Shopping for an air purifier can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Knowing what to look for when selecting an air purifier can help you make the best decision for your home. The first thing to consider is the filter. If you only have one unit, it should be replaced or cleaned every six to twelve months for pleated filters and every three months for activated carbon filters.
When deciding where to put your air purifier, it's best to put it in the room where you spend the most time. This is usually the bedroom. If you want an air purifier in multiple rooms, you may need to buy one unit for each room. Air purifiers can filter out pollutants such as smoke, pollen, and dust, and some are even capable of capturing particles that carry the coronavirus COVID-19. If your goal is to improve overall air quality, look for a purifier with a high Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR).
Consumer Reports recommends a CADR of 240 or more for the recommended room size if you're buying an air purifier to clean the air of someone sick with COVID-19. To put this into perspective, the smallest objects that the average human eye can see are around 70 microns in size. Human eyes can distinguish particles suspended in the air that scatter light and that are only 10 microns in size. The Coway AP-1512HH Mighty has an ionizer that can be turned off, while the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ and the Blueair Blue Pure 411 have ionizers integrated into their patented HEPAsilent filters but produce very little ozone. Pure Enrichment's PureZone 3-in-1 True HEPA air purifier has a UV light.
Smaller air purifiers like the Levoit LV-H132 use less energy than larger ones but clean much smaller spaces. You can usually find the estimated energy usage of your air purifier in the product specifications. We have seen devices that supposedly consume as little as 1.5 watts in low conditions and others that consume more than 200 watts in high conditions. When shopping for an air purifier, prioritize other factors if you're concerned about your budget.
The higher the noise level, the more uncomfortable it will be to operate and you may be limited to using it during the day. Make sure that the unit you choose doesn't have a noise level higher than 40-50 decibels so it can be used at night. The more certifications a unit has, such as CARB, AHAM, Energy Star, and UL, the more valuable it will be to purchase. Having a warranty of at least 1-2 years also assures you that your money is well spent.
Air purifiers need to replace filters every few months depending on the filter and usage. There are many silent air purifiers on the market that range from 24 to 30 decibels. For reference, the hum of a refrigerator is around 40 dB and a vacuum cleaner ranges from 60 to 70 dB. To choose the right size air purifier for your needs, consider the square footage of the room you want to purify.
If you have allergies or asthma and are looking for an air purifier to help control your symptoms, also consider an air purifier's hourly air exchange rate (ACH). Our best selection of air purifiers is the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty which includes several nice features and is reasonably priced. Many air purifiers have undergone AHAM's voluntary certification program which provides room size guidelines along with CADR on its AHAM Verified seal. Smart connectivity can be useful if it shows the difference that the air purifier has on the environment.
