Do air purifiers really work? How can you tell if an air purifier is working? Since air purifiers remove particles of all sizes, from pet hair to microscopic pollutants, it's sometimes difficult to tell if an air purifier is really making a difference when you can't actually see the pollutant-removing process.
If “seeing is believing,” then there are a few easy ways to tell if your air purifier is working.
- Do Air Purifiers Really Work?
- How Air Purifiers Work and What They Eliminate
- How to Know an Air Purifier is Working
- Common Air Quality Misconceptions
Do Air Purifiers Really Work?
How Air Purifiers Work and What They Eliminate
An air purifier draws dirty indoor air in and pushes it through either a single filter or a series of filters that trap and remove airborne particles. Then the freshly cleaned air is released into your space. Air purifiers effectively work on:
- Unpleasant odors
- Dust
- Smoke
- Allergens/pollen
- Viruses
- Pet hair and dander
To completely clean the air, this process repeats several times over the course of an hour to effectively remove pollutants and maintain a clean environment. Air purifiers are available as stand-alone models, whole-house installations, or commercial models.
How to Know if an Air Purifier is Working
Onboard Air Quality Monitoring
Most air purifiers test room air quality in real time using one or more onboard sensors to check for airborne dust and other particles. These air purifiers typically have color displays on their control panel that quickly show you the quality of your air; for example, green is usually a sign that your air is clean, while red signifies a high amount of pollutants. The air purifiers will also adjust to clean faster if airborne particles are detected.
The Coway Airmega 400S is a stylish and compact air purifier that shows the current air quality on the front in a color-changing ring of dots. It shows blue and green as good air quality, green and yellow for moderate, yellow and pink for unhealthy, or pink and red for very unhealthy. The front-and-center placement of this air quality monitor lets you check the status of your air at a quick glance.
Automatic Fans
Most air purifiers feature an Auto mode, and when the fan ramps up to disperse pollutants (like smoke or odors when cooking), you may be able to audibly hear it working. Even if air purifiers don't have color displays, they likely have monitors or sensors that will allow the air purifier to adjust its fan speed based on your current air quality.
Check Your Filters
A dirty filter cuts down efficiency and makes your air purifier work harder, just like how a dirty furnace filter in your HVAC system can make the entire system slow down when you need it most. If it's been 6 months or so since the last time you replaced the filter, pop open that air purifier to check it.
How You Feel
The changes may be subtle, but most people notice an improvement in their sleep, sinus issues, and overall health when they use air purifiers. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, adding an air purifier to your bedroom can help you sleep more easily. Dirty air also impacts your ability to focus and concentrate, often resulting in headaches, dizziness, and fatigue to the point where you can't get any work done; with an air purifier in your office, you can breathe easier while working.
Common Air Quality Misconceptions
“Air Quality Doesn't Really Matter”
This is a particularly inaccurate misconception. Since we spend most of our time indoors, living with poor air quality can lead to a number of health issues, both short- and long-term. Because of this, indoor air quality is in many ways more important than outdoor air quality. The EPA lists important statistics about the health risks and effects of poor indoor air quality.
“House Plants Clean Air, So My Air Quality is Fine”
This is technically true, but only to an extent. While certain plants can help improve your air quality, as evidenced by studies like this one from Lung.org, you can't expect house plants to remove pet hair, dust, and lung-infection-causing particles from your air. Most studies about house plants are done in controlled environments without outside factors, resulting in unrealistic findings.
“I Don't Need to Change My Air Purifier Filters”
Unfortunately, this is the most common misconception about air purifiers and their required maintenance. A dirty and clogged filter can't catch airborne particles, which means there is a higher rate of accumulated pollutants in your air the longer it takes for you to replace the filter. In fact, it slows the air purifier down, making it work harder and reducing its efficiency and life expectancy. Most filters need to be replaced every 6 months, so add a reminder to your calendar – some air purifiers work with a mobile app that sends you automatic notifications when the filter needs changing.
“Air Purifiers are Big and Bulky”
As air purifiers have added and upgraded technology, like real-time air quality sensors, Wi-Fi capabilities, and improved filtration, their designs are also changing from unsightly big and bulky to small and slim. A compact air purifier easily fits into your space with an unobtrusive design and is usually lightweight and portable. They range in size and coverage capabilities, so you can pinpoint exactly what you need.
The Coway AP-1512HH is one of the highest-rated compact air purifiers. Weighing only 15 pounds, it can be placed just about anywhere. It delivers 268 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of clean air, features 4-stage filtration, and is packed with programmable features.â
With a simple and modern design, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i+ Max Air Purifier is a popular choice, as it uses HEPASilent technology in its filtration system to clean up to 1,116 square feet in just 30 minutes. It's customizable, too, with different pre-filter color options (sold separately) to blend seamlessly with your home's aesthetic.
If you're looking for a sleek, modern air purifier, look no further than the Dyson TP10 Purifier Cool Gen1, which is actually a combination air purifier and cooling fan. A HEPA filter inside a completely sealed system ensures that once trapped, particles don't return to your indoor air.
"Air Purifiers are Loud"
We get it: the last thing you want to add to your home is an air purifier that sounds like a spaceship getting ready for launch.
We've noticed that the first thing a customer does upon opening their new air purifier is to test it out by turning it to the highest fan speed. As the fan generates more power, this creates more noise, and immediately, the customer thinks their air purifier is too loud. Some air purifiers have powerful fans that create some noise – how else could they clean air in spaces up to 1,000 square feet?
However, standard household air purifiers are quiet when running on medium or low fan speeds. If you use your air purifier regularly, your air quality will be at a level where it won't need to run at a high fan speed. Most air purifiers automatically adjust the fan speed based on the quality of your air. For example, if you have an air purifier in or near your kitchen, it may kick on to a high fan speed while you cook and briefly after (creating a lot of noise). But once the air goes through the filters, the air purifier quickly returns to a normal speed and sound level.
If you're looking for a quiet air purifier, especially for a bedroom, Rabbit Air Air Purifiers are known to be one of the quietest brands, like the Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier that reaches a maximum of 51.3 dB, similar to a running refrigerator.
“Air Purifiers are Expensive”
Air purifiers vary in price from under $100 to over $1,000, so there's quite a range to find one that fits your budget. To help narrow it down, there are a number of money-saving features to look for:
- Energy Star Rating: Air purifier models with the EPA-driven Energy Star label use less energy and cost less to operate, saving you money over time.
- Automatic Mode: Turning your air purifier on Auto will let it activate when there is a high volume of pollutants in the air, like in response to smoke or odors when cooking.
- Programmable Timer: If your air purifier has a timer, you can set it to turn off in advance instead of running continuously. This is especially helpful with an air purifier in your bedroom, as putting the fan speed on the lowest setting also keeps it at the quietest noise level to not disturb your sleep.
- Long Filter Life: One of the most important parts of an air purifier is the filter, so consider how maintenance requirements fit into your lifestyle. Most HEPA filters last between 6 and 12 months, but select brands last for up to 5 years.
If you have severe allergies, need commercial-grade air cleaning, or live in a particularly dirty environment, a high-end air purifier gets the job done with reliable results. Take a look at Airpura Air Purifiers for some options to solve those problems.
Still Have Questions?
If you're ready to take the next step in investing in clean air for you, your family, and your home, but still have questions about what kind of air purifier is best for you, call our experts at 1-800-934-9194. We're happy to help you with any of your indoor air quality needs.
