How to choose the best air purifier

Many air purifiers are a portable machine that senses, captures, and traps unwanted airborne particles from a room. Cleaned and purified air is then projected back into the room. This filtration process occurs continuously while the air purifier is in use to improve indoor air quality.

Indoor air pollution comes from several sources around your home. Cleaning products and candles can emit benzene and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carpets, rugs, and flooring can emit formaldehyde. Gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide while in use, and household fumes, cooking, and smoking release odors into the air. 

If you have pets, they can release common allergens like dander, and they can bring in pollen from the outside. Dust, dust mites, bacteria, and mold spores are other common allergy triggers that can be found in the air at home. 

Air purifiers work to trap and contain these common sources of air pollution in a single room. Because they’re portable, air purifiers can be moved to different rooms during the day and night, or you can set up multiple air purifiers throughout your home.

According to the EPA, your air purifier should be able to process the air in your room five times per hour. Examine the manufacturer’s recommended room size for their air purifier options to find one that will work for your space. 

Another guideline for choosing an air purifier is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). These ratings provide you with information on how quickly the air purifier removes pollutants like dust, smoke, and pollen from one cubic foot of air in one minute. Air purifiers with higher ratings can purify the air in larger spaces more frequently per hour.

Air purifiers are made with different types of filters. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters remove allergens like dust, dander, and pollen from the air inside. HEPA air purifiers remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Charcoal and active carbon filters help to remove odors from the air by trapping and sealing in smoke, cooking gases, and VOCs. Air purifiers with both HEPA filtration and active carbon or charcoal filtration remove both pollutants and odors from the air at home.

When it comes to choosing the best air purifier for your needs and your home, there are some considerations to keep in mind that will help you decide.

One of the most common reasons people purchase air purifiers is because of their allergies. Many common allergens are airborne, and an air purifier traps and removes those allergens to provide cleaner air to breathe when you’re indoors. When choosing the best home air purifier for your needs, it’s helpful to research what sort of allergens it can capture. Opting for an air purifier with a HEPA filter will ensure that common allergens are captured, and you’ll have peace of mind that you’re breathing cleaner air.

Another consideration when choosing the best air purifier for your home is the size of the room where it will be. You’ll need to determine whether you need a small or large room air purifier. If the machine will be placed in a bedroom or office, a small or medium-sized machine will work. If you’ll be using your air purifier in a large living room or open concept living area, you’ll need a machine that can project purified air throughout the whole space. 

For the best results, your air purifier should run continuously. If you plan to run your air purifier regularly, consider the noise level at the highest and lowest speeds. According to CNN, an air purifier that runs on the highest speed with a volume over 50 decibels could make it difficult to have a conversation. A volume of less than 30 decibels will allow you to sleep peacefully. If you plan to have an air purifier in your bedroom, consider one that offers night mode.

Some air purifiers serve just one purpose: to purify indoor air. Other machines offer additional benefits such as cooling, humidifying, and heating. When choosing the best air purifier for your needs, you’ll want to determine if you simply want the air cleaned or if you’d like to be able to cool or heat the room or humidify the air as well.

Another consideration to keep in mind when shopping for an air purifier is whether there are smokers in your home. Like with allergies, certain air purifiers can remove smoke from the air. An air purifier with a charcoal or active carbon filter can help to remove the smell of smoke from the room and provide cleaner air.

Wildfires affect outdoor air quality as wildfire smoke is made of gases, fine particles, and pollutants like VOCs, nitrogen dioxide, and benzene. Wildfires can also negatively impact indoor air quality as outdoor air comes inside through open doors and windows. If you live in an area that experiences wildfire season, opt for a HEPA air purifier that traps and seals in gases and fine particle pollution and filters purified air into the room.

Some air purifiers connect to an app from the manufacturer. These apps allow you to control your machine from your smart device. They also provide updates and reports on air quality and alert you when your machine needs maintenance or a filter replacement. 

Now that you’ve thought through the different considerations, you’re ready to shop for the best air purifier to meet your needs and help clean the air at home.