Air Purifier Guide
5 Types of Air Purifiers To Know Before Buying And Why It Matters
Jan
Types of air purifiers in Singapore
Also called air sanitizers, air purifiers come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colours. Most buyers find the best type of air purifiers by considering beauty, price, and brand. However, it’s important to note the kind of air purifying technology and the types of filters used as well.
Different types of air purifiers use different technologies to sanitize the air around you. A basic understanding of these types of air purifiers will help you choose the perfect one for your home and the environment.
Here are 5 of the most common types of air purifiers in Singapore:
- HEPA air filters
- Activated carbon technology
- UV light technology
- Negative ion
- Ozone
1. HEPA Air Filters
Pros: Best allergen and microscopic contaminants purifier.
Con: Some vendors sell HEPA-type purifiers instead of true-HEPA air purifiers.
HEPA stands for High Efficient Particulate Air. This filter has been used for years, and is the industry standard for all effective air purifiers.
Human eyes can only see particles that are larger than 10 microns (0.01 mm). A standard HEPA filter should purify at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns (0.0003 mm). Therefore, it’s superb for filtering microscopic airborne particles like bacteria, viruses, and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) such as adhesives, cleaning products, and paints.
Ideally, the HEPA filter uses a very fine fiber-like substance that has been folded back and forth. This folding creates a random arrangement of the fibers, which aids in air filtration. It also creates a large surface area for air to pass through.
A filter’s efficiency is determined by the number of particles it traps from the air that passes through. At 99.97% effectiveness, it means that out of a whopping 10,000 particles, only 3 escape!
HEPA filters are very excellent at removing airborne particles but they don’t remove odor. Therefore, most true HEPA filters have some level of activated carbon-based tech for odor removal.
Tip: Some companies mark their air purifiers as HEPA-like or HEPA-type. This means that their filters look like True HEPA filters but are not because they don’t meet the standard 99.97% efficiency rate.
It’s vital to buy an air purifier with a True HEPA filter. For example, the Cosmo Prime air purifier is the epitome of German design with its combination of a 3-in-1 true HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter.
2. Activated Carbon Technology
Pros: Excellent at filtering odor and VOCs such as formaldehyde or the stench of paint.
Cons: Doesn’t filter allergens like pollen, dust, or carbon monoxide.
Activated carbon technology has been around for over 100 years. Initially used to clean water, its ability to purify air was discovered during WW2 when it was used in gas masks to protect soldiers.
Activated carbon filters have millions of molecular-sized pores that have excellent chemical bonding properties. These abilities make them great in removing pollutants like gases, odors, tobacco smoke, and chemical emissions.
Air purifiers that use this technology are especially suitable for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) — allergy-like reactions caused by chemicals. The ability to filter formaldehyde, perfumes, or cleaning agents present in upholstery or wood paneling and carpets makes the air more breathable. This is quite helpful for babies, the elderly, or asthmatic people as well.
While air purifiers with carbon filters are superb at eliminating airborne contaminants, they are not very efficient at removing allergens and airborne particles. They are also inefficient at purifying air particles that are far away, reducing their efficiency in bigger rooms.
3. UV Light Technology
Pros: Excellent at killing air pathogens.
Cons: Possible emission of ozone (O₃). Long term exposure to ozone may be harmful to your lungs.
Also known as UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI), UV technology is great at killing bacteria and viruses. Air purifiers that use this tech have a UV lamp that destroys the cellular or genetic properties of microorganisms as they pass through.
It is important to note that UV technology is usually used with other filtration technologies since it cannot really remove airborne particles. Most companies use a HEPA or carbon activated filter first to remove the airborne pollutants, and the UV is employed as the final stage.
The efficiency of the UV lamp depends on the wattage of the light and the time of exposure. It means that the more time the microorganisms spend under the UV light, the higher the chances of being destroyed.
Some UVGI air purifiers also convert molecules of water and oxygen into hydroxyl and ozone. The active molecules then combine with air pollutants and convert them into mild compounds like carbon dioxide and water.
However, it’s important to note that ozone is quite harmful — more on this later.
4. Negative Ion Air Purifier
Pros: Excellent at purifying particulate pollutants like dust, dirt, or soot.
Cons: They don’t remove gaseous pollutants, VOCs, or odor. Also, some ionizers produce ozone.
An ion is a positively charged or negatively charged particle by losing or gaining an electron.
The negative ion air purifiers or ionizers work by magnetically attracting airborne particles and dust (which are positively charged). The newly-formed particle becomes too heavy to remain in the air, making it to drop or attach itself to solid items in your home such as walls or windows.
Advanced as this may seem, its air purifying properties are not as effective as other air sanitizing technologies. These air purifiers lack the ability to dispose or absorb air pollutants.
The negative ion takes the particles out of the air and transfers them to solid items in your home without removing them completely. These particles may later disintegrate and circulate back to the air you breathe.
5. Ozone Technology
Cons: High exposure to ozone isn’t recommended for those with respiratory problems.
Ozone air purifiers are intentionally designed to produce ozone (O₃). We have different brands of ozone air purifiers and every company produces different amounts of ozone. Also, most purifiers use this tech in conjunction with ionizer technology because ozone lacks the ability to remove dust or pollen.
Many companies that use ozone technology claim that this is the best type of air purifier. However, many health specialists don’t agree with these claims, and no agency or independent studies have backed or approved these devices.
Tip: Constant exposure to ozone isn’t recommended for asthmatic patients, and high levels of ozone may cause scarring in your lungs.
Cosmo air purifier: The best type of air purifier in Singapore
When buying the best air purifiers in Singapore, you have to consider the features, size, maintenance schedule, type of filters, among other factors. Cosmo air purifiers are the best ahead of the rest because they not only promise, they deliver.
Designed in Germany, Cosmo offers the best air purifying technology that is harmless to you, your family, and your environment. Their 3-in1 HEPA filter (not the misleading HEPA-like title) is a tried-and-true system for purifying airborne particles and allergens. You also make odors a thing of the past with their combined activated carbon tech.
Check out more features that show why we have the best type of air purifiers in Singapore.
Or you can have our new Cosmo Prime Air Purifier delivered to you today for free.
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Written by Nathan Machoka