No matter how much time you spend cleaning your home, even if you clean it every single day, the sad truth is that the air would always have dust in it. This is due to the fact that dust gets through literally everywhere. Just consider how many dust particles are going to enter your home once you open the door. The best home air purifiers are specifically designated to get rid of those particles and let you enjoy dust-free air. Furthermore, polluted air might cause people that have developed some sort of lung problems to breathe harder.
Nevertheless, selecting the right air purifier is not an easy endeavor. There are so many different things that you would have to take into consideration. This is the exact reason for which we have compiled this list of the best air purifier reviews for 2021 in order to make it easier for you to choose.
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Top Rated Air Purifiers in 2021
- Honeywell 50250-S
- Type: HEPA
- Capacity: up to 390 square feet
- Removes: 99.97 percent of common airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, airborne particles, viruses and bacteria
- Other features: 360-degree airflow, 3 speeds, carbon pre-filter, filter life indicator
- Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 19
- Rabbit Air MinusA2
- Type: BioGS HEPA filtration
- Capacity: up to 700 square feet
- Removes: Pet Allergy, Germ Defense, Toxin Absorber, and Odor Remover filter options
- Other features: six stages of purification and deodorization
- Dimensions: 21.4 x 20.25 x 7
- Blueair Blue Pure 121
- Type: pre-filter, HEPASilent filtration, particle filter, carbon layer
- Capacity: up to 620 square feet
- Removes: 99.97% of harmful particles down to PM 2.5 in size
- Other features: 5 air changes per hour, Energy Star certified, 360 degrees air intake
- Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 28.4
- Coway AP-1512HH
- Type: True HEPA and Eco
- Capacity: up to 326 square feet
- Removes: 99.97 percent of common airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns
- Other features: 4 stage filtration, air quality indicator, automatically adjusts the airflow, Filter Change Indicator
- Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 18
- GermGuardian AC5000E
- Type: True HEPA with UV Sanitizer and Odor Reduction
- Capacity: large rooms
- Removes: 99.97% of airborne allergens, down to .3 microns in size, airborne germs and bacteria, odors and smoke particles, airborne mold spores and other allergens
- Other features: Charcoal filter, UV-C light technology works with Titanium Dioxide, 3 speeds, Multiple layers of filtration in just one filter
- Dimensions: 6.1 x 9.5 x 27.25
- Whirlpool AP51030K
- Type: HEPA
- Capacity: up to 500 square feet
- Removes: True HEPA 0.3 micron filtration
- Other features: 4 Fan speeds, plus sleep and turbo modes
- Dimensions: 12.3 x 22.1 x 27.2
10 Best Air Purifiers Reviewed
Blueair Blue Pure 121 Air Purification System
This particular unit is one of the top rated air purifiers for allergies, smoke, and dust. The Swedish design would seamlessly fit with any décor type, blending in like a piece of furniture. Blueair Blue Pure 121 air purifier is suitable for spaces that are up to 620 square feet, so it’s perfect for larger rooms. Moreover, it has a clean air delivery rate of 350 cubic feet per minute.
The air purifier utilizes 3 stage filtration. It includes a pre-filter for catching larger particles, a HEPA Silent system that is capable of capturing 99.97 percent of the harmful particles down to about 0.1 microns in size, and a particle filter with a carbon layer, which remove airborne allergens and odors. This system has been evaluated by AHAM Verifide, showing performance with CADR of 400 CFM for smoke, dust, and pollen. The system outperforms many other similar priced air purifiers.
On top of this, the colored filter can be removed and washed. This washable pre-filter collects all the dust, so it’s very handy to be able to keep it fresh. Additionally, this pre-filter is available in different colors, so you can change the look of your air purifier by just purchasing a new filter.
The unit comes in a small size. It weighs only about 13 pounds and is 13 x 13 x 28.4 inches in size. However, it is significantly powerful for its rather small size. It’s also very efficient and has an Energy Star rating with an efficiency of 31-61W. Moreover, the air purifier is very quiet. The lowest speed is whisper quiet with a 32 dB noise rating.
The Blueair unit is also designed with a 360 degrees air intake. This eliminates the rules for strict placement rules since you can place it almost anywhere in any direction you want.
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Honeywell 50250-S Round Air Purifier
Being amongst the best room air purifiers in 2021 for dust and mold, Honeywell 50250-S is a round designed model that offers great services for larger rooms that are up to 390 square feet in size. The HEPA filter is capable of getting rid of 99.97 percent of the common airborne pollutants that are as small as 0.3 microns. The HEPA filter is made out of glass fiber which also contributes to the removal of airborne particles, viruses, and different bacteria.
It has 360-degree airflow, includes three different speeds, and a carbon pre-filter. This is a standard unit that requires a normal 120W plug in order to operate. The unit comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
This indoor air purifier is recommended by doctors due to the true HEPA filters it has. The CADR ratings are 250 for smoke, dust, and pollen. The filter has a carbon pre-filter that would easily capture the larger particles like dust or lint as well as fur. This reduces the common household odors and is truly a huge asset for this purifier. It could circulate the air in a significantly larger room up to 5 times an hour.
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Rabbit AirMinus A2 Ultra-Quiet Air Purifier
Rabbit Air Minus A2 air purifier comes in with a BioGS HEPA filtration system that has six different stages of purification as well as deodorization which certainly makes this unit one of the best air purifiers for home use. The room coverage of this indoor air purifier is about 700 square feet. The purifier comes in with a 5-year warranty that would cover the parts and the labor and ensures 24 hours seven days a week of technical support.
