Monday, March 2, 2009

Using Portable Air Purifiers For The Car Or Boat

By Chris Channing

Having an air purifier in the home is a great way to keep the whole family safe from things such as harmful spores, mold, bacteria, or allergens such as pollen or dust. One can even have pets while being allergic to pet dander with the right purifier and control. Because of such benefits, portable air purifiers have been increasing in sales.

Portable air purifiers may sound like they would have less power, but this isn't the case. Such purifiers are easily plugged into a cigarette lighter or outlet, meaning they will have access to the power needed to purify air on a moderate scale. Amazingly enough, manufacturers are able to get such portable models under five pounds in total weight: about half as much as a regular home air purifier.

Getting dust and allergens out of the air is important, but so too is the task of removing harmful bacteria and other organisms. To kill such organisms and still remain relatively small, portable air purifiers will make use of ultraviolet lights to disrupt DNA of the organisms. In doing so, we render the organism unable to reproduce or disable it permanently.

The space in which a purifier can effectively clean is important. For instance, a smaller hand-held model may only be good for a compact car. A larger vehicle such as a Hummer or limousine will require the use of a bigger model. There are several variations in the the portable air purifier market to take advantage of- each carrying their own price and options.

Small to medium sized boats usually do well with a portable air purifier, but don't be afraid to spend a bit more for a stationary model if the boat is larger than a few compartments. Some stationary models are built specially for boat owners: with options to latch the device down to a wall or to the floor to prevent toppling or otherwise damaging the unit while experiencing the movements of the boat on water.

If you would like to use your home purifier in your car by means of outlet, be very cautious. The wattage rating for portable purifiers are purposely set at lower wattage ratings so that the vehicle's fuse isn't blown as a result of drawing too much current. The average purifier built for the car will be around eight watts, while a standalone system will typically be 70 watts or more.

Closing Comments

An air purifier for the car or boat is always a sound investment. In addition to the general upkeep of your portable model, also consider the filter upkeep that is necessary for the unit to do its job effectively. Consult the user manual for more information on when to change filters, and to get a general idea on what upkeep costs will be. - 16004

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