The 3M Filtrete Air Purifiers are a line of air filtering products which are designed to remove allergens and bacteria from the air. Although they are not designed to remove odors, by removing undesirable particles from the air, a certain amount of odor control may be created. The 3M company has launched a number of models under this line that are a variety of sizes depending on the air space your are trying to clean.

The manufacturer claims that its Filtrete air purifiers are 99.9% effective at capturing particles as small as 0.1 microns in size, such as pollen, mold spores, dust mites, pet dander and bacteria. The largest model has the ability to clean rooms as big as 350 square feet and has a sensor which monitors the life of the filter, displaying a warning signal as the filter gets old and needs to be replaced. The 3M Filtrete Air Purifier works better then a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air purifier by providing 30% more air circulation and a 41% higher pollen capture rate.http://www.filtrete.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/FiltreteUS/Filtrete/?WT.mc_id=www.filtrete.com

3M recommends replacing the filters approximately every 3 months. Some homes may need filter replacements more often if smokers or pets live in the home, or if an inordinate amount of dust or debris was created in the home. The manufacturer boasts that its filters will not support the growth of mold or bacteria within the unit.http://www.filtrete.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/FiltreteUS/Filtrete/Resources/Faq/#a1

As of 2010, 3M Filtrete offers the folllowing models of air purifiers:

• FAP03 - Ultra Clean Air Purifier

This large model of purifier is designed to cover a room that is up to 350 square feet.

• FAP02 - Ultra Clean Air Purifier

This small model of purifier is designed to cover a room that is up to 160 square feet.

• FAP01 - Ultra Quiet Air Purifier

This quiet model of purifier is designed to cover a room that is up to 110 square feet.

• FAP00 - Ultra Quiet Small Bedroom Air Purifier

This small, quiet model of purifier is designed for bedrooms that are up to 100 square feet.

Each model requires the purchase of replacement air filters.