Like mechanical filters, most electronic air cleaners can be purchased as portable units with fans or can be installed easily in your home's existing ductwork. The simplest type of electronic air cleaner is the negative-ion generator or ionizer, which uses static charge to remove particles from indoor air. The units charge particles in a room, and the charged particles are attracted to solid surfaces such as walls, floors, tabletops, draperies, and even people. Some units come equipped with a collector plate that draws the charged particles back to the unit.
Ionizer units are available in portable models only.
Electrostatic Precipitators Electrostatic precipitators are the most common air cleaners used. The units are particularly effective when placed in your home's ductwork. Ozone is a toxic gas and a component of smog with no known beneficial health effects. Other models, however, are specifically designed to produce ozone as a method of cleaning the air. These units produce high levels of ozone and are not recommended by some experts.