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Air Purifier Buyer’s Guide
Research has shown that indoor air quality is often times more polluted than the air outside our homes. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends using an air cleaning system to help maintain healthy indoor air; however, trying to figure out which unit is best for you can be challenging. The following information will help guide you in choosing the right air purifier for your environment.
For easy accessibility to the topics in this article, use our topic list provided below:
About Air Purifiers
Standard air purifiers, also known as air cleaners, are designed to remove pollutants and particles from the air, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, chemicals, and odors. In general, these units work in one of two ways: (1) by collecting particles in physical material filters or (2) by creating an ionic (static) charge to attract particles onto a collection plate (some machines are designed to use a combination of these two methods).
There are two basic types of air purifiers to choose from: mechanical filter systems (also known as traditional filter purifiers) and electrostatic systems.
- Traditional Filter Purifiers: Air purifiers with traditional filters, generally made of a tightly woven construction, work by pulling indoor air inside the unit and pushing it through the filter, by way of an electric fan, where it is cleaned and pushed back out into the room. The air is “cleaned” of pollutants and particles as it passes through the filter, where these contaminants are trapped.
- Electrostatic Cells/Plates Air Purifiers: The electrostatic air cleaners work by pulling air into the unit and passing it over an electrostatic field that traps the particles onto metal plates. You can actually see the plates become dirty as more and more air pollutants are collected there. Once the plates become covered, their efficiency starts to diminish. Therefore, it is crucial for them to be regularly cleaned, because if the plates are dirty then they can’t work effectively.
When choosing a unit, first choose a model with a filtration system designed for your specific problem — there is an air purifier out there that can combat anything from general particle filtration to smoke or odor removal to helping with multiple chemical sensitivities.
Filters: Types and Purposes
All air purifiers use some type of filter to assist in cleaning the air. There are several types of filters, each with a specific purpose.
- HEPA Filters: These filters remove 99.97%-99.99% of particles 0.3 microns and larger from the air, which makes them ideal for removing allergen triggers such as pet dander, dust mite residue, and pollen. Some air purifiers are certified to work even better than HEPA; they are called hyperHEPA units. These units are especially beneficial for individuals who suffer from respiratory conditions (such as asthma) or allergy sensitivities.
- Carbon Filters: Carbon filters are used to remove odors and chemicals from the air. These filters use what is known as “activated carbon,” which means that the pores of the carbon have been opened so that they can absorb substances (pollutants). The absorption is caused when the pollutant chemicals are attracted to the activated carbon. (Carbon is able to absorb a range of chemicals.) Because the carbon filters work by filling up the open pores of the carbon with the odors and gases absorbed, once all the holes are filled, the carbon filter is no longer active and needs to be replaced. Carbon is most often used to absorb:
- Smoke (from cigarettes and fireplaces)
- Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (from furniture, carpet glues, paints, plastics, new building materials, etc.)
- Odors (pet, kitchen, etc.)
- Pre-filters: Pre-filters help to trap large particles before they reach the internal components of the air cleaner, specifically, the HEPA filter (or similar main filter) or the electrostatic metal plates. Having this pre-filter is a great benefit, as it helps to extend the interval time between cleanings or filter changes and it keeps the unit working more efficiently longer.
Addressing Specific Needs: Allergies, Asthma, Smoke, and Chemical Sensitivity
Air purifiers come in a range of specialties, and based on your specific needs, you can pick one that will give you the most impact to combat your indoor air pollutants—whether it’s smoke, pet dander, pollen, or chemicals. Look for a purifier with a true HEPA filter for the best particle filtration. If you have multiple needs to address, you may want an air purifier with a carbon filter as well. Air purifiers can improve the severity of many symptoms associated with the following:
- Seasonal allergies: Air cleaners are a great benefit for those individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies. Units that feature HEPA filter technology trap both large and small particles so you aren’t breathing them in. All the allergy triggers that cause the itchy, water eyes, sneezing, and coughing are out of your air and out of your way. Imagine being able to enter an oasis of clean, healthy air every time you walk in your door—for allergy sufferers, air cleaners create just that.
Bottom line: For this need, choose a unit with a HEPA filter or consider a high-quality electrostatic unit. Check out our page on air purifiers for allergies.
- Pet allergies: If you have a pet or multiple pets and you or someone in your home is allergic to your dog or cat, then an air purifier will definitely help the situation. Most people are allergic to the actual dander from pets. Dander, the shed skin cells from animals, is very tiny and can remain in the air for a long time. It also tends to go where your pet goes and stay after your pet has left that area. Air purifiers are able to clean these particles from the air, trapping the dander in the filter. These units also help with the hair particles that float through the air, as the air is exchanged (cleaned) it will pull the shed hair into the unit where it will become trapped on the pre-filter.
Getting an air cleaner with carbon will also help with pet odors. The carbon will absorb those undesirable pet smells, leaving a home that has clean, fresh, healthy air.
Bottom line: For this need, choose a unit with a HEPA filter or consider a high-quality electrostatic unit; if you want to address pet odors choose a unit with carbon filtration as well. Check out our page on air purifiers for allergies.
