What is an ionic purifier?

Before understanding how do ionic purifiers work, you should first know what an ionic purifier is.

An ionic purifier aka ionizer is a device that emits electrically charged ions. These ions move into the air and attach themselves to other particles including dust, pet dander, and different allergens.

The ionic purifier is used to clear out the different harmful particulates which reside in the air. In addition, ionizer uses no filters in purifying the air.

How do ionic purifiers work?

So, what magic does the ionizer use to spell out harmful particulates from the air? Unfortunately, it does not use any magic. Sorry. Also, you should know that the ionic purifiers do not just eat up the particulates either. Rather they use a very sophisticated mechanism.

There are two types of ionic purifiers. Before analyzing both of them, let’s get the basic idea about how do ionic purifiers work.

Any ionic air purifier has a needle-like structure inside. This structure helps to generate ions or electrons more accurately. Electrons are generated as soon as you power the purifier on.

These ions are then scattered up in the air. They attract different pollutants. And the pollutants attach themselves to these ions. As a result, they soon get heavier. The overwhelming weight soon forces them to settle faster than they would normally. So, the particulates fall down on to the surface. Furthermore, some move and attach themselves to solid wall or table clearing the air you breathe in.

This is the easy and simple idea about how do ionic purifiers work. Now, you will learn how the two different types of ionizers work.

Electrostatic Precipitators

This type of ionic purifiers clean air with the help of charged plates. They contain two plates. While one is positive, the other plate is negative. In addition, there is a fan attached which sucks in the particulates from the air. As the particulates pass through the purifier, they are collected on the charged plates.

The electrostatic precipitators do not discharge any ion into the air. Furthermore, it does not use any filters either. Although you do not have to clean filters, you do need to clean the plates. But, there is no headache to change any filters. You just need to keep the plates clean because efficiency is decreased with a dirty plate.

Moreover, this ionic purifier is not so effective at removing the smallest particulates. It is only good for trapping the bigger sized pollutants.

Air Ionizers

The second type of ionic purifiers is the air ionizer. It works like a typical ionic purifier. Generally, ionizers do not contain any sort of filters. In addition, this type also has no need for a fan. Furthermore, some models do not contain any motor either. So, one advantage is that they do not make any noise.

The air ionizers release ions which float in the air and attach to other pollutants. Then the floating particulates become ineffective and fall down on the ground. Air ionizers work using this mechanism.

But, most people do not find much help from using it. This is because a lot of the particulates never really become ineffective in the first place. Moreover, some cling on any solid substance and then later cause problem.

This is how the two basic types of ionic purifiers work.

Advantages

The greater advantage of ionic purifiers is that they are pretty cheap. Compared to a lot of the other air purifiers, they cost much less.

Since they do not generally use any filters, your work is reduced a great deal. You do not have to change any filters once in every while.

Most ionic purifiers do not make any sound at all. This allows your home to remain quite as well as get rid of the pollutants.

Disadvantages

The biggest disadvantage with regards to this air purifier is that they are not so effective at the end of the day. It does not mean that they are useless. But, compared to a HEPA air purifier, it stands no chance. There is a simple reason behind this ineffectiveness. Many pollutants remain active inside our home even after the purifier’s work. Furthermore, this purifier is not so effective at removing the smallest particulates.

In the case of electrostatic precipitators, their efficiency is reduced a great deal if you fail to keep the plates clean. This adds to your exhaustion.

The biggest disadvantage that almost all the ionic purifiers have is ozone. It is discussed below.

Ozone producer

It is actually very common to receive ozone as a byproduct with any ionic purifiers. Wait a minute… isn’t ozone supposed to keep us safe from harmful rays? Well that’s true. Ozone is a layer which protects us from dangerous sun rays. But, this is not that helper ozone, I am sorry to say. The dangerous ozone is generally produced by the charged plates in electrostatic precipitators.

This ozone is actually harmful for the human body. it could cause serious problem to people who are already suffering from breathing diseases.

Many people actually buy air purifiers to get relief from asthma and other breathing related illness. So, the ionic purifiers would not be a good choice for those kinds of people.

Best Air purifier      

The best air purifier is the HEPA air purifier. This has been proved through many experiments. In addition, most people nowadays also prefer to use HEPA.

HEPA is thought to remove 99.9 percent harmful particulates from the air. Moreover, particulates as small as 0.3 microns are removed using the HEPA air purifier.

For people who have asthma or other breathing problems, the HEPA is the best air purifier. It does not contain any ionic air purifier dangers including no ozone production.

That is why HEPA purifier should be the first choice.

Final say

Even though the ionic air purifiers got some issues, it does not mean that it is absolutely useless. It can still do its job to a great degree and help keep the air better in your home. Also, how do ionic purifier work is now clear for you. So, you have a better understanding of this purifier.

 

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