Getting an air purifier for your home can be very confusing. With so many different brands to choose from and the different types of air purification systems it can almost drive you crazy trying to get one that is any good, if any of them are.

Do we really need an air purifier anyway? Is the air in our homes really that bad? Haven't we been breathing the same air since the beginning of time? Even before there ever were air purification systems? What has changed to make air purifiers necessary?

All of these questions are enough to give us more of a headache than any bad air we are breathing. With the industrial revolution and all the pollution that is sent into our atmosphere by factories, the truth is, the air is not as clean as it used to be. Take a drive to an industrial are and take a deep breath. There will be no doubt in your mind that the air is downright disgusting.

Let's take a look at some of the different types of purifiers.

The main types of systems are HEPA Filter Systems, which draw the air through the filter and then clean it. Ozone Air Purifiers, work by generating more ozone molecules in the air. Ionic air purifiers work by negatively charging the air particles in the room. Electrostatic precipitators work by using positive and negative charges to collect particles and electrostatic filters which work by creating a static charge which attracts and collects particles in the air. An ionic system requires that you regularly maintain the machine by washing the filter inside it often. Some ionic air purifiers contain filters that require replacement from time to time. Others possess what is referred to as an ionic system.

The ionic purifier works by producing negative ions that go into the air and attach themselves to dust particles, bacteria, and other pollutants. These include HEPA Filters, ionic air filters, and even the filters that you put in your central air conditioning system.

When looking around for filters you will come across special air purifiers like the Ionic Breeze and the Orec XL home air purifier. This includes market leaders Ionic Breeze, Oreck, and Friedrich C90, as well as a whole range of filterless air purifier wannabees. Ionic air purifiers also help filter out bad odors, smoke, pollen and even viruses from the air. Great for people with annoying allergies.

Ionic filters are excellent for removing dust and other pollutants from the air. The same logic applies to ionic air purifiers, which release charged particles into the air. Ionic air purifiers work by sending out negatively charged ions into the air of your home.

Some ionic air purifiers have fans and others don't. Many of these, such as the popular Sharper Image Ionic Air Purifier can clean good size of space, usually enough for one or two rooms.

So to sum up, you really can't go wrong with an ionic air purifier. You will find you may sleep better and your allergies may even improve or in fact disappear.