The filter is one of the key components of an air cleaner. A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter removes 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns from the air that passes through it. Many advertisements give the misleading impression that any HEPA filter will clean the air in a room of more than 99% of its particles. The reality is that the amount of cleaning of the air in the room depends not just on the filter, but on the amount of air moving through the filter. This is expressed as the "clean air delivery rate", or CADR. The Clean Air Delivery Rate is a measure of the amount of particle-free air being delivered into the room. It is the best measure of the true cleaning capacity of the air cleaner, since it reflects both the effectiveness of the filter and the amount of air going through the filter. The higher the clean air delivery rate, the larger the size room that can be effectively cleaned of airborne particles. Clean air delivery rates are measured using procedures standardized by the Association of Home Appliance Manufactures (AHAM).

This allows the capacities of various air cleaners to be compared. Please note that most air cleaners have more than one fan speed, and that the advertised clean air delivery rate applies to the highest speed.Keep in mind however, that this recommendation is based on the unit's ability to provide five or six air changes per hour in a room of that size. This is the correct target in medical situations. Remember also that these figures are based on using the machine at its highest speed. This is also the noisiest speed. For less disturbance (and longer motor life) you may want to run the unit at less than its maximum blower speed, especially when you are in the room. A final point to consider is that many popular air cleaners are designed such that the clean air is blown downwards onto the floor. More effectively designed air cleaners, including all of those featured here, do not exhaust the clean air downwards. Click on these fact sheets for more information: Hepa Silent Benefits: Hepa Silent Technology: Particle Filter: Smoke Stop Filter: Filter Comparison

Blueair® 603 HEPA Air Cleaner Clean Air Delivery Rate: 400 cubic feet per minute for dust 415 cubic feet per minute for smoke 415 cubic feet per minute for pollen Blueair® is the system for people living with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, or for anyone who wants ... Click to learn more, or to order >> Blueair® 503 HEPA Air Cleaner 375 cubic feet per minute for dusts&s air cleaner for cv carb 375 cubic feet per minute for smokelowes air purifier reviews 375 cubic feet per minute for pollenhoneywell or oreck air purifier Blueair® 403 HEPA Air Cleaner 240 cubic feet per minute for dust 240 cubic feet per minute for smoke 240 cubic feet per minute for pollen

Blueair® 203 HEPA Air Cleaner 155 cubic feet per minute for dust 155 cubic feet per minute for smoke 155 cubic feet per minute for pollen Blueair® is the system for people living with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, or for anyone who ... Click to learn more, or to order >> Counter Top Water Filters Under Counter Water Filters Introducing Brondell Air Purification Systems Brondell’s O2+ Air Purifiers are fully adjustable to your needs — at any time, during any season. With a three-stage advanced filter system, the O2+ series eliminates allergens such as: dust, smoke, pollen (including tree, grass, and ragweed), pet dander, mold, odor, and harmful VOCs. The certified True HEPA filter removes 99.97% of particulates and allergens above 0.3 microns, while the granulated carbon filter effectively reduces smoke, odor, and harmful off-gassing VOCs (including formaldehyde and benzene). Three-Stage Advanced Filter Technology:

Mesh Pre-Filter – washable micron mesh filters 99.9% of particulate matter larger than 0.28mm, thereby improving the lifespan of the other two filters Activated Carbon Filter – granulated carbon formula that effectively reduces smoke, odor and harmful off-gassing VOCs including (formaldehyde and benzene) True HEPA Filter – O2+ Air Purifiers feature four distinct operating modes and include colored LED air quality indicators that give instant visual feedback about the air quality in the room. Experience the Brondell Difference! Advanced technology for ultimate purification Best warranties and US-based customer service Over 97% customer satisfaction Top Of The LineAir Purification Which Air Purification system is right for me? Four (Auto Mode, Night Mode,Fan Speed Mode, Eco Mode) Visual Air Quality Indicator Adjustable Air Quality Sensor • Filters:    ◦ Stage One 8,760 hours (1 year) 13.25” (W) x 24.5” (H) x 7.75” (D)

13.25” (W) x 25.5” (H) x 7.25” (D) • CADR Rating:    ◦ Smoke Suggested Room Size (Sq. ft.)The EPA says that the indoor air in most homes is more polluted than the air outside — often by two or three times. When that alarming news is reinforced by mold in closets or lingering odors days after a fish dinner, many people start looking for indoor air cleaners.But the field is littered with scams like machines that supposedly drive pollutants out of the air to cling to walls, and fans containing a few cents worth of plastic mesh that can't handle anything more than big balls of dust. Some products that cost hundreds don't help any more than a $10 furnace filter. But one type does the job: air cleaners with a HEPA filter system.HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. It's the standard for hazardous material cleanup crews handling microscopic asbestos fibers, and in environments like hospital surgical suites. The system has also found its way into several household products, including top-of-the-line vacuums, forced-air furnace filters and portable air cleaners.

The technologyHEPA is often touted as the latest and greatest system, but it was invented during World War II to protect A-bomb workers from radioactive dust and to keep the particles from escaping from laboratories. The filters worked so well then that nearly a century later, HEPA is still the choice for maximum protection in respirator masks and air-cleaning systems. The filters are so dense that they restrict more airflow than a mesh-type dust filter. They trap particles measuring 0.3 microns with an efficiency of 99.97 percent. The size is microscopically small, for instance, compared with the diameter of a human hair at about 80 microns. And the efficiency is unmatched in any other household equipment. For every 10,000 particles within the filtering range that enter a HEPA unit, only three escape.But when you buy a HEPA air cleaner, look past the hype to find test results or standards listed on either the filter or air-cleaner label. They should state the minimum standards of 99.97 efficiency and 0.3 microns.

There has been some fudging with sales pitches for "HEPA-type" and "HEPA-like" filters that resemble the real thing. But they may trap only 85 percent of particles, or even less as the size decreases. The difference can allow the smallest particles of pollen and mold to pass through, which can be crucial for allergy sufferers. The real thing is often listed as "true HEPA."Portable pros and consOnce you settle on the performance of a filter, questions remain about the size and style of the housing, and even more so about the noise. Energy use is minimal. Even large units like the Blueair 603 HEPA cost about as much to run (full time, low speed) as a 15-watt light bulb. Several manufacturers offer relatively compact units that can handle a modest-size living room. Tower designs seem the least intrusive — tuck in next to a couch, and could pass as part of your sound system.Several companies, such as Electrolux, Whirlpool, Blueair and IQAir make compact portables. I tried a few, including Honeywell's HPA-150, with tandem, true HEPA filters, a dust prefilter, and an activated carbon filter to reduce odors, all in a ribbed tower 28 inches high and about 12 inches across (about $170).

Controls are top-mounted — a simple switch for different fan settings, with small LEDs to warn about filter cleaning. At full power, it circulates and filters the air in a 170-square-foot room up to five times per hour. It's one of the quieter models I checked, but you'll probably want it on the low setting — fan one, not fan three.Few manufacturers supply noise level information in decibels so you can compare one to another. And ratings like "quiet" or "very quiet" are subjective. I lost track of the Honeywell on the fan one setting, even sitting close by in a quiet room. On fan two, the sound blends away if people are talking or a TV is on. Fan three cuts through unless you're settled 10 or 15 feet away with at least some other background noise in the room. Reports Sought In Jonbenet's Sister's DeathColumbo`s WorldPain relievers: What are the differences? Newly disclosed account surfaces in 1966 Valerie Percy murder caseDark meaning of bubble-gum Pumped Up Kicks is tough to chew10 reasons why you want the job