Air Purifier Vs. Ionizer: What's The Difference And Which Is Better For Your Home?

We may not realize it, but the air inside our homes could be making us sick. Although it might look and smell fine to us, indoor air quality can vary greatly from house to house. Contaminants like dust, cleaners, mold, pollen, pet dander, outdoor pollutants, viruses, and even pesticides can be swirling around inside our living spaces. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most people spend about 90% of their time indoors. And the agency warns that indoor air quality can sometimes be worse than outdoor levels! 

While there are many ways to improve your indoor air quality, investing in an air purifier or an ionizer are two options that can keep pollutants at bay. However, which one is right for you?

The main difference between air purifiers and ionizers is the method with which they clean the air. An air purifier uses a layered filtration system to remove pollutants as air passes through the device. Ionizers, on the other hand, charge air particles electrically with negative ions, causing them to adhere to surfaces in the room rather than float freely. There are benefits and drawbacks to each and which you choose may depend on what specific pollutants you're trying to remove from the air. It also may depend a little bit on some medical considerations.

Air purifiers are the most popular options, for sure, and models using the HEPA (High Energy Particulate Air) filter system have become the industry standard for home air filtration. These stand-alone units are highly effective at removing particles down to .03 microns. To give some context to that, a human hair is about 50-70 microns in diameter. HEPA filters are so effective that they're rated to remove 99.97% of airborne particles. These include pollutants such as mold spores, dust, and pollen. They can also filter out some even smaller particles like viruses and bacteria. 

With that kind of effectiveness, why would you even consider an ionizer or other air cleaning product? Well, HEPA filters are not particularly good at filtering out gases, chemicals, and odors such as smoke or cooking smells. These particles are simply too small for HEPA filters to catch.

Another thing to consider when purchasing a HEPA filter is that you will have to replace the filter periodically. Depending on the brand and model, some need to be replaced every few months, while others can last a few years. Over time, this expense can add up, so be sure to know what replacements will cost and how often you'll be purchasing them before you select a unit.

An ionizer might be the right choice for your home if your main issue is truly microscopic pollutants like bacteria and viruses, or even tobacco smoke. However, ionizers are not effective against many or the larger common indoor air pollutants such as dust and pollen. And, there are some important caveats to consider when looking at purchasing an ionizing unit.

The first potential drawback is that ionizers don't actually remove any air pollutants; they simply move them to a new place. Attaching a negative ion to the air particles causes them to clump together and fall out of the air onto nearby surfaces. Think tables, draperies, carpet, etc. This means you'll need to wipe up and vacuum regularly to truly rid the area of these pollutants. A second concern to keep in mind with ionizers is that they produce low levels of ozone, which can be harmful to your health. Ozone can cause lung irritation, so if you're prone to respiratory issues, ionizers are considered risky. The EPA considers indoor ozone a toxic gas.

So, when you're shopping for the best air purifier or ionizer, make sure you know your space demands, what type and size of particles you're trying to remove, and be sure to consider any negative health effects that could come with either device. And if you truly can't decide, you can look into combo units that have both features like the Azeus True HEPA Air Purifier that includes an ionizer setting.