This particular Air Minus A2 model was surely built with a lot of versatility in mind. It is only seven inches in depth which makes it perfectly suitable for your personal style. Rabbit AirMinus A2 is really silent and it has a sleep mode that is specifically designated to ensure a peaceful sleep during the night without sacrificing performance.
The Rabbit unit weighs roughly around 23.4 pounds. The MinusA2 model is designed to accommodate a variety of allergies as well as sensitivities. The unit comes with filters customized for pet allergies, germ defense, toxin absorber as well as odor remover to ensure a wide range of coverage.
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Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
If you have ever wondered about what is the best air purifier for your home, Coway AP-1512HH model is probably one of the possible answers. This model might be compact in design, but its top notch features are specifically designated to keep the indoor air of your rooms clean. It has a HEPA filtration system that allows an efficiency rating of up to 99.97 percent. It operates on four stages that would eliminate pollutants as well as odors.
The fan of this compact air purifier is able to adjust the airflow when a specific pollutant is detected in the air. This provides a lot of security in terms of being sure that your air is always being watched over.
It has a clean air delivery rate of 210 and it is able to cover about 326 square feet of space. The Odor filter is capable of working for about 6 months, while the HEPA filter will last about a year. The unit comes with a 3-year limited warranty. It also has an air quality indicator that is intuitive and utilizes particle sensor technology that is capable of responding with a vivid color change.
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GermGuardian AC5000E Air Purifier System
This unit is undeniably one of the top air purifiers for smoke, dust, and odors that are perfectly suitable for satisfying the needs of your home. It comes with a TRUE HEPA filter that is able to capture 99.97% of the dust and allergens that are 0.3 microns small. Typical examples of such particles include household dust, pet dander, mold spores as well as plant pollens.
It has a charcoal filter that reduces the odors that pets generally exude as well as smoking and cooking smells. It also has a UV-C light technology that is working with titanium dioxide in order to eliminate airborne bacteria as well as viruses, germs, and mold spores.
A significant advantage is that only one single filter needs to be changed once every six to eight months. However, this depends on the usage of the product. The replacement filter is the C filter. Replacing it with a genuine GermGuardian product would ensure that the performance and maintenance are maintained. The unit is perfect for medium and large rooms as it is about 28 inches tall. It has a really quiet operation which ensures the overall calmness of the environment. It weighs approximately about 12.7 pounds which makes it a rather compact solution.
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Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier
This model has one of the highest home air purifier ratings. The unit offers the possibility to filter your air 4.8 times per hour in a room that is approximately about 500 square feet in size. It is quiet and easy to operate with and it utilizes electronic controls. The HEPA filter ensures that all particles with a size of about 0.3 microns are filtered correctly.
The unit has a clean air delivery rate of about 315 and features 4 fan speeds for further versatility as well as a sleep and turbo mode. While the turbo mode will guarantee fast filtration of the air, the sleep mode is there to ensure an economy regime that would definitely save you some money off of the electricity bill.
The unit comes in a 12.3 x 22.1 x 27.2 inches compact size and an approximate weight of about 23.4 pounds. The HEPA filtration system is there to provide absolutely maximum air filtration of the room. This will surely beneficially impact people with allergies and asthma symptoms.
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- Alen BreatheSmart
- Type: HEPA
- Removes: Particles 2.5 microns and larger at 99.8% and down to 0.3 microns and greater
- Capacity: 1,100 feet
- Other features: air quality indicator, Smart filter change indicator, Customizable filter options, Energy Star Certified, 4 speeds
- Dimensions: 26.75 x 17.75 x 10
- Holmes HAP242-NUC
- Type: HEPA
- Removes: up to 99% of airborne particles as small as 2 microns
- Capacity: 109 feet
- Other features: 3 speed settings, optional ionizer, Smoke CADR 70, Filter change indicator
- Dimensions: 14.8 x 11.4 x 7.2
- Honeywell 17000-S
- Type: HEPA
- Removes: 99.97 percent of common household airborne pollutants
- Capacity: 168 feet
- Other features: Soft-touch electronic controls with 3 speeds and indicator lights
- Dimensions: 16 x 13 x 17
- Honeywell HFD-010
- Type: permanent filter with built in ionizer
- Removes: 99% efficient at capturing a variety of harmful indoor particles
- Capacity: 110 feet
- Other features: Permanent, washable filter, 2 speeds
- Dimensions: 12 x 17 x 10
Alen BreatheSmart HEPA Air Purifier
If you had to make an adequate home air purifier comparison, you would definitely find out that Alen BreathSmart is particularly good. The indoor purifier comes with custom panels and air quality indicator for further convenience. It has customizable filter options to satisfy all of your needs and has a Smart filter change indicator that would properly allow you to know when you have to change the filter, thus ensuring accurate filtration.
This Alen air purifier is capable of removing particles that are 2.5 microns and larger at a 99.8 percent filtration rate and could absorb down to 0.3 microns sized particles. Alen BreathSmart is Energy Star certified and is fully capable of covering up to 1.100 square feet. It has a lifetime limited warranty for customers from the U.S.A.
The Alen unit comes with a unique style with a 7 designer panel colors and 4 different filter options which are specifically designated to accommodate your individual needs. The unit comes in a rather compact 10 x 17.8 x 26.8 inches size with a weight roughly about 21 pounds. Alen BreathSmart is originally designed for open and large concept rooms and is one of the most complete solutions for providing a proper air quality for every household.
