There are many types of air purifiers on the market, and some may seem a little foreign to most. This could make decision-making more difficult and seem quite daunting. You have EPA, electric, or ionizer air purifiers, and each has its own pros and cons.
In this article, we will be looking at one type in particular — the ionizer air purifier. This is one of the most unique options of air purifiers on the market. So let us take a look at what is ionizer air purifier and what it has to offer.
What is an Ionizer?
This unit is used to purify the air by electrically charging the air molecules. Most models use fans and filters to do that, but with an ionizer, the particles are removed using weighted ions comprised of the negative ions produced by the machine and the positive one attached to airborne particles. An air ionizer uses ions that have been expelled into the air to eliminate debris and allergens from that room’s air.
What Does it Do?
The chemical properties of everything have positive and negative ions. So how does this work? The ionizer creates negative ions by using the electricity pumped through the system. These ions are emitted into the air and find their way to the positive ions of the debris in the air. These two ions, once bonded, create a denser pollutant that falls from the air. These can be swept up or sucked up later. These particles may land on surfaces as well. These can be easily dusted away.
Effects on Health
There are a lot of great benefits when it comes to this type of air purifier. Here are some of the best benefits that you can take advantage of.
Allergies
These air purifiers are often touted as devices that can help with allergy symptoms. This is done by removing particles from the air though they have not been particularly shown as highly effective. These do remove some of the smaller particles, things like smoke or odors. It does tend to be less effective on larger particles.
Asthma
These units do remove some airborne debris that can, in the end, help reduce the symptoms of asthma. They can also affect asthma in negative ways, as well. Those small particles that have been charged still linger in the air and can be an irritant to some of the asthma symptoms. It also produces small amounts of ozone which is not ideal for people living with asthma.
Mental Health
There have been several studies regarding the effects of the ions on mental health. These conditions include things like depression and anxiety. The research has shown some improvement when exposed to negatively charged ions, though the findings are not conclusive, and many people still are studying.
Bacterial and Viral Infections
This is where this type of air purifier shines, which is why many hospitals use them. They have been proven to produce health benefits when treating infectious disease and the control of them. One study showed that when used in a setting where there are high levels of viruses and bacteria, there was a significant decrease in these pathogens. This meant more clean equipment and less of a chance of transmitting disease from equipment to patients.
Pros
- Works without a filter, so less maintenance is needed
- Built for optimal performance
Cons
- It may produce small amounts of ozone
- Will not remove odors or smell
- Uses more power than other units
Final Thoughts
In the end, if you are using this model in your home, it is best to understand and know everything you can about it so that you will go into the purchase without expectations that the unit can not live up to. There are several significant advantages to this unit. The first is the lack of maintenance needed to not needing any filters. This will also allow for more cost-effective energy-efficient options as well. The design is created in a way that you will get the optimal performance that will help fight the positive ions that help transport debris as well as the ones emitted from your electronics. By doing this, you may find you sleep better and have more energy.
There are of course some drawbacks and a few issues that you may want to think about as you consider whether this type of air purifier is right for you. It is not highly effective at removing allergens or odors. There is also the production of ozone, all of which may irritate preexisting respiratory issues.
What it all comes down to is one question: What are you looking at an ionizer for? If you are looking at a way to create a room that is ionically charged to help with your sleep patterns and energy, then this is a great choice. If, however, you are looking to combat allergies and other issues like asthma, you may want to go with another option.