- Dust and dust mites: Dust mites are tiny cream colored organisms that live off organic material such as dead skin flakes or simply on dust. Our homes are the perfect environment for dust mites to live and breed. Because of their tiny size and multiple legs, dust mites can easily move through the air on the slightest of air currents, such as changing the sheets or sweeping. Not only are dust mites less than pleasant to think about, they can also cause real respiratory problems. Air purifiers can help to eliminate these little parasites by pulling them out of the air and trapping them in the filter, leaving you with cleaner, healthier air.
Bottom line: For this need, choose a unit with a HEPA filter or consider a high-quality electrostatic unit. Check out our page on air purifiers for clean indoor air.
- Asthma: Air cleaners can positively impact your indoor environment if you suffer from asthma. Asthma triggers saturate indoor air and an air purifier can help to diminish them. Thousands of people have breathed the difference an air purifier can make in their lives. There are many units on the market today designed to target asthma triggers. They can add a real piece of mind, knowing you are doing all you can to stop an asthma attack before it starts.
Bottom line: For this need, choose a unit with a HEPA filter, to address the particles that can trigger an attack, and carbon filtration, to address things like perfumes and other indoor chemical pollutants that can aggravate asthma conditions. Check out our asthma air purifiers.
- Smoke: Smoke (from your fireplace, cooking, or smoking tobacco) can cause a number of issues in your indoor environment. Getting rid of the smoke and counteracting the smell is an important issue for many people. Air cleaners can greatly affect smoke in your indoor environment. If this is your number one concern, then choose a unit that is specifically designed to handle this problem. There are filter units with carbon as well as electrostatic units that can handle this smoky problem with ease.
Bottom line: For this need, choose a unit with a carbon filter or a high-quality electrostatic unit. Check out our smoke air purifiers.
- Chemical sensitivities: Chemical sensitivity can be divided in two categories.
First, some individuals are sensitive to one chemical or a number of chemicals present in their home and need an air purifier to address this specific issue. A high-quality unit with ample carbon and good filtration will be able to solve this problem easily.
The second type of chemically sensitive person is one who is highly reactive to most chemicals they come in contact with and, in general, that includes the glues, filters, and plastic material found in many air purifiers. If you feel you fall into the latter, don’t despair. There are great units on the market that are specially made not to off-gas. When you are ready to purchase a unit, just remember you will want to take special care in choosing your air purifier, as many units claim to cause no off-gas but still do. Individuals with severe chemical sensitivities should consult our page devoted solely to air purifiers that do not off-gas and are designed for individuals with these specific needs. Sylvane offers a free consultation to assist you in your buying process. Allow us to find a unit that will suit your specific needs.
Bottom line: For this need, choose a specially designed unit with carbon. Check out our chemical sensitivity air purifier page.
The key to picking the right air cleaner for your indoor space lies in knowing what problems you want the unit to address.
Some air purifiers can be custom created to suit a variety of needs, such as customer-specific carbon profiling to make sure you get the right activated carbon for your chemical sensitivity. If you feel you need a customized unit, please contact us for consultation at (800) 934-9194.
Cost and Considerations
The price of an air cleaner can range from the low $200s to more than $1,000. Deciding whether to choose the low-end or high-end model can be confusing. There are real differences in models, though air purifiers generally operate in the same way: meaning air is pulled into the unit, cleaned, and then blown out—the logistics of how this is done (meaning the internal design of the unit) and the quality and quantity of clean air coming out of the unit is the basis of how each air purifier is different from one another.
You don’t have to be an air purifier expert to figure out which unit is best for your needs, you simply need to consider clearly what your needs are. For example, a customer might ask the following questions to get the process started:
- Why am I getting this unit? Allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, odors?
- Is it for a single room? Or am I trying to clean all the air in my house?
- How big is my space (estimated square footage and consider high ceilings)?
- How long do I expect the unit to last?
- What is my budget?
- How much does it cost to maintain/replace filters?
- Do I want a model I can clean electrostatic plates on rather than replace filters?
- Do I want special features, like a “change filter” indicator light or a remote control?
Answering the above questions is a useful, time-saving method to help you decide what type of unit you need to address your specific indoor air issues. Additionally, Sylvane offers product experts who can guide you through the buying process, contact us today at (800) 934-9194 for a free consultation.
Maintenance
Maintaining an air purifier is an important part of keeping the unit working effectively, and there is a certain amount of cost and effort in keeping up on this process. Certainly air purifiers work for a time as a “turn it on and forget it” appliance; however, to get the most out of your investment you must keep the filters changed on time or as needed, and if you choose an electrostatic unit, you have to be committed to cleaning the metal plates regularly. (For more information, please see our article on “Air Purifier Maintenance”.)
The cost of filters varies by unit and by type of filter, so it is important to check the price point on filters and the frequency of filter changes before you decide to purchase. Also, consider the environment in which you want the unit to function. For example, if you smoke in your home and you want a unit that will help to filter the smoke and the smell of the smoke, you will want a unit with an ample amount of carbon or an electrostatic unit—then the choice will be between the physical cleaning of electrostatic plates (usually done once a week) or the cost of replacing carbon filters as they become saturated.
