Air Cleaner Buying Tips
Bob Backstrom
As we all know breathing in clean, pure air is important for
our health. So you should get a good quality air cleaner
installed in your office or home. The market is flooded with
hosts of air cleaning products. These products use a lot of
acronyms that can leave any average user bewildered. I would
like to your answer some of your questions on understanding
these acronyms to assist you in purchasing the right product
for your use.
What is HEPA?
High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters were
originated during the Second World War. They were designed to
prevent the radioactive particles from entering the human
respiratory system. Today, they are the best air cleaners in
the market with their filtration rate slightly below 100%. They
can remove all particles of size 0.3 microns.
Who is OEM?
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is the manufacturer who
not only sells you the product but also provides the spare
parts when the parts in the product deteriorate. You might get
generic parts in the market, which can be cheaper. But the
quality cannot be guaranteed. When you purchase the product
from the OEM, you are assured a good quality not only on the
product but also on the spares that you buy. Besides, OEM also
takes the responsibility for maintaining the air cleaners. This
ensures you get a good quality service for your air cleaners.
What is MERV?
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) denotes the
efficiency of the filter. It is the ability of the filter to
remove the particles. The value lies in the range of 12 to 16.
A low value tells you that the filter is inefficient at
removing the particles. Values of 12 to 16 denote that the
filter is highly efficient in removing more particles. This is
the standard used by all the air cleaner manufacturers. This
makes comparison among different products very easy.
What is CADR?
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the amount of filtered air
that is free from three major pollutants viz. dust, pollen and
cigarette smoke. Higher number indicates higher rate of
filtration and thus an efficient filter. Ideally, buy an air
cleaner whose CADR is around two third of the area of the room
whose air you want to filter. These numbers are marked on the
box, but they indicate the performance when you use the parts
supplied by OEM and not by the generic manufacturers.
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