HEPA Room Air Cleaner

Things you need to know:

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor.  These types of filters are designed to remove 99.97% of all airborne pollutants 0.3 microns or larger from the air that passes through the filter.  These airborne pullutants can include tobacco smoke, pollen, and household dust.  For reference, a human hair is between 70 and 100 microns, and a particle of 10 microns is invisible to the naked eye. Pollen can range between 5 and 100 microns.

The HEPA filter was developed during World War II by the U.S. Government to remove and capture airborne radioactive particles from the air which might escape and present a health hazard to the researchers working on the Manhatten Project.

HEPA air cleaners improve indoor air quality and may help relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.  For a filter to be labeled "True" HEPA, it must be certified 99.97% efficient in capturing 0.3 micron respirable size particles.  

There are many types and sizes of HEPA air cleaners available on the market, from portable filters that can be used in your car to whole house filters that will filter the air through your entire house.  HEPA room air filters are rated by the amount of coverage they provide.

When purchasing a HEPA room air cleaner you should be sure to check the rated coverage of the filter.  Some room air cleaners are rated at 250 sq. ft, while others are rated at 1000 sq. ft. or more.  Typically, the larger the coverage area, the more you will pay for an air cleaner.  Some of the top brands of HEPA air cleaners include Hunter, IQAir, Amaircare, Blueair, Honeywell, Alen, Austin Air,  and Airpura.  Click on any of the blue links to read more about specific HEPA room air cleaners.