Air ionizers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to improve indoor air quality. But how effective are they really? In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the debate between air purifiers and ionizers and how they could help in your home. Ionizers are air purifiers that disinfect air by emitting negative ions. They are effective at removing particles from the air, such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria.
However, they can also produce harmful ozone, so it's important to weigh the positive impact that an ionizer can have on the level of particles in the air with any harm it may cause to health. On their own, ionizers generate too much ozone and can be detrimental to human health. While some manufacturers claim that the ozone produced by an ionizer is the same amount found in outdoor smog, they are often found to produce even higher ozone levels. Ionizers are better at eliminating smaller molecules, such as viruses and bacteria, so they may not be beneficial for people with allergies or asthma.
Ionizers also do not remove particles from the circulation; instead, they charge them to stay on something else. Unless you constantly clean the hard and soft surfaces of your home, it becomes difficult to remove particles that have fallen to the floor. If you're thinking of using an ionizer to reopen your business during the COVID pandemic, it's best to consider it part of a larger air purifier system. Simply put, ionizers help eliminate particles that make us sick, such as viruses and bacteria, and air filters help eliminate particles that make us sneeze, such as dust and pollen. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that air purifiers with high-efficiency air filters (HEPA) can hypothetically remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria. If you are interested in purifying the air in your building with ionizers or ozone generators, there are a few things to know before using one of these powerful machines.
The easiest and most cost-effective way to improve air quality should be with an HVAC air filter instead of a stand-alone unit. In conclusion, while air ionizers are very effective at disinfecting air, they should be used with caution due to their potential for producing harmful ozone. If you have respiratory problems or just want to improve indoor air quality, you may want to buy an ionizer or air filter.