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Holmes HAP242-NUC Small Air Purifier
This is one of the best affordable air purifiers for allergies out on the market recently. The HEPA filter of this particular compact air purifier is capable of removing up to 99% of the airborne particles that are as small as 2 microns from the air that is passing through the unit. It has three different speed settings that are designated to accommodate various needs as well as an optional ionizer that would assist in the particle removal process.
The unit has a slim dual positioning design that would allow you to place it vertically or horizontally in order to fully fit the space you have set aside for the home air purifier. It is recommended for rooms that are up to 109 square feet of area. It has a smoke clean air delivery rate of about 70.
The unit comes in a very compact 14.8 x 11.4 x 7.2 inches size and the light weight of about 6.7 pounds. It has a high-efficiency filtration system that would enable you to remove the airborne particles as well as allergens. The model also features a carbon filtration that would allow you to reduce unpleasant odors up to 44 percent. It also has a filter change indicator for higher convenience.
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Honeywell Long-Life Air Purifier
This is one amongst the best indoor air purifiers for dust and mold that you can find at a reasonably low price. It’s also a great air purifier for pets and allergies. It dramatically reduces the numerous allergens in the air as well as unpleasant odors and the pathogens you are used to breathing. The HEPA filter is capable of capturing up to 99.97 percent of the household airborne pollutants that are common for each and every household.
This compact air purifier features soft-touch electronic controls that have 3-speed settings as well as indicator lights. It has a permanent HEPA filter that is possible of being vacuumed. This would provide you with even more convenience. The unit is a 120V item and unfortunately, it can’t be used in regions that have a 220-240 voltage system.
The size of the unit is 15.8 x 13.1 x 17.1 inches and it only weighs about 13 pounds. The unit comes with a 5-year limited warranty. It is capable of filtering the air in a room that is as large as 168 square feet. It is also able to circulate the room’s air about six times in one hour.
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Honeywell HFD-010 Compact Air Purifier
If you are looking for a good air purifier for pets, then this is also one fo the top options to consider. With the clean air delivery rate of 40, this air purifier is truly amongst the best allergy air purifiers for small sized rooms. It has a whisper quiet operation and has 2-speed settings that would ensure efficient and beneficial performance. The air purifier has an attractive, slim and tower design that takes an insignificant amount of space, making it the perfect compact air purifier.
It has a permanent washable filter that would enable you to properly remove airborne allergens. The unit comes in a 12.6 x 17.8 x 10.5 inches size and only about 8.6 pounds in weight. This makes the unit extremely compact and space-saving.
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[table id=1 responsive=scroll /]What Is an Air Purifier? – What Do Air Purifiers Do?
An air purifier is a specifically designed device that aims to remove the contaminants from the air in a specific room. It is considered to be very beneficial to people who suffer from various allergies or have asthma or asthma symptoms. The most common indoor air purifiers are generally manufactured as small stand-alone devices or they could be produced as larger units that could be integrated into the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. The latter devices are common in some medical or industrial locations.
Typically the air purifiers utilize different techniques that are designated to properly remove the particles from the air.
- Thermodynamic sterilization – this includes heat sterilization with a ceramic core that is heated up to 200 degrees Celsius. It is established that about 99.9% of the household bacteria is incinerated.
- Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation – this particular sterilization method utilizes forced air to keep the air that passes through the UV lamps clear.
- Filter-based purification is the most common technique. It generally uses HEPA filters that are capable of removing up to 99.97% of the pollutant particles that flow through the air of your room.
- Polarized-media solutions use electronically enhanced media to mix up different elements of both electronic and mechanical filters.
- Ozone generators are specifically designated to produce ozone. However, the only safe usage of these particular indoor air purifiers is in unoccupied rooms, delivering the so-called “shock treatment” by producing over 3000 mg of ozone every hour.
- Ionizer purifiers – they use charged electrical surfaces to generate electrically charged air or gas ions that would attach to airborne particles that are then driven to the collector plate. It is a very technologically advanced and modern solution and some of the best office air purifier. This is technology is widely used in car air purifiers.
Common Household Air Pollutants
The simple truth is that no matter how much time you spend cleaning your house, there is always going to be dust or other air pollutants that seem to possess some supernatural properties. It is as if you have just dusted off those black shelves and immediately afterward the dust has appeared again.
This is due to the fact that about 60% of the dust in each household comes from the soil that is tracked on the bottoms of your shoes. The other 40% originate from various different sources like skin cells, pet fur, the residue of insects, carpet fibers as well as kitchen grease. All of those particles are airborne and it could lead to some serious respiratory complications, especially if you have asthma or some severe allergies. Here are some of the most common household air pollutants that most of the best compact air purifiers are truly going to get rid of.
Airborne particles:
- Pet dander – these are particles that are generally tiny and even microscopic. They are created by the skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents or actually every kind of animal that has fur or feathers. They could cause severe allergic reactions in people that are allergic to those animals.
- Mold – this is something that appears as a result of constant moisture. It could also lead to some respiratory inflammations that might cause further medical complications.
- Pollen – this is a coarse powder that is normally contained in some seeds of plants.
- Fungi – those could be either a single celled organism or actually very complex and multicellular one. The ones that concern us are those that are composed of a single cell, they are airborne particles that are capable of triggering an allergic reaction.
Cigarette smoke
This is without a doubt something that most households have to deal with. With the majority of the population being active smokers, this creates an inevitable problem in most homes. The fact is that cigarette smoke is really damaging for your lungs and is an actual threat to the smokers as well as to those who don’t smoke but breathe in this air. They are commonly referred to as passive smokers because even though they are not actively smoking, their lungs are suffering just as much due to the inhalation of the polluted air. The most recommended air purifiers are capable of completely getting rid of the cigarette smoke in a matter of minutes.
