Air Purifier VS Ionizer: Which Is The Best?
What Are The Difference Between Air Purifiers And Ionizers?
The main difference between an air purifier and an ionizer is the technology used to purify the air. An air purifier uses a fan and multiple filters, including a HEPA filter, to capture airborne particles. An ionizer diffuses electrically charged negative ions to bond with positive ions impurities in the air. The bonded ions will fall and settle on a surface area. Both devices have their pros and cons, but objectively they are trying to achieve the same thing: provide clean air and promote good health.
Advantages & Disadvantages: Air Purifier VS Ionizer
The biggest advantage of an air purifier is its effectiveness. It will remove 99.97% of the microscopic particles in the air as small as 0.3 microns, including dust, dust mites, mold spore, mildew, pollen, pet dander, cigarette smoke, odors, VOCs, radon, bacteria, and viruses. Unlike an ionizer, the particles will be permanently trapped in the filters. There is no need to dust or vacuum daily to remove the particulates. It is also 100% ozone-free that will not produce any harmful byproducts that aggravate your allergies and asthma. There is also more variety of design, color, and size options with air purifiers. You can go with a plug-in version, a desktop/ tabletop, slim tower-form, wall-mountable, or large console air purifiers to suit your needs. Availability is abundant, and there is bound to be a model that will fit your home décor.
On the other hand, Ionizer filter-free technology does not require filter change or cleaning every 6 to 12 months. The metal collection rod or plate is washable, reusable, and there is no recurring filter replacement cost to worry about. Ionic purifiers are also cheaper than HEPA air purifiers while consuming less electricity. You can easily save up to 500 dollars in 5 years with an ionizer than the counterpart. The long-term cost of ownership is critical as it impacts the device’s usability. Ionizer purifying coverage is typically 2 to 3 times wider than HEPA air purifiers at a similar price point. The high density of the physical filters impedes airflow circulation.
Which Is Better: Air Purifier VS Ionizer?
Go with a HEPA air purifier if you have asthma, allergies, or other respiratory diseases. A HEPA air purifier is proven safe and effective against the tiniest microscopic particles, including viruses. Reducing particulate matter and allergens in the air will alleviate your allergy symptoms and prevent them from returning. It is also better suited for those with babies, children, or the elderly at home susceptible to ozone. While Ionizer will remove pollutants in the air, there is a risk that the fallen pollutants will resurface when disturbed. You may also expose yourself to an insignificant low concentration level of ozone. Toxic gas can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, throat irritation, breathing issue, and lung scarring.
The table below shows the summary of an air purifier VS an ionizer.
| Which Is The Better Device | Air Purifier | Ionizer |
|---|---|---|
| Remove PM10 particles (dust, hair, fiber, dirt) | EFFECTIVE | INEFFECTIVE |
| Remove biological pollutants (mold, pollen, bacteria, viruses) | EFFECTIVE | SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE |
| Remove smoke, chemical fumes, and odors | EFFECTIVE | SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE |
| Air cleaning coverage | VARY | HIGH |
| Requires additional vacuuming | NO | YES |
| Filter maintenance cost | HIGH | NIL |
| Generate ozone byproducts | NO | VERY LOW |
| Design and sizes | PLENTIFUL | LIMITED |
What Are HEPA Air Purifiers And How Do They Work?
A standalone, mechanical air purifier that uses a fan to draw air into a multi-level filtration. The pass-through airborne pollutants will either be trapped in the dense, interwoven fibers of the HEPA filter or charcoal-based activated carbon filter. Finally, the air purifier pushes the filtered air back into the room, and the purification process will repeat to deal with any new impurities.
Excluding an ionizer, there are a few types of air purifiers in the market, mainly:
- HEPA air purifier
- Carbon air purifier
- UVGI
- PCO air purifier
- Air exchanger
Some air purifiers come with a combination of 2 or more technologies that can be useful in dealing with different types of air particles.
What Are Air Ionizers And How Do They Work?
Ionizer electrically charged millions of ions into the air to attach with harmful impurities. The increased atomic weight of the merged impurities will be too heavy to stay suspended in the air. The dirty particles will then fall and adhere to the room’s surface area, e.g. wall, bed, cabinet, wardrobe, and floor.
Ionizers are safe for home use. Do not confuse an ozone generator with an air ionizer. There are two common types of ionic air purifiers, mainly:
- Negative Ion Generator – Does not collect the dropped particles
- Electrostatic Precipitators – Comes with a collector plate or rod to collect the dropped particles
Final Thoughts
HEPA air purifiers use filters to capture particles. Ionizers use electricity. You can't go wrong with either one. Before purchasing one, assess what your requirement is. Do you value effectiveness or convenience more? Where do you intend to place the device? Is cost going to play a big role in the long run? Having all the answers above will ensure you are making the right decision. To help you get started, here are the best H13 HEPA air purifiers currently on sale. On the other end of the spectrum, here are our curated best ionic air purifiers.
