Some air cleaners emit low-level ozone. Is ozone harmful to pet birds? Is a HEPA filter better, or no air filter at all? What's the best for my birds? Let's clear the air about room air cleaners! Air filters remove pollen, dust, pet dander, dead skin cells and other particulate matter from the atmosphere inside your home. Bacteria and viruses travel around by hitching rides on dust particles, and these dust particles can be removed from the air when trapped in high-efficiency filters. Air purifiers actually kill bacteria and viruses. People are often confused when trying to choose an appropriate air filter or purifier. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, ionizers, ozonators and ultra-violet purification systems are available. It helps to understand what the different systems are and how they work in order to choose the product that best suits your needs. Manufacturers of these products have extensive technical literature available upon request. Following are some explanations of various filter/purification components:

Electrostatic: A charged surface that attracts and collects airborne particles. how to use ionic breeze air purifier Filter: A standard filter pad traps particles, including many allergens and some gases from the air but cannot actually destroy microorganisms unless equipped with germicidal accessories. air purifier fsa eligibleStandard filters and pre-filters must be washed or replaced according to manufacturer's directions.oreck xl electric air purifier Ions, Ionizer, Ionization: An ion is an electrically charged particle. Ionizers neutralize the air by emitting a flow of negative ions that cling to positively charged particles. This increases the weight of the particles and causes them to cling to surfaces rather than remaining airborne.

There is some controversy about the use of ionizers around pet birds. Consult your avian veterinarian prior to use. Ozone, Ozonator: Ozone is a form of activated oxygen with an extra, third molecule, which attaches itself to airborne pollutants. It oxidizes and destroys bacteria, fungus, mold, viruses and mildew, leaving pure oxygen in their place. Low levels of ozone (the FDA's safety limit is 50 parts per billion) can purify water and air. According to Consumer Reports (10/92), when room air passes through a high-voltage plate in an ozonator, some oxygen molecules are ionized. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has set a limit of 50 parts per billion for ozone from electronic air cleaners. Some ozonators are actually marketed as ionizers, and an overwhelming amount of ozone can be harmful to a bird. There is some controversy about the use of ozonators around pet birds. HEPA: High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration systems were originally developed by the Atomic Energy Commission to remove radioactive particles from the air.

HEPA filters are used in spacecraft, industry, hospitals and homes. Depending on maintenance, proper use and the efficiency of a particular unit, HEPA filters are capable of removing close to 99.9994% of particles down to .3 microns in size (about 1/25,000 of an inch!) from the indoor atmosphere. Ultra-Violet Light: Reduces transmission of disease by killing bacteria passing through the appliance. Both purifiers and filters are somewhat effective in reducing odors and removing smoke from the air, but you must never rely on an air filter or purifier to remove airborne toxins or germs from the atmosphere before they affect your bird. Some air filters combine two or more of the features described above. If you suffer from asthma or other respiratory condition, consult your physician before purchasing any air-cleaning device. Keep the air fresh and reduce pollution in your home with simple, every day routines. Curtail the use of aerosols, powders and chemicals indoors. Use high-efficiency allergen filter bags for your vacuum cleaner.

Purchase high-efficiency air conditioner and furnace filters. Install a range hood that vents to outdoors instead of blowing fumes back into the room. Fresh air is the best purifier of all. Open the windows for at least a short time each day. During warm weather, install a window fan blowing out. You'll be amazed at the dust and dander it carries out of your home.In this article, we’re going to answer two of the most common questions people have about air purifiers: We’ll explain everything you need to know about how air purifiers operate and what types of airborne contaminants they can get rid of inside your house. At its core, an air purifier is not too complicated to understand. In simple terms, these devices remove pollutants and allergens from the air so you don’t breathe them in. The benefits of having an air purifier are two-fold: The truth is that there are millions of microscopic particles floating in the air around you. With every inhale of your breath, you pull some of these particles into your lungs.

If you have asthma or allergies, then you most likely notice the negative side effects of breathing in bad particles faster than someone who does not have these conditions. Unfortunately, no amount of daily dusting or vacuuming can ultimately fix this problem. In fact, these actions can actually make the problem worse by stirring up the harmful particles and pushing them back into the air. By adding an air purifier to your home, you can ensure that particles that cause breathing and health problems are eliminated from the airspace around you. What you’ll notice that after using one inside your house is that you’ll have better sleep, an improved immune system, overall better feeling health. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, you’ll also notice a significantly less amount of asthma an allergy attacks. Now that you know what does a air purifier do, the next question you have is obvious, “How do they work?” This question is a little bit more complicated to answer, because some air purifiers use more than one type of technology to clean the air.

The four major types of air filtration you’ll find on these types of products include: If an air purifier is built with a HEPA filter, it operates by pulling air into this dense, paper filter and trapping the particles within it so they can’t float back into the air. HEPA filters are great because they can to capture up to 99.97% of bad particles from the air. A carbon filter works by collecting pollutants that create smells and odors inside your home. A HEPA filter cannot do this. If you want a fresh smelling home, getting an air purifier that includes a carbon filter is the best choice. An ionic generator is another type of technology that air purifiers may or may not use. This feature works by sending out ions into the air that latch onto harmful particles. This causes the pollutants to become very heavy and can’t remain in the air. These particles then fall to the ground or are become trapped in a collection plate that is on the device. The final type of air filtration you’ll find on an air purifier is Ultra Violet radiation.