Air Purifiers

If you know that you need an air purifier, here are some quick picks from ConsumerSearch.com. If you're not sure whether an air purifier is right for you or if you want to know the details about choosing a purifier, please read on below for descriptions of the different types, as well as major brands and more.

Top Picks
Best Performance: IQAir HealthPro  ($700) The best air purifier on the market. Used in hospitals. Up to 900 sq. ft.	Best Bargain: Alen 350  ($400) Nearly as good as the IQAir for much less money. 400-900 sq. ft.	For Small Rooms: Whirlpool Whispure  ($270) Good bargain if you don't have severe air quality issues. Less than 500 sq. ft.	For Very Small Rooms: Honeywell Enviracaire  ($150) Not as powerful as the others, but good for small rooms.

The Truth About Air Purifiers

Do 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.

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 an air 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.

• Be aware that there are many claims, some disreputable, about what air purifiers and filters can do. Even though manufacturers claim that 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 are not 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 that house both smokers and allergy or asthma sufferers.
• Consumer Search also suggests that not everyone really needs an air filter; in fact, unless you have severe respiratory or immune problems, you will probably not benefit much from one.
• 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 air purifiers will come with a rating called CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rating). This goes for small purifier appliances. 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, while others have extra long lifespans. Remember to factor these costs (and the convenience factor) into your purchase.
• Noise
• Depending on where you plan to keep the air purifier will determine how quiet you need it to be. If the purifier is for the basement, then don't worry as much. Spend the extra bucks for an extra-quiet model if it is to be used elsewhere.

Types of Room Air Purifiers

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. Do 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. Particles 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. Do not remove allergens from the air.

Major Manufacturers
Room Air Purifiers Blueair  Electrolux  Friedrich  Honeywell  Kenmore  Whirlpool  Vornado	Whole-House Filters American Filter*  Aprilaire  Carrier  Filtera*  Trane  Trion  3M Filtrete*

* Denotes do-it-yourself whole-house models.

Related Products

Air Conditioners	Humidifiers	Dehumidifiers	Fans	HEPA Air Filters

External Links

Air purifiers are a hot topic and many websites have reviews and buying advice. Here are a few places to go for reviews and buying advice.

• Allergy Buyers Club -- only reviews HEPA filters, as the other two kinds aren't that useful for allergies.
• Air Purifiers America -- conducted their own tests, has an extensive buying guide w/ FAQ.
• ConsumerSearch.com -- extensive information summarizing many different reviews; detailed information about many models; describes in detail the lawsuit brought by Sharper Image against Consumer Reports for a series of bad reviews for the Ionic Breeze line of air purifiers.
• QHealthZone -- information about another air purifier, the Atmosphere.