Potency War: HEPA Filter Air Purifier vs Ionic Air Purifier

The current pandemic has forced homes to invest in air purifiers. Air purifiers help clean the air of microparticles and circulate fresh air throughout your home. By far the most common type of filter used in air purifiers is the HEPA [High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance] filter.

HEPA air purifiers are preferred by people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Like the HEPA air purifier, there are many other kinds of purifiers that use different technology. There are air purifiers that use carbon filtration, TiO2 filtration, ionizers, etc. Another common type of air purifier used around the world is an ionic purifier.

Choosing between  HEPA and an ionic air purifier requires some research. This article will talk about the difference between the HEPA filter air purifier and Ionic air purifier so that you can make an easy decision. 

Why Buy An Air Purifier?

Before getting into the differences between HEPA and ionic air purifiers, it is important to know why you should be investing in an air purifier and is it worth the money. 

Metropolitan cities are choked due to the increasing pollution and rapid deforestation in the name of development. Since trees - our natural air cleaners - are being cut down, the air is increasingly becoming a health hazard. This is because people breathe in air with harmful particles that can affect their respiratory system. Air purifiers control air quality by getting rid of allergens, pollen, dust, pet hair, and other pollutants that are invisible to the naked eye. Some air purifiers also absorb any kind of unpleasant odor from paints and varnishings.

Both ionic and HEPA air purifiers are designed to improve indoor air quality. They both work differently. While ionic purifiers were popular in the 1990s, HEPA air purifiers caught on later. This was because HEPA filtration was found to be the best due to its powerful technology when it came to filtering air of impurities.

HEPA Air Purifier

It is said that the highest-grade HEPA filter can trap 99.97% of particles that are as tiny as 0.3 microns. This efficiency is because these filters are made with a material that is a collection of interwoven fibers that are thicker and denser.

A HEPA air purifier set in the room pulls in the air from around it. It lets the air pass through a dense filter that traps allergens, pollen, pet dander, dust, mold, bacteria, and smoke. After particles in the air are trapped by the filter, the purifier then pushes out fresh air into the room.

The air purifier repeats this process if it remains active and keeps the room free from contaminants. If you keep the air purifier active all the time it can effectively tackle new impurities that enter the room, like smoke or dust. The machine will pull these particles into the filter and purify the air in your room.

The rigorous purification is what makes HEPA filter the best air filter for allergies and asthma. It is also the best air filter for mold spores. You probably might already know that airplanes use HEPA filters. This is because they are great at removing bacteria as well as other tiny particles. This is how an airplane provides clean air to all its passengers. 

Do note that HEPA air filters need replacement. As the filters collect particles like pollen and pet dander the filter will be maxed out at a point. This causes an increase in the resistance to the airflow inside the filter and a subsequent decrease in the air cleaning performance of the device. If the filter is clogged then pulling in polluted air and pushing out fresh air will be tough. Therefore, to ensure you get a high level of air cleaning the filters have to be replaced.

For instance, the Acekool HEPA air purifier D02 that comes with an H13 HEPA filter has a filter replacement indicator that will flash automatically when you need to replace the filter. 

Ionic Air Purifier

There are two types of ionic air purifiers - electrostatic precipitators and air ionizers. Both of these purifiers are "filter-less" air cleaners and are also known as electronic air cleaners.

Electrostatic precipitators house positive and negative charged plates. These plates collect particles and other pollutants as they pass through the air purifier. Rather than having to replace the filter, you must wash or clean the plates. While this might sound like a budget-friendly option to you, the HEPA purifier beats the ionic purifier in terms of performance. These filterless air purifiers do not remove the small particles in the air effectively that can be dangerous to an asthma patient or someone with a history of dust allergies.  

An electrostatic precipitator’s performance is best when the plates are clean. Yet, it still cannot win over the performance of a HEPA filter. According to studies, ozone can be produced as a by-product of the charged plates. Ozone is considered an air pollutant. For someone with COPD, emphysema, or asthma, ozone can be a huge problem. 

Global standard room air purifiers are now tested to meet ozone requirements. As a result, customers now mostly tend to HEPA filter air purifiers compared to ionic air purifiers. 

Conclusion

We recommend that you buy a purifier with HEPA technology. HEPA air purifier cleans the air of small particles up to 0.3 microns and also provides replaceable filters for regular high-quality air purification. If you are looking for a budget-friendly HEPA air purifier check out the Acekool HEPA air purifier D01 that houses a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. These three filters work together to eliminate 99.97% of PM2.5, Formaldehyde, bacteria, pollen, smoke, mold spores, dust, odors, and pet dander.