Do you want better indoor air quality?

Are you considering buying an air purifier for the first time?

Or do you want to switch your current air purifier for a different style?

If any of those questions ring true, you’re probably asking yourself, “Should I use an ionizer?” If you’re not sure, then this post is for you.

We’ll tell you when you should and shouldn’t use an ionizer to get the best results at home.

First, What is an Ionizer?

Before you decide if you should get an ionizer or not, it’s important for you to understand what does an ionizer do to the air. An Ionizer is a type of air purifier that uses electrical charges to trap airborne contaminants. They’re excellent for getting rid of common indoor pollutants as well as odors, and they’re popular because of their low maintenance costs.

To get clean air, all you have to do is simply switch your ionizer on and let it run. It’ll either attract the contaminants to a set of charged plates and hold them there until you wash the plates clean, or it’ll release negative ions into your home to weigh down the contaminants and force them out of the air.

As you can, ionizers work much differently than standard air purifiers that use paper filters to clean the air. However, ionizers are still a great method for removing contaminants from the air so they won’t be in your direct air path to breathe in which improves the quality of your indoor air.

Now, that all probably sounds really great but should you really get an ionizer or not? We’ll answer that next.

You Should Get an Ionizer If…

You’re Concerned About Smokey Odors – Ionizers change the structure of the contaminants that pass through the electrical fields when it charges them. This charge can result in a reduction or complete removal of any smokey smell.
You Want a Quieter Device – There are no fans or motors with this type of air purifier, and this means that they’re super quiet. You could put them in your bedroom and not worry about excess noise keeping you awake.
You Want a More Economical Way to Clean Your Home’s Air – Air purifiers that use physical filters require occasional filter changes to keep them running in top shape. This means that pay for continual maintenance. With an ionizer, all you have to do is wipe the plates clean if it comes with them or just leave it alone if it sends out negatively charged ions. There is no cost for maintenance upkeep.

To find top quality products of this kind, see our best filterless air purifier page.

You Shouldn’t Get an Ionizer If…

You Have Sever Allergies or Asthma – Since ionic air purifiers have limits to what particles they can and can’t remove from the air, a HEPA air purifier is better for people with respiratory issues because it catches 99.97 percent of airborne pollutants.
You Need to Get Rid of Lots of Dust or Pet Dander – Negative ions or particle charging isn’t the most effective for dust or pet dander. These particles tend to come in large quantities and it can be hard for an ionizer to keep up with them over long periods of time.
You’re Worried About the Ozone Output – Some ionic air purifiers can produce trace amounts of ozone when they run. This can contribute to your indoor air pollution, and it can irritate your throat and lungs. Check the manufacturer’s specifications to see if you need to worry about this or not.

Hopefully, you now have a better handle of the question, “Should I use an ionizer?” We’ve outlined several reasons for when you should and shouldn’t use this type of air purifier, and now you’re free to compare different purifiers and find the one that’s going to work best for your situation.