Portable Air Cleaners

The increasing concern about air quality and the alarming number of persons with asthma has given rise to a whole new industry. The clean air era is alive and well, and more homes are being equipped with portable air cleaners in an attempt to make the air inside as pollution free as possible. A research report states that Americans are expected to spend an estimated $370 million by 2008 on portable air cleaners and purifiers.

There are two types of portable air cleaners, desktop/tabletop units and console units. Research has shown that console units tend to offer better coverage and cleaning than tabletop models. Additionally, it is believed that some units built for a single room do a better job than those built for an entire house. When choosing a portable unit, it is especially important to know the air flow rate. Placing a unit inside a room that it’s too small for will not produce the desired result, that is, if the unit is recommended for a 1000 square foot room, do not place it in a 2000 square foot room.

To get the best from portable air cleaners, do the following:

· Place in an area where it is close to pollutants if possible
· Place in areas where there is no blockage of the device by plants, walls or furniture
· Place in an area where it can redirect the clean air to the area of the home that is most heavily lived in. Placing the outflow in an area where it doesn’t properly circulate inside, will minimize the benefits of the unit
· Replace filters as often as necessary, depending on the level of pollution, it may be necessary to do so even more frequently that the owner’s manual recommends

To get the best from a portable air cleaner it is necessary to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using and caring for the device.