There are a lot of companies selling "air purifiers" these days. Once a band wagon works (sellable that is )everyone climbs on. While they sound like your lungs will love you for them, they usually don't make much of a difference in the amount of stray contaminates in your air, although they can make some difference in eliminating allergens and odors and most people will state they notice some difference. Many will also state they made no difference. There are a number of reasons for wanting fresh air in your indoor environment and some of them are completely justified, and while I have not publizied it here, my company happens to provide some solutions to these problems. I'm sure even indirectly advertising here is a break in protocol, it is mine, so I will not provide any of our solutions here, and anyone with a specific problem can PM/email me and I will do my best to help. First a person must ask themselves why they want to freshen the air. Here are some major reasons.
1) Known/unknown odors lingering in the home. (especially pets)
2) Wanting to reduce stray allergens in the air.
3) Wanting to reduce virusus and bacteria in the air.
4) Feeling too many contaminates are being drawn into the lungs.
Number one and two above are very sane reasons for wanting to do something to make your environment more pleasant. Just ask a severe allergy sufferer.
First and foremost remember this. Just because you eliminated the odor with the Ionic Breeze or whatever name yours goes by, you have not necessarily eliminated the cause, and that might be the real danger. ie. Mold smells bad, eliminate the mold not the smell of it.
For #1 above remove the odor causing problems if possible, clean more often, clean and deodorize your HVAC system coils and duct work at least once a year. Remember that much of your air comes through your forced air system. (HVAC-- heat and air conditioning ) If its dirty and smelly the whole house will be. Instead of using plug ins try using odor eliminators sprays in known odor causing spaces. Fragrances (not candles) can work. If high quality fragrance manufactured for home use are used, they will last longer and be safer.
For #2 Reduce as much cloth material in your home as possible and remove as much carpeting as possible. Hard wood floors or Ceramic tile is best. Make sure leather is safe for your use and prefer it over cloth furniture. It can be wiped off and does not hold contaminates. Use the best vacuum you can afford. Use a vacuum with a minimum of a HEPA filter built in. Many cheap vacuums just throw the dirt back out the exhaust. Spray anti-allergen solutions like AMDS on cloth furniture and bedding. Clean your HVAC systems coils and duct work at least once a year and deodorize them. Change your HVAC systems filter often. There are machines that do this automatically. Try to eliminate suspected allergens one at a time only. AND an air filter may help reduce allergens. I know people who have been helped by an air filter and those with whom it done nothing for.
#3)I can't imagine anyone being such a germaphobic that they feel they need to kill all the germs in the air all the time but hey what ever floats your boat. They make lights that can be installed on your HVAC system that kills everything as it passes. Once again I say clean your HVAC systems coils at least once a year and deoodorize them, change the filter in your HVAC system often, and just keep your home reasonably clean. If we kill every germ we come in contact with we would never build any immunity.
Just a note: In my opinion candles are bad for your home, your lungs, your electrical devices. Candle lovers are converging on me right now. I realize you may have a different opinion. They create a film that attaches itself to everything. They have been a suspected irritant to the lungs and the possible cause of irriatations leading to infections. This is why they clog air filters and most modern air filter manuals will tell you not to use candles and your air filter at the same time. If you have health problems especially your lungs and/or allergies, I would limit their use if possible.
I would be happy to try and help anyone with a specific problem if you want to email me.
Bill
