If you are looking for how to choose the best air purifier for your home, then you should read this entire blog.
Clean air is an essential element of everyday life. It affects our lungs, blood circulation, heart, and overall physical health. But the air in your home may be dirtier than you think. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, concentrations of certain pollutants are typically two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
The best way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate the source of the problem, such as keeping pets out of bedrooms or not allowing smokers inside. Also, ventilate your home with fresh, clean outdoor air by opening windows. If none of the above solutions do the trick (or if it’s not enough), consider a room air purifier.
Who needs an air purifier?
Portable room air purifiers are designed to filter the air in a single room. They are different from air filtration systems and whole-house air filters, which are integrated into the home’s HVAC system and designed to filter air throughout the home. Think of a room air purifier as an additional device, like a radiator in a whole-house heating system, says Misha Kollontai, who oversees air purifier testing at Consumer Reports. Even if your house seems warm enough, you may have a particularly drafty room with old, poorly sealed windows. Placing a radiator there will make the room more comfortable. Likewise, he says, a whole-house system would work by filtering all the air that passes through it through the HVAC system. But if you sit next to the fireplace in your living room for long periods, purifying the air in the room might not be a bad idea. An air purifier in the room may also be valuable, such as in the bedroom if you sleep with your pet.
What is an air purifier used for?
Air purifiers only remove allergens when they are suspended in the air. Once they settle to the ground (usually happens with heavier particles, like large pieces of dust and pollen), you’ll need a vacuum cleaner. Studies of room air purifiers show the use of HEPA filters (very fine mesh filters, certified to capture 99.97% of particles of a certain hard-to-capture size (0 diameter .3 micrometer)) can be very effective in removing many types of dirt. most polluting particles. common household stimulants. These include small virus droplets, particles (such as those from cigarette smoke and wood burning), pet dander, dust, and dust mites. For more details, check out our article on exactly what air purifiers can capture.
Types of air purifiers Different air purifiers operate using different technologies. A few are useful. Others are ineffective or even potentially harmful to your health.
Mechanical filters: These purifiers use fans to force air through a dense network of fine fibers to trap particles. Very fine mesh filters are called HEPA filters. Although they work on microscopic particles, they can also remove larger particles (including dust, pollen, and some mold spores) as they become airborne. Mechanical filters are not helpful with gases or odors. And they can be expensive to maintain. Mechanical filters should be replaced every six to 12 months; they can cost over $200 per filter but usually don’t cost more than $80.
Activated carbon filters: Unlike mechanical filters, these filters use activated carbon to capture certain gases, including certain odor-causing molecules. However, they are not particularly effective against formaldehyde, ammonia, or nitrogen oxides. Since activated carbon filters do not protect against particles, many air purifiers will have both an activated carbon filter and a mechanical filter. However, activated carbon filters become saturated faster than mechanical filters and must be replaced more frequently, every three months, compared to every six to 12 months for mechanical filters. Be sure to budget for the right replacement: activated carbon filters typically cost up to $50 each.
Ozone generators: These machines produce ozone, a molecule that can react with certain pollutants to change their chemical composition. This can lead to unsafe indoor air quality, and CR does not recommend the use of these types of air purifiers. Ozone generator manufacturers often claim that their devices emit safe levels of ozone, but our tests have previously shown that even at low settings, some ozone generators quickly exceed the 0.05 parts per million limit set by the Food and Drug Administration for medical devices. Additionally, studies reviewed by the EPA have shown that low concentrations of ozone, the main ingredient in smog, do not effectively destroy indoor pollutants.
Research has also shown that ozone is associated with reduced lung function and increased risk of throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and lung tissue inflammation. Exposure to ozone can also worsen asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. Electrostatic ionization and precipitation devices: In these electronic models, particles in the air become charged so that they stick, like magnets, to machine panels or nearby surfaces. CR generally does not test or recommend the use of electronic air purifiers because they can produce ozone.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI):
Some manufacturers claim that their air purifiers kill viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores in the air using UV light. But they may miss some UV-resistant bacteria and mold spores. To work, the UV light must be strong enough and the exposure time must last long enough (minutes to hours, instead of the few seconds typical of most UVGI air purifiers) to be effective. CR does not test UVGI technology, although some mechanical air purifiers we test may have this additional feature.
Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO):
Some air purifiers use ultraviolet radiation and a photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide, to generate hydroxyl radicals that oxidize gaseous pollutants. Depending on the contaminant, this reaction can produce harmful byproducts, such as ozone, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. CR does not currently test air purifiers with PCO technology. There have been few field studies exploring the effectiveness of PCO air purifiers, but a laboratory study conducted by researchers at Syracuse University in New York reported that these devices do not effectively remove VOCs commonly found in indoor air.
