How Ozone Air Purifiers Work
Clinton Maxwell
There is a debate raging about the safety of ozone air
purifiers. Some love the fresh smell and swear by them. Others
are voicing concerns about the ozone that is a by product of
the air cleaning process. Ozone is a pollutant and at high
levels can cause respiratory problems. This is particularly
true for people living with a condition that causes decreased
lung function.
How Ozone Air Purifiers Work
These purifiers work by giving the air a positive charge as it
moves through the machine. This causes the particles in the air
to become charged as well. The charged contaminants are handled
in one of two ways. In some systems, the air simply moves
through the machine and is charged. The particles then settle
on your walls, furniture and carpeting. These need to be
vacuumed or dusted away.
More common is a system that contains a collection grid to trap
the contaminants in the air. The Ionic Breeze is probably the
best known of these systems. You have probably seen this
advertised on late night television. The particles attach to a
collection grid. You remove the grid and wipe away the
contaminants and then replace the grid in the machine. The grid
is easy to clean with a damp rag. This eliminates the need for
replacement filters, as with hepa air purifiers.
Safety Concerns with Ozone Air Purifiers
The controversy over the safety of ozone gained publicity a few
years ago when Consumer Reports gave the Ionic Breeze a low
rating due to the ozone released. The position of Consumer
Reports was that the ozone released was unhealthy. Sharper
Image disputed this claim and tried to sue Consumer Reports and
the parent company, unsuccessfully.
The new Ionic Breeze has a feature called Ozone Guard that is
intended to clean the ozone out of the air. While not all the
ozone can be removed, the level in the room is lower than
without the Ozone Guard feature. In spite of this change,
Consumer Reports still gave the system low marks. According to
their testing, the purifier scored just within the acceptable
limit of ozone in the air.
Ozone is particularly bad for people with decreased lung
function. This includes people with asthma or COPD. For these
people, ozone can cause coughing and shortness of breath. Many
find the symptoms of respiratory disease become worse when
exposed to ozone in the air.
5 Ways to Improve Safety with Ozone Air Purifiers
o Operate the purifier on a lower setting to reduce the amount
of ozone in your air. If odors are a problem, run the machine
on the higher setting when you are not in the room and then
turn it to the lower setting.
o Buy a machine made for the size of your room. Using a machine
intended for larger areas in a small room can cause an unhealthy
level of ozone in the room. Be sure your unit is appropriate for
the size of your room.
o Make sure the room is well ventilated. The more air
circulation, the less ozone will accumulate in the room. Keep
the doors open to increase air flow.
o Home furnishings help absorb some of the ozone in your air. A
sparsely furnished room will contain more ozone in the air than
a room with upholstered furniture, curtains, rugs, pillows and
other decoration.
o Run the appliance when you are not in the room. Turn it off
and air out the room before entering. If you are having
company, you can run the machine in the empty room and turn it
off before your guests arrive. This will remove odors and leave
the room smelling fresh.
About The Author: Clinton Maxwell releases many news to
http://www.air-purifier-and-cleaner-guide.com an online guide.
In his publication the author is writing on subjects such as
ozone air purifiers
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