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Air Purifiers Buying Guide

If you suffer from severe allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems, you may want an air purifier  to tackle those harmful airborne particles in your home or office. Air purifiers come in various different models depending on your home needs and can be very useful for gaining better air quality in your environment. Keep in mind that an air purifier is a term often used interchangeably with air filter.  An air purifier is sold as a freestanding machine, whereas a filter is usually installed into a ventilation system  in your home to provide clean air throughout the entire environment, and not just in one particular space. Filters for forced-air heating or cooling systems are inexpensive ($15 a filter) and may do just as good a job as a freestanding model.

The Facts

  • Be aware that there are many claims, some disreputable, about what air purifiers and filters can do. Even though manufacturers say their products remove 99.9% of particles in the air, know that these particles are usually of the larger variety, meaning that many of the other potentially harmful substances that are invisible to the naked eye may not be removed.
  • Air purifiers and filters do not remove carbon monoxide from the air. Homes with cigarette smokers or any burning apparatus, such as a wood stove,  fireplace,  or gas stove,  may introduce harmful substances into the air even with an air purifier.
  • A whole-house air filter  may be the best bet in homes of both smokers and allergy or asthma sufferers.
  • Also note that unless you have severe respiratory or immune problems, you will probably not benefit much from an air filter. Many allergens can be controlled at their source by frequent vacuuming  and dusting,  smoking outside, and removing sources of allergens.

How to Choose the Right Purifier

If you have decided that an air purifier is for you, here is what you need to know to find the right one.

  • Purifying Power
    • All small air purifier appliances will come with a rating called CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rating ). The higher it is, the longer and stronger the cleaning power of the filter. 350 and above is considered excellent, whereas 100 is poor.
    • For whole-house filters, MERV is the standard rating. Look for an 11-13 for a good model.
  • Maintenance
    • Purifiers work on the basic premise that a filter will help keep the air clean of pollutants. If the filter gets clogged, the purifier loses its efficiency. For optimum results, the filter must be clean.
    • Some need regular replacement, others can be cleaned and reused, and some have extra long lifespans. Remember to factor these costs into your purchase.
  • Noise
    • Keep in mind that the air purifier can block out sound as well, so if you have a room that is extra noisy, it may benefit you to place it there.

Types

HEPA FIltration Unit 
  • HEPA  stands for High Efficiency Particle Arresting. There are stringent requirements on the manufacturing of this type of filter, so you can expect that it will be of high quality.
  • Uses a fan to pull air through a physical filter.
  • Widely regarded as the most effective type of filtration system.
  • Removes particles larger than 0.3 microns wide; most common allergens such as dust,mold, pollen and animal dander, fit this profile.
  • Will not remove viruses or toxic chemicals.
  • Does not generate ozone.
  • Can be noisy or quiet, depending on the model and the space in which it is used.
Ionic Air Purifiers 
  • Work by reversing the charges of particles in the air, so that they are then attracted to surfaces in the room - flooring, furniture, walls, and even clothing.
  • You'll still have to clean regularly to remove the particles from the room.
  • Generates a small amount of ozone.
    • Ozone can be harmful, but ionic filters are within FDA guidelines for ozone emissions.
    • These types of filters are not recommended for those with asthma because the ozone can actually aggravate the problem.
  • Most of the very small models don't actually do a very good job.
  • A better bet would be a larger electrostatic precipitator,  which is a professionally installed whole-house purifier. These cost substantially more and should only be considered if there is a severe problem and if it can be afforded.
Ozone Generators 
  • Generate a large quantity of ozone intentionally.
  • Ozone can help remove strong odors, such as smokiness in fire-damaged buildings.
  • Ozone is toxic in large quantities; these odor-eliminators are not meant to be run around the clock.
  • Should only be used until noticeable odors have disappeared.
  • These do not remove allergens from the air.

Recommendations

Kaz Honeywell Enviracaire 50101 Air Purifier 

This HEPA air purifier has 3 levels of cleaning power and an alert system that lets you know when its time to change the filter.

Indoor Surround Air Intelli-Pro XJ-3800 Air Purifier 

This model has 7 different stages of air purification and a sensor to determine the cleanliness of the air.

Hunter 30736 QuietFlo Air Purifier 

This air purifier is quiet enough to put anywhere in the house and helps to eliminate odors while changing the air up to 6 times during an hour.

Sharp FP-P40CX PlasmaCluster Air Purifier 

This HEPA model uses PlasmaCluster technology to split water molecules into ions, which helps break up air particles.

Ionic Pro CA200T Twin Pack Compact with Bonus Car Ionizers 

This Ionic Pro is designed to purify a small space while using small amounts of power. Also includes ionizers that can be plugged in to refresh your car.

Related Guides

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Humidifiers

Dehumidifiers

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