Odors
These are unpleasant smells that have formulated as a result of the stacking of multiple microparticles at one place. The source may vary from literally everything as almost all substances exude a particular odor. Even though they are unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction they are still rather unpleasant to deal with.
VOCs
Those are volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that are generally contained in a lot of the household products like aerosol sprays, hair sprays, solvents, glues, cleaning agents, fabric softeners and much more to list. Some of the possible health effects include eye, nose or throat irritations, headaches, various types of cancer, allergic reactions, loss of coordination and many more negative impacts. They are something that should be taken into serious consideration and some of the best rated air purifiers for allergies are capable of dealing with them.
Micro-organisms
Those are tiny micro-organisms that are generally composed of a single-cell. They are capable of doing some serious damage to your lungs so they should be also approached with cautious.
Air Purifier Buying Guide – How to Choose The Best One
In order to decide what is the best air purifier for home, you would have to take tons of things into serious consideration. This is mainly due to the fact that this device will have a significant effect on the air you are breathing and you surely don’t want to go for an impractical solution. There are a lot of technicalities that you need to account for and if you are not familiar with the terminology as well as the engineering behind it, you could easily find yourself lost without a clue of what you are reading.
This particular buying guide is specifically designated to make it a lot easier for you when it comes to choosing the best possible home air purifier. There are various different kinds that are designed to target different pollutions and this is why you would need to identify the concrete need you have. Here, we have listed some of the most important points you would have to go over before making the final decision of buying your air purifier.
Coverage area
This is something that you would need to determine yourself. Keep in mind that they are two basic kinds – those that are designated to purify the entire house and those that are intended to be put in a single room. The former are generally installed in your overall heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system while the latter are normally portable and can be moved from one room to another. In any case, you would have to determine the size of the room you want to use it in and buy accordingly.
Size
The size of the indoor air purifier is something that is also strictly personal. Those purifiers that are intended to service a larger room would normally be bigger in size and the opposite. Rhose for smaller locations are going to be smaller. Therefore, you would once again have to take into consideration the spacing of the location. Once you have done that, you could proceed toward purchasing the unit.
Air exchange rate
This is a number, which is also commonly referred to as the ACH rating, would indicate how frequently the purifier would be capable of exchanging all the air in a particular room. For instance, if the indoor air purifier has an ACH rating of about 5 for a 15’ x 15’ room then this means that in this given room the device would be able to circulate the air a total of 5 times per hour. It is highly preferable that you go for an air purifier for asthma that has an air exchange rate of at least 4 and more preferably six or eight.
Filter replacements
If you have considered buying the best dust removal air purifier then you would certainly lean towards a device with a HEPA filter. However, make sure that you check and see exactly how much the replacement filters are going to cost. If the unit comes with a separate HEPA filter as well as a carbon filter, they might need to be changed at different times which would increase the replacement cost and you want to be prepared for it.
Regular filter replacement is absolutely vital when it comes to the proper performance of every recommended air purifier so you want to make sure that this is done thoroughly. In addition, most of the manufacturers would require the common replacement of filters as a condition if you want to use the warranty.
Energy efficiency
Like every other electrical device, the home air purifiers of different sizes and capabilities would consume a different amount of energy. Unlike almost every other electrical device, however, the air purifier would be required to run always or continuously if you want it to complete the job that it is intended to complete. This will surely result in an increase in your monthly electrical bill. This is why you might want to check for more energy efficient solutions. The most common purifiers use somewhere between 50 and 200 watts. This is rather less than your everyday personal computer, so you might say that good air purifiers are rather efficient.
Noise level
This is something that is directly affecting your personal comfort. Even though it has no direct relation to the performance of the air purifier, you would certainly prefer something that does not really create an annoying backdoor noise that you have to listen to constantly. Some of the manufacturers seem to be able to produce extremely quite solutions, while others are quite loud.
This is why you would want to ask for a simple test in the store from which you are purchasing the device in order to properly determine whether or not you can get used to the sound. Make sure that you test all the different fan speed settings in order not to get unpleasantly surprised when you get home and hit the different setting.
Clean Air Delivery Rate
This would enable you to properly make the best home air purifier comparison. You might not be allowed to test the unit prior to the purchase but you could easily compare the clean air delivery rate on the labels in order to find out the one that offers the most of it.
Air Pollution
Keep in mind that not all purifiers are intended to work the same way. As it was stated before in the article, some of them utilize the release of ozone, which is an extremely dangerous for little kids, asthmatics or people with different respiratory problems You would generally want to avoid those kinds as they are intended to be used in unpopulated areas such as warehouses, for instance.
Extra Features
There are a lot of extra features that you might want to look into. For instance, there are units specifically designated to work as the best cigarette smoke air purifier, air purifiers for pet dander, air purifier for pet odor and many more of this type. You would want to be familiar with those, provided you have a specific need. Another example is the filter exchange indicator that not all of the home air purifiers feature. This would allow you to know exactly when to change your filter so you are never overdue.
Budget
This, of course, is the most important thing that you would have to keep in mind. After all, you should make sure to spend exactly as much as you can afford. However, keep in mind that if you have some respiratory problems or asthma, for instance, this is a piece of equipment that would generally improve your well-being, so you might want to invest a little more in it to get a better quality product.
