»  Air filter ratings: an explanation for the domestic user SummaryMERV rating systemMPR rating systemFPR rating system Most of today’s air purifiers use filtration mechanism to remove airborne pollutants from the air. A combination of filters is usually used to ensure that the filtered air is free from different contaminants. A pre-filter captures large airborne particles while a HEPA filter traps the small ones. Most filtration-type air purifiers that use HEPA technology are capable of capturing up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants. Furthermore, HEPA filters trap minute particles that are as small as 0.3 micron in diameter. Before you select a particular air filter for your air purifier, it is important that you understand what it is capable of trapping. The capability of an air filter is determined by its air filter rating. Whereas some filters are capable of capturing only two or three types of airborne contaminants, others can remove a wide variety of airborne particles.

The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, the Microparticle Performance Rating and the Filter Performance Rating are the most commonly used air filter rating systems. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (abbreviated MERV) rating system was created by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The MERV rating system is used by industries internationally and it rates a filter’s capability to trap and hold airborne particles and pollutants. To start with, an air filter that is rated MERV 6 is capable of capturing household dust, lint, and pollen. A MERV 8 air filter is capable of capturing household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, and dust mites. A MERV 11 air filter is capable of trapping household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, smog, pet dander, and cough. Lastly, a MERV 11 air filter is capable of trapping a wide variety of airborne contaminants including household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, smog, pet dander, cough, viruses, and bacteria.

The Microparticle Performance Rating (abbreviated MPR) system was created by 3M. air duct uv air purifierThis system rates a filter’s capability to trap airborne particles that are smaller than one micron. furnace electronic air cleaner maintenanceAn MPR 300 filter is capable of capturing household dust, lint, and pollen.air purifiers as seen on tv An MPR 600 air filter is capable of capturing household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, and dust mites. An MPR 1000 air filter is capable of trapping household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, smog, pet dander, and cough. Lastly, an MPR 1900 air filter is capable of trapping a wide variety of airborne contaminants including household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, smog, pet dander, cough, viruses, and bacteria.

The Filter Performance Rating (abbreviated FPR), was developed by the Home Depot. This rating system is used by Home Depot to rate brands that they sell. This rating system uses a number scale and a color code. This system is similar in many ways to the MERV system. An FPR5 air filter is capable of capturing household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, and dust mites. An FPR7 1000 air filter is capable of trapping household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, smog, pet dander, and cough. Lastly, an FPR10 air filter is capable of trapping a wide variety of airborne contaminants including household dust, lint, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, smog, pet dander, cough, viruses, and bacteria. You might also like... :PressTestimonialsBlogThese plants are doing fantastic now!!!  All 20 of them.  It really matters that only plants with a mature rootball be used!  This makes the transformation from soil to water a lot easier on the plant.  Karen in correct in the assumption “to ignore-they do better!”  

Now, when I walk through the doors of Glasforms, Inc.  There is no longer a strong odor of styrene.  Each building now has purifiers in each office and lobby area.  These plants are a beautiful addition to these rooms and they make a nice first impression to Glasforms, Inc. - Betty BassThe Plant Air Purifier has significantly reduced the smell of styrene and other manufacturing chemicals in my office.  You can notice a difference when walking into my office in the morning compared to the rest of the building.  The styrene smell is not as strong, my eyes burn less, my nose runs less and I cough a lot less in my office.  When I am in other offices in the building those symptoms exist.  It is comforting to know that this one little plant system can make a difference in making my work environment safer and healthier to breathe all day. - Breanne Lemons, Glasforms, Inc.When I first received the Plant Air Purifier, it was hard to imagine that it could clean the air as well as the company said it would.  

But by a great stroke of luck, the planter arrived here in Arizona a couple of months before some of the worst dust storms in the state's history.  So that turned out to be a really good test of the unit.  At the beginning of the many days of swirling dirt and dust, I awakened coughing and sneezing, and my sinuses hurt.  I was not ill, there is no mold in our home, and we do not use any harsh chemicals or detergents.  My respiratory problems were solely due to the dust storms.  I was severely affected, even when indoors with all the windows closed.Results from the Purifier were astounding.  After running it for only about three hours, already the air felt cleaner and I was no longer coughing or sneezing.  The unit was run for 6 to 8 hours a day for as long as the dust storms continued.  It continues to be run because our super-powered plant makes such a difference in how I feel.  The air is not only cleaner, but our house has the feeling of a clear day, when you breathe in the feshest air possible.  

The benefits of the Plant Air Purifier are indisputable, and I enthusiastically recommend it to everyone who wants a better quality of air in their home.  - Nenah Sylver, PhD, International speaker on electromedicine, Author The Rife Handbook of Frequency Therapy and Holistic Health and The Holistic Handbook of Sauna TherapyThe day before [my grand opening] the floors got waxed and I am very sensitive to the smell.  With all the commotion of the opening and new planter I forgot about the smell and figured it had dissipated by then.  Well, the day after the opening I came in to find the smell of the wax was still there and the planter had gone off since it ran out of water.  Wow I know this really works!  The smell went away quickly and is now gone.  I feel so good in there and the woman who works there two days a week never complains of being tired when she goes home which she normally does complain about often. - Vicki Sue, New Paltz, NYWe have a test planter in our house and it works great.  

I have had a respiratory problem ever since we've moved into our house.  (I think it is something in the rug.)  We placed a test planter in our house to clean the air and I have not had any breathing problems since.We also put it in a bedroom we just painted, because we didn't want the clildren to sleep in the room and within two hours it completely removed all the paint odor in the air.  This product truly is amazing!!!!!!!! - Edward Shuman, Port Ewen, NYIt has been a month and a half since the initial planting of my Snake Plant into the PlantAir Planter, and it is doing great, actually looks better and seems happier than when I first got it.  It has made a remarkable difference in the air in the house too, even my dogs love it!  ♥ - Lynn Byer, Kingston, NY"After about two weeks of transplanting my rubber plant, I clearly sensed a different, fresher smell to the air in my apartment. I also had far less problems with my allergies this spring - the only difference was my new Plan Air Purifier.