Air cleaners may be whole-house filtration systems or portable devices designed to remove odors and particles from the air. Air cleaning is one of several strategies one can use to improve home air quality. Eliminating sources of pollution and increasing ventilation are two other effective ways to reduce indoor air pollution. Before purchasing an air cleaner, you should consider whether indoor pollution can be effectively controlled by either or both of these means.
Air is drawn through a filter that collects dust and particulates.
A common furnace filter works this way. These devices use two charged metal plates to generate an electrical field. As air is drawn through the device, charged particles are collected on the plates. These devices act by charging particles in the air so that they are attracted to floors, drapes, walls and other room surfaces. Some air cleaners may use more than one of these methods to increase the range of particles that may be collected.