Size and Efficiency
Air purifiers work best in the room they are placed in, and lose effectiveness the further you move away from that room. Therefore, single-room units cannot effectively clean the air in your entire house, as only the air that gets sucked into the unit gets cleaned. However, multiple units, or single-room units in combination with a whole-house unit is the best choice for total home air purification.
Now, to the point of deciding which air purifier will best suit your needs. When choosing what size unit to buy, you must carefully consider the size of the area you want to clean. There is a specific formula for calculating how many air exchanges per hour any unit will perform, and this is a great way to figure out if the unit you are considering will perform to your expectations (for more information on this formula, please see the section entitled CFM in this article). However, any calculation of air exchanges per hour (the ideal exchange rate is between 5-6 exchanges per hour) is only a basis or foundation for helping you to consider how a unit will perform in your home. This is true because CFM does not take into consideration the design of your home, which affects air flow from room to room, ceiling heights, the amount of furniture in your home the air must circulate around, the insulation of your rooms/home, and the amount of indoor air pollutants, such as pets and dust, that the air purifier will be addressing.
Another consideration when it comes to efficiency is the fan in a unit. A general rule of thumb is the larger and stronger the fan, the more air the unit can clean and the faster it can clean it. A unit with multiple fan speeds will allow you to customize your air cleaner to better suit your needs.
Also, remember an air purifier can markedly improve the quality of your indoor air, but it cannot eliminate pollutants completely. It won’t suck all the dust from your hard surfaces or prevent pollen from entering your house. However, it will help you to breathe easier, lessen your allergies, and give you a piece of mind that indoor air contaminants are minimized.
Calculating CFM (cubic feet per minute)
A good way to begin your search for an air purifier is figure out how to get the ideal air exchange you want in any given space. Ideal air exchange rate means how many times the air is changed (or cleaned) in one hour. This number is ideally between 5 and 6 times per hour. Many elements can affect CFM: fan speeds, insulation, air flow in the room, furniture in the room, and the amount of pollutants in the air. Those “extra” considerations aside, this is how to calculate the CFM.
Here is the formula.
CFM = Number of Cubic Feet in Your Room (Length x Width x Height)
Required Number of Air Exchanges Per Hour
See the bullets below for a step-by-step example of the formula above.
- Required ( ideal minimum) number of air exchanges per hour = 5
- Room size = 18 ft x 24 ft (length x width) multiply this number by the ceiling height of the room, which for this example is 8 ft. This gives you a total of 3456 cubic feet.
- Plug your numbers into the above formula, like this:
| CFM = |
18 ft x 24 ft x 8 ft |
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5 (air exchanges) |
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CFM =
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3456 |
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5 |
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| CFM = |
691.2 |
- You will need an air purifier that can produce at least 691 CFM.
Noise Level
Some people call it noise, others sound, and some background noise or white noise, but whatever it’s titled it does exist. You cannot find a silent air purifier because these units work by physically moving air through them, which is accomplished by a motorized fan. So even though air purifiers are not silent, the amount of sound they produce varies considerably. Many factors contribute to the range/level at which the sound becomes softer or louder. Consider the following elements when deciding what type of unit will best suit your indoor needs:
- Will the unit be in my bedroom? This is the most common area air purifiers are placed; however, this is the number one area where people find the sound the most intrusive. If you are a person who does not like any noise while falling asleep, having an air purifier with a timer that can be set to come on after you are deeply asleep might be the ideal solution.
However, on the flip side of the sound issue, many people enjoy the “white noise” created by an air purifier. It is often described as background noise, as it helps to create a relaxing calm in the room. Either way, it is important to understand that a sound will come from these units and it’s just a matter of finding the level of sound you are comfortable with, or getting a unit with the special features that will help you to minimize the sound (timer, multiple fan speeds).
- What sound level is the unit comparable to? Many units list the decibel rating of the system at each fan speed. You can compare these ratings to other indoor appliances, such as the level of sound you hear from a normal box fan or the hum of the refrigerator, which can give you a point of reference.
- Be careful to remember that sound is different to each individual, and even decibel results can sometimes be misleading as many things can affect sound level, such as position of the unit, carpeting, furniture, distance from the unit while it is running, fan speed, etc.
Special Features
Many air purifiers on the market offer an amenity of special features that can greatly enhance your air cleaning experience. These features add convenience to your life and give you the additional options that allow you to optimize your air purifier to best fit your needs. Some of the special features to consider when shopping for your air cleaner:
- Castors for ease of mobility
- Remote control
- Digital controls
- Multiple fan speeds
- Handles
- Ease of filter change
- Integrated timer
- Filter-change indicator light
Still Got Questions?
For more information on specific products and ways to improve your indoor environment, review our extensive product listings and other educational materials. Not sure what’s best for you—we can take the guess work out of decision making, contact our product experts toll free at 1 (800) 934-9194. Our goal is to make your indoor environment a healthy one.
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