speed. For an inexpensive purchase, Austin Healthmate is a workhorse and it's not elegant at all, but it's good value for money. We consider QuietPure to be very quiet at low and medium speeds, making it our top pick for an air purifier designed on our site.

It offers great coverage and excellent allergen and gas filtration. In conclusion, it's important to understand the difference between HEPA, electrostatic, ionizers, granular activated carbon, carbon-impregnated pads, and other filter technologies in order to determine which type of air purifier is best for your individual needs.