Theoretically, both the HEPA and Ionic Air Purifiers serve the same purpose; to give you the fresh and allergen-free air.
Their design methodologies differ from one another considering the approach they use.
Here’s how:
Ionic Purifiers are classified into two types. There are electrostatic precipitators and air ionizers. In both cases, these are “filter-less” air cleansers. They’re also known as electronic air cleaners.
Electrostatic precipitators feature positive and negative charged plates. Particulates collect on the plates as they pass through the air cleaner. Instead of having to substitute the filter, you have to wash or clean the plates.
The filter-less air purifiers don’t remove the particulates effectively. They don’t do the best job in removing the smallest, most dangerous particles. These are the particles that float in the air for hours or days and can be breathed deep into your lungs.
On the other hand…
Electrostatic precipitators perform best when the plates are clean. Yet, even at that point, they’re not as good as the HEPA filter.1 To make matters worse, when the plates become dirty, the performance degrades further.
It’s common for ozone to be generated as a by-product of the charged plates. Ozone is considered indoor air pollution.
Therefore:
If you have complications with your system like emphysema or asthma, ozone can be a massive problem. Room air purifiers are now tested to meet ozone requirements. As a result, there’s been a substantial shift away from electrostatic precipitators to HEPA filter air purifiers. It’s somewhat challenging even to find an ozone generating2 purifier now.
However, in as much as they’re troublesome, these types of ionic purifiers work best in commercialised industries.
On the other hand…
The air ionizers feature an ionizer that’s integrated with the negative ion generator. The negatively ionised generator manufactures a stream of negatively charged ions that go on to draw the positive allergens and dirt particles in the atmosphere.
Therefore,
This charge affects their ability to flow, and in the long run, it’s eradicated from the air that enters your home. Since the dust particles gain a positive charge, they find themselves attracted to surfaces your floor or wall surfaces.
Ionic Purifiers
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to clear the smoke particles that fill up your room and house, then the ionic purifier is the best bet.
However…
It isn’t the absolute way to make sure you have completely eradicated all the dust and pollen.3 It also produces ozone as a by-product, which is a concern for your health. You also can use the best indoor plants to purify the air. The ozone gas can cause lung damage, can start up severe asthma attacks, and even cause death.
Advantages
- They get rid of very fine particles (about 0.01 microns).
- They help decontaminate your home from bacteria, smoke, viruses, and other toxins.
- They don’t produce any noise because they don’t run on fans or motors.
Disadvantages of Ionic Purifiers
- They produce Ozone as a by-product, a gas that can have adverse effects on your health.
- They don’t completely get rid of bad odours.
- They work well in the removal of particles from the air, but they don’t eliminate it from the room.
HEPA Air Purifiers
The High-Efficiency Particulate Air Purifiers are purification technology productions that were used back in the day to remove radioactive pollutants to protect the soldier’s respiratory system in World War II.
We now apply these systems in our households to make sure we have 99.97% pollutants free air. HEPA air purifiers, unlike most air purification systems, have the capability of trapping very minute pollutants (up to 0.3 microns).
Here’s the best part:
They’re especially perfect for patients with allergic reactions to most allergens like pollen and dust. Such contaminants with the size of about 0.5 microns usually bring about instability in the body’s defence system.
Most medical professionals recommend HEPA to their patients because of their reliability in removing contaminants down to the microscopic level.
Advantages
- They possess high efficiency in the eradication of pollen, dust, mould spores, dust mites, and other allergens.
- When the solid particles are captured, the HEPA filters don’t launch them back into the air.
Disadvantages
- Without an additional filter, these air purifiers don’t remove chemicals, fumes, and cigarette smoke from the air.
- They aren’t instrumental in capturing microscopic viruses.
These two systems help you give your home that fresh, crisp, and allergen-free atmosphere you need to enjoy every minute spent in your sanctuary.
However, HEPA air purifiers tend to be very reliable since their performance is constant as compared to its ionic counterpart, whose performance rapidly drops. It’s due to the fact that ionic air purifiers use magnetism in its operation.
Related post: How to Clean Indoor Air Pollution?
Common Questions
In Conclusion
There are many things to consider when choosing between Ionic or HEPA filters, but both are very good at what they do, there’s no doubt about that. You only need to determine your specific needs and see which one will fit your needs.