Warranty
The warranty is the opportunity to return the unit in order for it to be replaced with a new one, or repaired for free in case of some malfunctions that were the result of the manufacturer’s misconduct. Normally, the longer the warranty period is, the more protected you are. There is also a subjective side to this because the longer warranty period is an indicator that the manufacturer has a lot of faith in his product and this is why you would see that the best yet affordable air purifiers are with long periods o limited warranty.
Manufacturer’s reputation
This is always something very important to look out for. Keep in mind that not always the most expensive unit is the best. You might look into the reputation of the producer and if you find out that a certain cheaper model is made by someone more reputable, do not hesitate to get it.
All in all, as you can see there are countless of things and details that you would have to look out for when you have to make the choice for the best indoor air purifier. This is due to the fact that these devices are generally taking care of something that is really important. Once again, you would have to determine the exact need of purification you would need. There are devices specified to work as air purifiers for allergies, air purifiers for mold, air purifiers for dust removal or air purifiers for cigarette smoke. This is just an exemplary list, there are also other particular kinds that you might want to check.
Measuring Air Purifier Performance and Noise
Air purifiers are effective because they move air. Without a proper mechanism to circulate air through the device, there can be no clean air in your house. And despite what most air purifier manufacturers claim, there is no silent way of moving air. Every air purifier must produce some level of noise as its fan (s) rotate. This noise is measured in decibels (DB, units that are then multiplied by an “A” factor. An “A” factor is basically the effect noise produced has on human beings.
So, is an air purifier as good as the noise it produces? To understand how an air purifier works, see the basics below.
- Air Purifiers work in different ways
- Most air purifiers either use filtration systems or ionic mechanisms
- Almost all air purifiers have fans to draw in air or expel it out
- Many modern air purifiers have noise reducing mufflers
Basically, the efficiency of an air purifier varies a lot depending on the brand, type, and technology used to make it. Some small air purifiers, for instance, may work more efficiently and reduce very little amounts of noise compared to bigger devices. This means, therefore, that for an air purifier to clean out dirt particles, odor and bacteria in your house, there are several functions that must work incredibly well. The filters, for instance, must be effective, the ultraviolet ray system if present must be efficient and the fans must be impressive as well.
With the fans, remember that there can be several speed settings which will determine the effectiveness of the device.
- Low Setting. Usually, here the device runs slowly while producing very little amounts of noise. It is best preserved for night sessions
- Medium settings. This is the optimum level, and where most people set their air purifier.
- High setting. Expect a lot of noise with many devices at this setting, but it is the level where your air purifier is most effective as well.
What Does CADR Stand for? Clean Air Delivery Rate Explained
CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate is the universally agreed metric for measuring the performance of room air purifiers. CADR is measured in cubic feet per minute. Usually, an air purifier may have several CADR ratings depending on the types of particles and molecules it can clean. A device can have a CADR for cleaning pollen, a different rating for eliminating smoke, and a different rating for cleaning dirt.
So, why is the Clean Air Delivery Rating Important?
- CADR helps consumers compare the efficiency rate of different air purifiers-Actually you can confirm the air purifier’s efficiency by multiplying its air flow rate with the claimed efficiency rate in percentage. That is to say, a device with an air flow rate of 200 CFM and efficiency rate of 99.9% should have at least a CADR rating of 200.
- Helps you easily identify the device that best suits your needs- If your biggest expectation from an air purifier is to clean out smoke and odor, you will better go for a device with the highest CADR rating for eliminating smoke and odor.
Before you purchase an air purifier, however, note that the CADR is often measured while the device is new and when run on the highest fan speed rating, which means it may not reflect the device’s performance throughout its lifetime.
What is a Prefilter? Why is it Important?
A Pre-filter is usually the first line of defense in an air purifier. It traps the largest dirt and pollen particles when the air directs its way into the filtration system. Without it, your air purifier’s HEPA filter wouldn’t last for as long as it probably does.
Pre-filters are great at capturing hair fur, the big dirt particles, and other large debris so that the HEPA filter only deals with cleaning out minute and invisible dirt and bacteria particles. Air purifiers that have pre-filters or at least have an activated carbon filter help you save on buying a new HEPA filter regularly. And as you probably know, true HEPA filters are quite expensive. But with a dedicated pre-filter that is washable and reusable, your air purifier is bound to run smoothly and operate efficiently for longer periods of time before you can replace the main HEPA filter.
Although a good prefilter is an important part in your air purifier, you will still need a high quality ozone air purifier or a true HEPA filter for ultimate efficient air cleaning. Some particles that roam in the air can be as small as .003 microns and only the best HEPA filter or ionic mechanisms can eliminate them.
What Does an Activated Carbon Filter Do?
Activated carbon is a very porous material that easily absorbs dirt particles, liquid and gas molecules in the house. In the case of an air purifier, a filter with activated carbon traps a lot of dirt, pollen, bacteria and a variety of gases, well because Carbon’s large surface area per unit weight can hold and absorb many types of particles and molecules irrespective of their sizes. Okay, let me explain it further.
- Activated carbon is basically small pieces of carbon, usually in powdered block forms.
- The blocks are treated to be extremely porous such that any particle all molecules can attach onto them.
- Most air purifiers that have activated carbon are therefore very effective at eliminating odor and small particles, of course depending on how much activated carbon the filter has.
- When used together with a good HEPA filter, your air purifier can eliminate up to 99.9% of dust, lint, smoke and common household chemicals.
- Activated carbon filters can also be diffused with magnesium dioxide to eliminate the more harmful gases like carbon monoxide.
- For guys who suffer from allergies and asthmatic conditions, therefore, buy an air purifier that has an activated carbon filter
Why is the Energy Star Label Important?
