Let the buyer beware. That is certainly good advice for anyone entering the air purifier market. Quality, durability, and effectiveness vary widely. Price is no indication of quality or suitability. As for government standards, you’ll find no cop on the beat. At least in the US, no agency claims authority to regulate the industry.
With an anything goes, Wild West amazon air purifier air purifier market it’s not hard to make a costly mistake. The following list will help you avoid seven common mistakes consumers make when they buy air purifiers.
Costly Mistake #1: Failing to Realistically Address One’s Health Needs
Do you know what you need? Most people who buy air purifiers expect a health benefit but never consider what is required.
Consider this, particles in the 2.5 to 10 micron range deposit in the nose and throat causing sinus irritation and allergies. How effective is the air purifier you’re considering at removing these particles?
Particles smaller than 2.5 micron, especially smaller than 0.1 micron, are known as lung penetrating. These are the most damaging and are linked to increased heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
While many best-rated air purifiers remove larger particles they are poor performers at removing these smaller, more dangerous particles.
Costly Mistake #2: Failing to Assume Responsibility for Air Quality
Far too many consumers buy air purifiers as a cure all for health and air quality problems without taking any other action.
I’m sure you’ve already heard the oft-quoted line about how the EPA says indoor air is two to one hundred times more polluted than outdoor air.
While marketers use that statistic as a reason for you to throw money at them, I want you to look at it another way. Ask yourself, Why the wide variance in pollution levels? What are the people doing that results in hundredfold more polluted air while others have less heavily polluted air?
More importantly, what can you do to clear the air in your home?
Costly Mistake #3: Not Taking Ozone Seriously
Ozone has fresh, after-the-rainstorm smell. And cyanide has a pleasant almond smell. And arsenic has a tasty garlic flavor. Don’t be fooled!
Most consumers buy air purifiers for real health benefits. Often they have chronic breathing problems. Exposure to ozone is the last thing they need.
Ozone exacerbates asthma and other breathing difficulties. It also increases sensitivity to allergens, so even healthy persons suffer more by exposure.
A 2004 EPA study found increased ozone concentrations were directly related to premature deaths. The study found that lowering outdoor concentrations of ozone by a mere 10 ppb (parts per billion) would result in some 4000 fewer premature deaths each year.
Yet ozone generators sold as air purifiers can increase indoor ozone levels by 300 ppb! How many may have paid the ultimate cost, their very life, by using these machines?
Ionic air purifiers should also be considered with caution. While not emitting such high levels of ozone as ozone generators, they nevertheless do produce ozone as a byproduct of normal operation. Do you really need this?