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If you thought the air outdoors was polluted, wait until you learn about how impure the air indoors is. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollutant levels can be up to five times higher than the pollutant levels outdoors.

Considering most Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, many turn to solutions to clean the air they breathe indoors. Air purifiers are small portable devices that work to filter out indoor impurities and odors. Here at JR.com we carry a wide selection of purifiers from manufacturers like Holmes, Delonghi, Honeywell, Power To Go, Panasonic, Bionaire, and more.

At home or at work, we spend most for our time in closed environments. Odors from cooking, pets, clothes and dust from stagnating air may influence the way we behave emotionally or respond biologically. Using an Air Purifier helps remove odors and, in many cases, actual pollutants that may adversely effect overall wellness.

Air Purifiers may use several filtering systems to attract and eliminate odors and microscopic particles from the air in your room. In fact, these particles are so small they are sometimes measured in microns, which is a fraction of the thickness of a human hair. Of these systems, HEPA (high efficiency particulate arresting) filtration claims to remove 99.97% of airborne particles (including pollen, mold spores, animal hair and dander, dust mites, bacteria, smoke). Ionization is an electrostatic filtration system that helps attract particles into the filtering mechanism. Carbon is used to help remove odors.

The scariest thing about air pollutants is that we usually cannot see them with the naked eye, so there is no way to try and avoid them when seen, or even know if they are there. However, we do know they exist. They come from a number of different sources: Pollen, dust, tobacco smoke particles, animal dander, mold spores, cooking odors, litter box odors, and other common household odors. Air purifiers that use a High-Efficiency Particulate-Arresting (HEPA) filter can normally eliminate up to 99.97% of microscopic particles. Here are some of the most common pollutants.

• Tobacco Smoke
  Repetitive research continues to demonstrate that the mere odor of tobacco may be involved in causing life-threatening respiratory disorders including emphysema and cancers. The presence of tobacco particles and smoke in your home may, indeed, foster long-term possibilities that reduce your life expectancy.
• Pollen
  Hay Fever is the result of being hypersensitive to Pollen and can cause extreme discomfort in your nasal and upper respiratory tracts. Pollen comes from trees, flowers and grasses and travel quickly throughout the air. Pollen levels are higher at certain times of the year and in particular areas. Briefly opening a window or opening a door can bring a relatively high concentration of pollen into your home.
• Animal Dander
  Chances are, if you're allergic to pets you won't have any and won't have to worry about hazardous pollutants they can leave behind. If the place you're in has had pets in the past, animal dander can remain in a place long after pets are gone. But if you do have pets, from dogs and cats to birds and hamsters, flakes from their skin, feathers and hair shed all over the place. Air purifiers can remove these impurities.
• Mold & Mildew
  Besides pollutants that come into our places from outdoors, there are hazardous particles that are created in our very own homes. Typically found in bathrooms and kitchens, mold and mildew are two types of bacteria and fungus that grow when it's warm and humid.
• Spores
  Certain fungi may be delicious in salads and soups. Developing fungal infections from spores can cause significant levels of discomfort and potential illnesses. Unlike bacteria, treatments against fungus may require greater lengths of time.

Air purifiers vary in size and cost according to how big a room you wish to use it in. They work with filters to eliminate pollutants and odors from your indoor air. Most air purifiers operate at several speeds and work to eliminate two things: actual impurities and odors. There are usually separate filters for both functions. Many air cleaners use a High-Efficiency Particulate-Arresting (HEPA) filter, which eliminates up to 99.97% of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. Cleaners may also use a CPZ (Activated Carbon) filter for the removal of gasses and odors, in addition to the HEPA filter system. Air purifiers filter the air entirely a certain number of times an hour in any given area. Filters are normally included with the sale of any cleaner and may last about 3-4 months depending on how often you use the purifier. Some models have a light indicator to let you know when the filters need to be changed.

Which air cleaner you get depends on the size of the place you'll be using it. It is crucial to accurately measure your room size so that your purifier can be effective. If you get a purifier made for a small room and use it in a large one, usefulness may be minimal. Most air purifiers have suggested room sizes. On average, air purifiers filter the entire air in a given room around five times an hour.

Every purifier has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for various particles. The higher the CADRs, the larger the room it may be used in and normally, the larger the device itself. These rates are usually 2/3 of the actual area of the room it will be used in. So for example, if your room is 12' x 10', look for a purifier with CADRs between 80-90. CADRs are listed according to common particles like Tobacco and Dust.

Like an air conditioner, air purifiers are most effective when used in closed rooms. Make sure that you measure the size of your room before making a purchase. When in use, close all doors and windows in a given room. Filters must be replaced when needed.