When the Energy Star Label was first used in electronic devices, it was the aim of the federal government to help consumers learn ways they could save more power in their homes by only using electronic devices that saved on energy. Today, the energy star label is as important as it were back then. This is mainly because about two-thirds of all greenhouses gas emissions come from the electronic devices found in our homes. More energy emission also means more bills you will pay.
In any case, can you imagine at just how many electronic devices there are in the market today, and all of them have to use power to run? Without an energy star label in electronic devices, therefore, you would definitely not know what device is leading to more gas pollution in your house, which one is consuming more power and which one is ultimately putting your health at risk. In three simple statements, therefore, here is why the energy star label is important,
- Gives a true reflection of a device’s energy consumption level
- Helps you identify the most energy efficient electronic device
- Devices with an energy star label pollute fewer gases to the environment and thus more savings for you.
Types of Air Purifiers
There are several different main types of home air purifiers based on the techniques that have been implemented in order to provide the customer with the possibility to thoroughly purify the air. Therefore, this is an exemplary list of the types of air purifiers, but they are not limited to it and other specifications might also be used as classifying criteria.
Ionizing Purifiers
This particular type of air purifiers uses a technology that is commonly referred to as a corona discharge in order to produce charged molecules in the form of ions. Almost all of the atoms in the air tend to have a neutral charge. This means that they would generally have the same number of electrons that are negatively charged and protons that are positively charged. The discharged field created by the purifier is rather small but quite intense.
Those particles that are passing through it would pick up an additional electron. This would give the molecule an overall negative charge or it may actually knock off an electron in order to create a positive charge. Most of the bigger particles that are airborne like dust, for instance, are more likely to get ionized. This is due to the fact that they would be a larger target for the electrons as they are going through the field.
Once this particle is charged it would quickly get attached to something that has the opposite charge. This is similar to the magnet principle. Once they start to group up together, they would get heavy and settle out of the air at some point.
Ozone Generators
This particular type of indoor air purifier is actually operating almost the same like an ionizing purifier. However, it would alter the molecules of oxygen in order to turn them into ozone. Anyhow, the evidence does support the fact that ozone purifiers are not a great solution and they do not, in fact, purify air effectively. The truth is that ozone is known to society as a poisonous gas. It is not a stable molecule and would interact with other chemicals in the air in order to create even more dangerous particles than the ozone itself. It is not very advisable to buy this particular type of purifier.
Activated Carbon Filters
These kinds of home air purifier are not generally used separately and have a rather additional and complementary purpose. They are truly great when it comes to adsorbing odors, gasses as well as neutralizing smoke and chemicals as well as fumes. The way they work is by treating the carbon with oxygen which would lead to the opening of millions of pores. They are so many and create such a huge surface. That makes it perfect for the adsorption of different unpleasant smells. So, logically the larger this filter is, the more odors it would absorb.
UV technology
Those types of purifiers are able to render most micro-organisms to be harmless. Some of those purifiers are also featuring an option to bathe the air in UV light as it passes by thus neutralizing the harm that airborne bacteria or viruses might cause.
HEPA air purifiers
HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. Those filters are known to be the most broadly used in almost all air purifiers. They would remove at least 99.97% of all the particles that are down to 0.3 microns in size. Those HEPA filters allow only the tiniest of particles to pass through them and are therefore capturing the vast majority of different allergens such as pollen, dust and pet dander.
However, the size, as well as the material and the construction of the filter itself, would have a great impact on the performance of the device.
Adsorbents
Some of the purifiers also include adsorbent material that is specifically designated to get rid of odors, fumes, and chemicals. This process includes the trapping of a substance on top of another substance. The most often used adsorbent is the activated charcoal as well as the activated carbon. The large surface of those elements makes it easier to absorb different unpleasant smells.
There are many different kinds of home air purifiers so it is essential that you understand how different types of them work and what is their most proper application. This would prevent you from making the wrong choice when the time comes.
Best Air Purifier Brands
When it comes to air purifiers there are some brands that simply stand out in front of others. This is due to the fact that they are leaders in this particular industry. Also, their products provide the greatest reliability, durability, and longevity. They are also fit of satisfying each particular need of the customer, has he been able to properly identify it. With all this said, here is a brief summary of the most influential air purifier manufacturers.
Honeywell
The technology that is developed by this company aims to address some of the hardest challenges. They are known to produce top notch air purifiers of premium quality. Honeywell is surely worth the money. They have over 130,000 employees all over the world that are working to ensure that what comes out of the factory is truly high end. The brand has both small air purifiers for use in single rooms and whole house air purifiers.
Holmes
Holmes is an established manufacturer with vast experience in the production of really high-quality air purifiers. They are also known for providing their customers with personal advice and helping them to identify the particular need they have through their blog which is constantly refreshed.
GE
GE appliances opt to provide solutions for various different needs. They pride themselves in defining the trends and in simplifying the routines. GE has a broad experience of over 100 years throughout which they have gathered thorough and in-depth knowledge and are aiming to constantly improve.
Hunter
The Hunter Fan Company was established in 1886 and it has brought a lot in the world of innovations and especially in the air cleaning niche. Hunter Fan offers high-quality fans, air purifiers, humidifiers and many more solutions. In 1993 the company introduced a new line of air purifiers that continue the trend of innovation.
Blueair
This is one of the brands that provide the absolute top rated air purifiers. They manufacture some of the most innovative purifiers and equip them with state of the art perks. These include the new Sense+ system that utilizes Wi-Fi in order to allow you to control the purifier with your smartphone. They also measure the quality of the air in the room and send the data to your phone so you could easy alter it.
