Determining the winner between an ionizer air purifier vs. a UV air purifier can be difficult. Both greatly improve indoor air quality. If you’re looking for the best air purifier or even the finest ionic air purifiers for you, it’s a question you need to consider.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- There are several benefits to both ionizing and UV air purifiers, and they are best used in conjunction with each other rather than separately.
- Your budget will determine which air purification system is better suited to your lifestyle since the price difference is significant.
- UV purifiers are normally installed right in your ducts, whereas you can buy ionizer purifiers at any store as a stand-alone unit.
Comparing Ionizer and UV Filtration Technology
Knowing who wins in the battle between an ionizer air purifier vs. a UV air purifier can make a huge difference in your air quality. Of course, there are several types of air purifiers out there, and you might want to consider a PCO air purifier vs a HEPA filter air purifier, too. Or, compare electrostatic precipitators vs ionizing air purifiers and air purifiers vs air exchangers to get what will work best for you.
Explaining Ionic Air Purifiers
Air filtration with ionic purifiers works by emitting an electromagnetic charge through the release of ions. The negative charges of the ions attract the microscopic particles you’re trying to filter from your airflow. If you decide that this is the right system for you, look into an IFD filter vs a HEPA filter.
Benefits of Ionic Purifiers
There are a ton of benefits for ionic purifiers:
- Easier to set up, use, and find a place to purchase from
- Portable products are available for easy maneuvering around the house
- Ability to include HEPA or carbon filters for better air quality
Drawbacks of Ionic Purifiers
On the other hand, you’ll want to think about some of these drawbacks:
- Might contribute to ozone generation in your house
- Lower-end units may be noisy and not as effective
Explaining UV Light Air Purifiers
These make highly efficient filtration systems due to how they work. UV-C light is used to inactivate unwanted pollutant particles, including common allergens such as mold. They are normally installed as an in-duct air purifier.
Insider Tip
Look for an air purifier that contains a HEPA-certified filter for air clean enough to be certified by a government agency.
Benefits of a UV Purifier
UV-C comes with quite a few benefits you can look forward to:
- Entirely out of the way since it cleans airborne contaminants inside your ducts
- Kills airborne allergens like mold spores and some viral particles
- Doesn’t add to the levels of ozone like other systems might
Drawbacks of a UV Purifier
While fantastic, even UV-C light air cleaning technologies have their drawbacks:
- Installation of an in-duct air purifier can be expensive and time-consuming
- Doesn’t filter out airborne pollutants like a traditional purifier does
Which is the More Effective Air Purifier?
For the best results, consider using both systems. If you need a solid answer, then the ion system is probably the best bet for both budget and practicality. However, if you have the budget and the time, then we suggest looking into a UV-C light system, as well.
Warning
Excessive exposure to ozone results in multiple health problems, leading foundations like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to provide warnings regarding it.
F.A.Q.
Is an in-duct air purifier as effective as portable air purifiers?
In short, yes. An in-duct air purifier may actually be more powerful than portable products. This is due in large part to how they function.
Which air purifiers are ozone-free?
It’s important to make sure your air purifier isn’t an ozone generator that might produce gaseous pollutants. You can check with air purifier manufacturers to be sure by going on their websites and looking at their product information.
What are air purifiers supposed to filter out and do they actually do it?
They filter out a great amount of indoor air pollution. These are just a few different types of airborne particles and debris filtered out:
- Pet Hair
- Dust Particles
- Viral Particles
Can air purifiers filter the outdoor air that enters your home?
Most air purifiers can help with the larger particles from outdoor air pollution that you should be worried about. Make sure that you invest in HEPA-certified air filters to be sure.
STAT: With MERV 13 filters, you can expect to remove ≥85% of 1-3 um particles. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/33042669_Air_Ion_Behavior_in_Ventilated_Rooms
- http://www.bystat.com/pages/info/articles/Articles_ComplianceEngineering_sep06.pdf
- https://www3.panasonic.biz/ac/ae/service/tech_support/fasys/tech_guide/data/static_e.pdfr
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_purifier
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEPA
