Your Helpful Guide to Understanding Particle Size & Air Purifiers

You invest in an air purifier to protect yourself and others from harmful particles floating around indoors. But did you know those dangerous pollutants come in different shapes and sizes? You’re probably purchasing an air purifier for a specific reason, like allergies. You want the air purifier you choose to actually trap the most common allergens, right?

How do you know? By understanding if a particular air filter captures pollen or dander and helps relieve your allergy symptoms! It may seem like a dry topic, but we want to help guide your understanding of air purifiers, so you can make the right purchase for your specific needs.Indoor air pollution is a real health concern. As more people look for solutions at home or work, you can rely on FilterQueen for reliable insight. We’re ready to help you make informed decisions when it’s time to buy an air purifier.

Today, we’re discussing why particle size is important and how it’s measured, with a few common household examples. We’ll also cover how our flagship air purifier beats out the competition and captures the tiniest of toxins.

What are we talking about when we say particles? Think pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, chemicals from cleaning products, and cooking fumes. So many other things also add pollutants to our indoor space, like the flu or COVID.Microscopic toxins linger in the air — with proven negative health effects. A high-quality air  purifier will pull these particles from the air and trap them. The size of particles that get trapped depends on the filter itself and how it functions.Each type of airborne particle varies in size. Pet dander and oil molecules from cooking on your stove aren’t the same, so it’s like comparing apples to oranges. (Not so simple, right?) That’s why experts created a system to standardize size measurements.

It’s honestly an extremely complicated, techy process, so we’ll spare you details. Try this basic analogy; Imagine different particles in a container with a light shining on them. The “measurement” that’s taken is how much light is blocked by each different particle. So the amount of light that gets through is the measurement.This number is then converted into a unit called a micron (µm).

Since we’re in the business of clean air, microns are our favorite unit of measurement. Understanding microns is crucial in comprehending how air purifiers work and assuring you invest in the best one for your home or office.

The oldest (80+years) industry standard is known as HEPA–high-efficiency particulate air (filter). These filters remove 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns.¹Knowing particle sizes gives you vital information when looking for the right air purifier for your needs. Let’s look at some common air pollutants and their size ranges:

5-200 microns. 

15-200 microns

0.5-100 microns

10-30 microns

0.125 microns

That’s why particle size is an important part of your decision-making process in buying an air purifier. If you’re sensitive to mold spores – you’ll want something that eliminates the right size particle. Or if you’re looking to protect a high-risk loved one from common viruses and bacteria – you’ll need an even more powerful filter to trap the smallest germs.

Air purifiers move indoor air through special filters and cartridges that trap microscopic harmful particles. Once trapped, they stay inside the filter, so the air returning to your indoor space is free from all those unhealthy pollutants.

Air purifiers can improve indoor air quality and reduce negative health effects.²   Circulating indoor air is important so that what’s lingering doesn’t just stay there and build up over time. The EPA states two of the most useful ways to improve indoor air quality are ventilation and air purifiers.³

At FilterQueen a “good” air purifier just isn’t good enough. That’s why our air purifier is three times better-than-HEPA standard so the air in your home or office is the best that it can be.

If you didn’t catch it earlier, HEPA filters trap 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 µm. The Defender provides 99.99% removal of harmful toxins and down to 0.1 µm — making it three times better than the old HEPA standard for air filters.Indoor air quality became even more noteworthy with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. People are looking to protect themselves and loved ones from airborne bacteria and viruses.FilterQueen submitted the Defender to independent testing against SARS-CoV-2, in November of 2021. It was checked by using the CDC-recommended MS2 Bacteriophage testing process to verify it meets the capture requirements set by the FDA Guidelines. The test results verified that the Defender eliminates 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2 virus from the air and destroys it.

• Removes 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 micron
• Lightweight and Portable 
• FDA-cleared Class II Medical Device for Removal of Bacteria and Viruses
• Eliminates and Destroys SARS-CoV-2 Virus
• Quiet
• Safe 24-hour Run Time
• Filters in Rooms Up to 700 sq. ft.
• Sleek, Modern Design

At FilterQueen, we stand by our products and are confident that the Defender is the best air purifier on the market. Whatever reason you’re looking to invest in an air purifier — the Defender has you covered.

Sources:

1. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4587002/
3. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home

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