Kenmore
The Kenmore brand has over 100 years of experience in the manufacturing of various devices that provide trusted performance. All of their products operate at a high level in order to fully satisfy the needs of the customer.
Germ Guardian
The company is a company that develops and sells products designated for mass retail. They are an enterprise that sets their focus on innovations, secure and natural technologies. They have a number of national as well as international product launches.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool is one of the giants in this particular field of expertise. They have truly broad and rich experience in the manufacturing of various different devices designated for domestic usage. They are not only limited to kitchen products but also produce some of the most high-end air purifiers that would surely do a great job for you.
Airfree.
Austin.
Coway.
Winix.
Oreck.
Envion.
Mammoth
The brand of the unit speaks a great deal about it. Therefore, it is always of use to be familiar with the most popular and established manufacturers of the field. This would let you make an informed and concise decision when the time to purchase strikes.
Will an Air Purifier Improve My Health? – Are Air Purifiers Good?
It is no doubt that the installation of an air purifier would improve your breathing, but would it be also beneficial for your health? Most of the recent studies, as well as different health experts, determine that they most certainly can and that they bring a significant number of benefits on the table.
Some pulmonologists are claiming that the air pollution could either cause or further complicate respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing or coughing as well as some airway congestion. However, it could also lead to some heart complications. This is due to the simple fact that airborne particles are irritants. They generally have some chemical composition that is likely to lead to alteration in the blood chemistry. This is important to know because it is capable of causing some serious health complications.
Some of the recent studies show us that the air pollution could cause an artery disease that could easily lead to a stroke or increase the risk factors for some chronic diseases.
So, how can an indoor air purifier contribute to diminishing those negativities?
Truth be told, most of the benefits of using such a device are directly related to the lung and to conditions such as asthma. However, by filtering the particles the purifiers are able to help in clearing the air you are actually breathing. This helps to get rid of the negative effects of those airborne pollution particles. The purifiers could also help the health of the heart.
Some studies indicate that blood pressure in patients is significantly improving once an air purifier has started filtering the air in the room they are residing at. Nevertheless, medical officers do not have any steady long-term results that would point to the air purifiers reducing the risks of strokes, heart attacks or any other significant dangerous conditions.
So, who would benefit from those devices?
The simple fact is that air purifiers are directly related to our breathing. So chances are that asthma patients are going to strongly benefit from the installation of such a device. It would eliminate airborne irritants that may cause their respiratory functions to worsen. On the other hand, purifiers eradicate dust, pet dander, mold and loads of micro-organisms that are the source of variety allergies. With the elimination of the source, there would not be a possibility for the triggering of an allergy attack. That’s why people with various allergies should seriously consider buying an air purifier for allergies.
Air Purifier Benefits
There are a lot of beneficial sides when it comes to purchasing an air purifier. These devices eliminate molds with specifically designed HEPA filters that are able to capture particles that are as small as 0.3 microns at a 99.97% rate. However, here are some of the most significant benefits of the average air purifier
- Reducing allergies – almost air purifiers are able to break down the allergens in order to eliminate the negative impact they have.
- The capability of dealing with pet dander – this is another particularly practical and healthy implementation. Since pets are the sources of various allergies, the pet dander is fully capable of triggering the same allergic reaction. HEPA filtration systems are able to eliminate the pet dander.
- They provide improved breathing possibilities for children and old people. Due to their weaker immune systems, elders and kids are more prone to allergies. This is where an air purifier comes in play
- If you are living near to a building site, you would greatly benefit from the dust removal capabilities of those devices.
- Odor removing capabilities
- Germ removal
- Smoke removal – this is something that is also absolutely essential if you have a smoker and you allow in-house smoking. The cigarette smoke could be devastating for your lungs and especially if you have kids. You should absolutely prohibit in-house smoking, but if you have allowed it, an air purifier for cigarette smoke would do a more than great job getting rid of it.
There is also a significant psychological impact. Once you are sure that the air in your house is free of all kinds of dust and bacteria, you are capable of enjoying your stay at home significantly more. Dusted areas provide a sense of anxiety and people are subconsciously feeling more nervous compared to when they are in clean rooms.
Do Air Purifiers Help with Allergies?
In order to get an adequate answer to this particular question, you would have to take several things into consideration. The first thing is to determine your exact allergy. If you are allergic to some airborne particles like dust or pet dander, then the air purifier is surely going to greatly contribute to your overall health. However, the truth is that you would also have to take care of a lot of different things as well.
You must keep a clean and dust-free environment at all times. If you think that the top air purifier for allergies would lift the dust off your shelves, you are in a huge mistake. You would need to properly determine the exact cause of your allergies and act in response. The air purifier would help you if those triggering sources are only found in your home.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation clearly state that those allergies, that are caused by particles that are unable to remain airborne will not be relieved at all by an air purifier. Examples for such irritants are dust or dust mites. Therefore, always try to be considerate and keep the overall condition of your home clean and steady.
Another factor you have to consider is that the air purifiers that have successfully met the regulations and have been awarded HEPA certification which is a sign for their high-efficiency particulate air are going to be able to filter the smaller as well as some big particles. This would without a doubt benefit the people that are suffering from asthma and different allergies.