Photoelectrochemical Oxidation (PECO):
This PCO variant was created by the manufacturer Molekule in 2017. Molekule air purifiers did not perform well in our dust, smoke, and pollen removal tests. Since then, we’ve also tested the more expensive Molekule Air Pro, which removed pollutants better at its highest setting but failed to impress in CR’s other air purifier testing categories. and also did not perform well in our CR member survey.
The best tips for choosing an air purifier are:
Choose an air purifier suitable for your room area:
The first step to filtering an air purifier (no pun intended) is determining how much space you want your device to clean. Small desktop units are ineffective in large living spaces, while larger, sturdier air purifiers may be overkill in your child’s bedroom. One way to find the best solution is to look at “air changes per hour.”. This metric may be included in your air purifier specifications. This can help you understand how filtration works in practice, as a smaller air purifier might change the air in a 350-square-foot room eight times per hour but will only do it four times. air changes per hour in a 700-square-foot room.
Types of pollutants filtered by air purifiers:
Some air purifiers filter certain types of pollutants better than others. For example, if your main concern is cigarette smoke, you may need a different device than someone who lives with multiple pets. Air purifiers are rated based on their effectiveness in filtering pollutants of different sizes. Although most air purifiers are similar, some are slightly more effective at capturing dust and dander than fumes (or vice versa).
What does an air purifier’s CADR rating mean?
Most air purifiers have a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) number, a metric developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to help consumers understand how effective they are. of the device in filtering different particles in a specific room size. For example, a CADR of 200 for pollen means that the air purifier can reduce pollen concentrations to the equivalent of adding 200 cubic feet of fresh air per minute. In general, the higher the number, the faster it can remove particles, and the larger the room, the more the device can reasonably clean.
Types of filters used by air purifiers The air purifiers we recommend use mechanical filtration, meaning their filters physically trap pollutants that pass through them. Your air purifier probably has at least two of these filters: a pre-filter to filter out large particles like pet hair, and a main filter to filter out smaller pollutants. There is not much difference between the pre-filters. Some are washable (or vacuumable), while others are disposable. The latter may cost you a little more in the long run, but otherwise, there’s not much to compare.
What noise does an air purifier make?
Most air purifiers have an internal fan that draws air through a series of filters. Some of these fans barely work, especially at low settings. Others make a buzzing sound when you turn them on. For example, if you use an air purifier in your bedroom or nursery, you may want to choose a relatively quiet device, even at higher speeds. You’ll find the range of noise levels measured in decibels in your device’s specifications. We’ve seen air purifiers, such as the Blueair Blue Pure 411, rated at just 17 dB (similar to the sound of leaves rustling). Others, like the Austin Air HealthMate HM400, can reach noise levels above 60 dB (similar to an air conditioner 100 feet away).
What is a portable air purifier like?
Some air purifiers are lighter and easier to carry than others. Smaller air purifiers sit on a table or shelf and are easily moved from room to room. Larger, heavier air purifiers are best kept stationary, although some have wheels for mobility. If you want to use your air purifier in your home office during the day, your living room in the evening, and your bedroom at night, look for a smaller unit or a rolling unit. As we mentioned, the size of an air purifier is loosely correlated to the size of the room it can effectively clean, so the best option for your child’s room probably won’t be. should be the right choice for a family room three or four times larger bigger.
Air purifier maintenance:
The initial cost of an air purifier is important if you have the budget, but don’t assume you’ll be done paying for the device once it’s installed in your home. You will need to periodically replace the filter on an ongoing basis. Filter replacement costs vary from machine to machine: some have very expensive filters that last many years, while others use cheap filters that need to be changed regularly.
Additionally, although some pre-filters are washable, the HEPA filter itself is disposable and needs to be completely replaced. Before purchasing an air purifier, calculate the annual maintenance cost and compare it to any other air filtration equipment you may be considering.
Additional features:
Some air purifiers have additional features, such as Filter replacement lamps Show dimming and disabling options Timer programming Remote control Smart functionality (digital assistant and/or app integration) These additional features can add to the convenience of an air purifier, but they don’t necessarily come at an additional cost.
For example, you can set filter change reminders based on your air purifier’s maintenance schedule, so you don’t need a filter change light. However, smart connectivity can be useful if it shows the difference the air purifier makes to the environment. Dyson models are famous for this.
This way, you can see the current air quality in much more detail. Our top air purifier pick, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty, includes many of these great features and is reasonably priced. But in general, we recommend prioritizing other factors if you’re worried about your budget.
The Bottom Line:
No air purifier is right for everyone. When shopping for an air purifier, always look at the CADR rating and filter type first to see how effective the air purifier will be for your specific needs. Once you have determined the air purifier that best filters common indoor pollutants and is sized for your space, evaluate secondary features such as noise level and portability. dynamic.