UV Air Purifiers

The jury is still out on UV air purifiers

The Alen A375UV (*Est. $600) is similar to the Alen A350 (*Est. $400), included in our Best Reviewed section, with the addition of two UV lamps. Air-Purifiers-America.com gives both the Alen A375UV and the Alen A350 their second-highest rating, saying they perform as well as the more expensive IQAir HealthPro in dust and pollen removal. The Alen A375UV covers an area of 800 square feet. Twice annual filter (*est. $60) and annual UV bulb (*est. $60) replacement brings the maintenance cost to a moderate $180 a year.

One of Alen's newest air purifiers, the Alen Paralda (*Est. $500), features a HEPA Filter with an ozone-safe ionizer, as well as a UV lamp. Replacement filters (*est. $50 each) are inexpensive compared to the price of most other brands. The filter should be replaced every six to nine months, however. At Air-Purifiers-America.com, the Paralda is rated even higher than the Alen A375UV and A350 models. This eco-friendly air purifier is the very first to be rated as RoHS-compliant. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations are European laws which ban the use of substances such as lead in new electrical equipment, making it safer for the environment. The Paralda also complies with Energy Star regulations and comes with Alen's lifetime warranty. 1GreenProduct.com, a website that reviews the best green products on the market, gives the Paralda high marks, but their reviews are based on how eco-friendly and energy efficient products are rather than on performance. It does appear that the reviewer tested the Paralda however. According to this reviewer, the Paralda's touchpad is complicated to use and the unit is noisy on middle and high speeds.

The problem with UV air purifiers, or combination units that include UV light bulbs, is that the science isn't conclusive. While studies do show that UV light can kill organic allergens, heat, low humidity and exposure time are also important. Critics doubt that the UV light bulbs contained in air purifiers can live up to their claims, because allergens aren't exposed for very long to the light. For now, it's not clear whether these air purifiers are worth the extra expense over a good performing HEPA unit.