In any case, obtaining an air purifier for your allergies is surely going to benefit your condition. After all, it would in no way harm you. But it is essential that you take other preventive steps as well. This is due to the fact that a lot of the sources of allergies that are airborne are stacked on the floor, on your countertops, in your mattresses and a single air purifier would not be able to do enough for you. This might lead you to believe that it’s not helping, but the fact is that it won’t be the only thing that you would have to take into consideration if you want to improve your allergy condition.
Do Air Purifiers Remove Dust?
All of the particles that dust consists of are generally floating through the air in your home before they finally set on some sort of surface. If you install a proper air purifier for dust, the particles would be rendered unable to reach that surface because the device would trap and eradicate them beforehand. The most important tool that would ensure this process is the HEPA filter.
Those filters conveniently get rid of particles that are as small as 0.3 microns and as large as 3 microns. Therefore, you may rest assured that if you have properly selected the right air purifier that is suitable for your particular needs. You would enjoy a dust-free environment. However, keep in mind that this is the result of a proper research and informed decisions.
If you have chosen an air purifier that is operating in lower capacities that it needs to in order to accommodate your particular needs or room sizes, no matter how advanced the filtration system is, it would still be unable to do a complete job.
Another thing you would want to consider is that even the best dust removal air purifier would not be able to lift off the dust particles if they have already settled on a surface. The device would be able to properly get rid of them while they are still airborne. However, there is nothing it could do if they have been settled. Therefore, do not expect this machine to magically make all the dust in your house disappear. You would still have to spend some time cleaning up the whole place.
Do Air Purifiers Remove Odors?
It takes a lot of effort to find an air purifier that can effectively eliminate odor. This is because most of these devices are designed to eliminate dirt, pollen, bacteria and other microparticles that are not smaller than .3 microns. On the contrary, odor particles can be as small as .001 microns, which makes it hard for average air purifiers to eliminate them. Fortunately, there is a way out. All your pet odor, annoying smoke smells, volatile organic compounds and cooking odors can all be eliminated if an air purifier has an activated carbon filter, or has a special odor removal technology.
So, how good is activated carbon? Activated carbon has been used to eliminate odor because it is a porous material, and thus can absorb even very minute gas particles. Alternatively, some air purifiers come with an odor sensing technology which absorbs the unwanted gases. Unfortunately, most devices claim to eliminate gas and odors even when they contain very limited amounts of activated carbon in them. Be careful therefore and only buy an air purifier if it has a high CADR rating for eliminating odor.
Best Location For Air Purifier
The best location for an indoor air purifier would be as close as it could be to the source of pollution or the unpleasant smell. For instance, if a member of your family smokes in the kitchen, placing the purifier as close to the place where he usually smokes at would be the most optimal location. Also, you should avoid placing it in corners or behind some sort of furniture in order to conceal it. This would prevent the device from doing a proper work. Remember that the air has to flow through it in order to get filtered and properly cleaned so it needs as much access to air as it can get.
Another helpful trick would be to make sure that all the windows and the doors of the room in which the air purifier is working are closed. This would ensure that the device would be able to properly circulate the air of this particular air. Also, this would prevent the further pollution from different areas.
You should also avoid putting it next to other electronically powered devices because interference might appear and it would disturb the proper performance of the purifier.
Keep in mind that most of these devices are portable and the best air purifier for your bedroom could easily become the best purifier for the baby room should you just place it there.
Air Purifier Maintenance Tips
Air purifiers are an important element of almost every family these days. With air pollution in some cities being quite high, people living near big industrial companies and highways becoming a popular thing. The need to protect your family from allergy causing pollen being an important aspect of every family, there is every reason to have this device in your home. However, a good air purifier must be efficient at all times. This means you will have to maintain and re-service the device every now and then. Continue reading to learn some tips on how you can maintain your device in the following easy ways:
- Cleaning the Pre-filter – You probably know this. Most air purifiers clean out dirt and the pollen in your house by trapping them in air filters. Only a few device models that completely destroy the dirt particles. With this in mind, you will need to wash and clean the pre-filter and the HEPA filter every now and then. You will need to buy the right cleaning solutions though. Check out if the prefilter and the activated carbon filters are full and then wash them after maybe one or two months. In most cases, replacing the prefilter after three months is the better decision. Because they are cheap and wear out fast.
- The HEPA filter – If your air purifier has a true HEPA filter, it should run efficiently well for about one year. Though it is essential that you regularly vacuum or clean it properly. Actually, some HEPA filters can last for more than a year, while others could only be effective for eight months, especially for devices that lack a prefilter. If you have a good air purifier, it should have a digital monitor. It will help you understand when you can replace it. Other than that, a monthly visual checkup is helpful so that you can know when to vacuum or wash it.
- Cleaning Electrostatic Plates – Air purifiers that use electrostatic plates to clean out air are easy to maintain. Usually, they attract dirt and pollen particles onto these plates, and they tend to get darker as more dirt is trapped. For maintenance purposes, remove the plates and clean them in a dishwasher or dunk them in a bathtub.
- Clean the air purifier often – If a visual checkup confirms the inside parts are clean and smoothly working, wipe the device’s casing and other outer parts with a wet piece of cloth often for maintenance purposes.
Conclusion
To conclude, home air purifiers are without a doubt a great asset in your home. Some of the best home air purifiers are capable of capturing up to 99.97% of the pollutants in the air which are airborne. This would significantly increase the quality of the air in your household.
However, shopping for such a device isn’t, by all means, easy. You have to be well aware of various different specifications and features in order to make the most optimal choice. This is why these home air purifier reviews are compiled in order to help you make the best choice. Those units are capable of providing you with countless benefits so the only thing you should do is to identify your need. Then you can get started with the search.
