Electronic air purifiers versus HEPA air purifiers

Both electronic air purifiers as well as HEPA air purifiers use well proven of air purification technologies, but electronic air purifiers have the edge in product comparisons when it comes to cost and convenience.

There are several types of electronic air purifier, the air ionizer and electrostatic precipitator being the most common ones.
Of the two, the electrostatic precipitator is by far the more effective one, and the one we’ll focus on in this discussion.

Electronic air purifier do not use filters, and this is largely the reason why they have the edge on HEPA air purifiers. Here’s why.

True HEPA filters are expensive - $80 to $120 is common. Depending on whether pre-filters are used or not, you can reasonably expect to have to replace a HEPA filter every 2 to 3 years, sometimes more frequently. Over a five year period this represents a cost saving of at least $100 or so.

An electrical air purifier’s lack of filters also means there is hardly any resistance to air flow. A HEPA air purifier in contrast needs a quite powerful motor to be able to move the air through the filter. This translates into higher energy requirements, and a significantly higher electricity bill – between $100 and $150 per annum.

Less air resistance also means the electronic air purifier requires a smaller motor that makes less noise to move the same amount of air.

The lower resistance to airflow also allows electronic air purifiers to be installed in the duct work, making them a more economical choice than a HEPA air purifier if you are considering a system for the whole house.

However, when it comes to the expected efficiency of an air purifier, HEPA filters have the advantage.

Many tests have been done with HEPA filters, and in laboratory conditions, a true HEPA filter is capable of removing 99.7% of all particulates larger than 0.3 micron. For particles smaller than 0.3 micron the efficiency gradually drops off.

With electronic air purifiers there is less assurance with the kind of efficiency that can be expected, as it is dependant on several factors: the size of the collector plates, the flow rate, and the strength of the electrical field. However, a good electronic air cleaner can potentially trap even smaller particulates than a HEPA filter.

Finally, whereas it has been claimed that HEPA filters become more efficient as they get dirtier, it has also been argued that the probability that pollutants in the filter are reintroduced into the indoor air increases. Also, dirty filters are a breeding ground for micro organisms.

With electrostatic precipitators the situation is clear: make sure the collector plates are cleaned frequently, or the air quality in your house will quickly deteriorate!

So which one will it be?

At the end of the day it will be mostly a matter of personal preference and budget consciousness.

Electronic air purifier or HEPA air cleaner - provided the units are of a good quality - it will be hard to go wrong with either.

For more information on related products, please choose from the following:

HEPA Air Cleaners |Electrical / Ionic Air Purifiers