Where Can I Buy An Air Purifier

Air purifiers have spiked in popularity since the pandemic and the fact that more of us are working from home than ever before. An air purifier will essentially filter any airborne pollutants from your air, such as smoke, pollen and dust, and some have also been advertised as capable of capturing particles carrying the COVID-19 coronavirus.

where can i buy an air purifier

The first step to filtering out air purifiers (no pun intended) is figuring out how much space you want your device to clean. Small desktop devices aren't effective in large living spaces, while larger, heavy-duty air purifiers may be overkill in your kid's bedroom.

One way to find the best fit is to look at "air changes per hour." This metric may be included in your air purifier's specs. It can help you understand how filtration works in practice, as a smaller air purifier could turn over the air in a 350-square-foot room eight times in an hour but manage just four air changes per hour in a 700-square-foot room.

Some air purifiers are better at filtering out certain types of pollutants than others. If your main concern is cigarette smoke, for example, you may need a different device than someone who lives with a lot of pets.

Air purifiers are rated based on how well they filter different pollutant sizes. While most air purifiers are similar across the board, some are slightly more effective at catching dust and dander than smoke (or vice versa).

Most air purifiers are labeled with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) number, a metric developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (opens in new tab) (AHAM) that helps consumers understand how effective a device is at filtering various particles in a specific room size.

Also, keep in mind that an air purifier's CADR rating reflects the best-case scenario. These numbers are determined in controlled testing environments. Variables in your home, such as drafts or dampness, may prevent your air purifier from hitting its optimal rating.

Finally, not every air purifier is tested using the CADR system. The manufacturer of the IQAir HealthPro Plus (opens in new tab), one of our recommended models, has not submitted the device for AHAM testing. Read independent reviews to get an idea of how well an air purifier works in these instances.

The air purifiers we recommend use mechanical filtration, meaning that their filters physically trap the pollutants that pass through them. Your air purifier likely has at least two such filters: a prefilter, which catches large particles like pet hair, and the main filter, which nabs smaller pollutants.

What really matters is your air purifier's main filter. In general, you'll want to look for an air purifier that uses a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, the standard recommended by the EPA and the American Lung Association.

Some air purifiers advertise filtration processes that rely on ionizers or ultraviolet (UV) light. The effectiveness of these devices isn't well demonstrated. They may also produce ozone, which is a lung irritant that could make any breathing-related problems worse rather than better.

Most air purifiers have internal fans that pull air through a series of filters. Some of these fans are practically silent, especially on low settings. Others make a humming sound as you turn them up.

You'll find noise-level ranges measured in decibels in your device's specs. We've seen air purifiers, such as the Blueair Blue Pure 411, rated as low as 17 dB (similar to rustling leaves). Others, such as the Austin Air HealthMate HM400 (opens in new tab), can reach noise levels of more than 60 dB (akin to an AC unit 100 feet away).

The larger and heavier air purifiers are best kept stationary, though some come with casters for portability. If you want to use your air purifier in your home office during the day, your living room in the evening and your bedroom overnight, look for a smaller device or one that rolls.

As we've mentioned, the size of an air purifier is loosely correlated to the size of the room it can effectively clean, so the best option for your nursery probably won't be the right choice for a family room that's three or four times larger.

The up-front cost of your air purifier matters if you're on a budget, but don't assume you'll be done paying for the device once you have set it up in your home. You'll have to periodically replace the filters on an ongoing basis.

Air purifiers are most effective when they're running almost constantly, so you'll also want to factor in electricity costs. Some of the air purifiers we recommend are Energy Star-certified, but each one pulls varying amounts of power depending on the fan speed you're using.

You can usually find your air purifier's estimated energy usage in the product specs. We've seen devices that supposedly draw as little as 1.5 watts on low, as well as power-hungry ones that draw more than 200 watts on high. You may not even notice the impact of the former on your electricity bill, but the latter could add up.

These extras can add convenience to an air purifier, but they're not necessarily worth the added expense. For instance, you could set a calendar reminder to change your filter based on your air purifier's maintenance schedule, so you don't need the filter replacement light.

However, the smart connectivity can be useful if it displays the difference the air purifier is having on the environment. Dyson's models are known for doing this. That way you can see the current quality of the air to much greater detail.

Our top air purifier pick, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty (opens in new tab), includes several of these nice-to-have features and is reasonably priced. But in general, we'd recommend prioritizing other factors if your budget is a concern.

There is no single air purifier that's right for everyone. When you're shopping for an air purifier, always look first at the CADR ratings and filter types to get an idea of how effective the air purifier will be for your specific needs.

Once you've identified an air purifier that offers the best filtration for common pollutants in your home and that is the right size for your space, evaluate secondary features like noise levels and portability. Also make sure that the air purifier's energy costs and ongoing maintenance costs are within your budget.

The best ways to improve indoor air quality are to remove the pollutant sources and ventilate with fresh, clean outdoor air. Room air purifiers can help when those methods are insufficient or not possible.

Still, there are caveats. The scientific and medical communities have not definitively linked the use of air purifiers to health benefits, because reported health benefits are inconsistent among participants and there have been very few long-term studies. Plus, some studies had other variables at play, such as the regular use of a vacuum cleaner (CR can help you choose one of those, too) or protective pillow covers, and the removal of pets from the bedroom, all of which can affect results.

Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO): Some air purifiers use ultraviolet radiation and a photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide, to produce hydroxyl radicals that oxidize gaseous pollutants. Depending on the pollutant, this reaction can generate harmful byproducts, such as ozone, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. CR does not currently test air purifiers with PCO technology. There have been few field investigations exploring the effectiveness of PCO air purifiers, but one laboratory study, conducted by researchers at Syracuse University in New York, reported that the devices did not effectively remove any of the VOCs typically found in indoor air.

Because most air purifiers have several speed settings, we test for dust and smoke removal both on the highest speed and at a lower speed that runs at a noise level no louder than 50 decibels. We also measure noise levels at every speed setting that a machine has. And because air purifiers must be running at all hours to be effective, we calculate annual operating costs, which include filter replacements and energy use to run the machine 24 hours a day for an entire year.

The very best models in our tests effectively sanitize the air of dust, smoke, and pollen. CR recommends more than two dozen models in our air purifier ratings, and most use a HEPA filter; a handful also have carbon filters.

Cost of replacement filters: As a general rule, you should replace filters (or clean those that can be vacuumed) every six to 12 months for pleated filters and every three months for activated carbon filters. Most of the units we test have an indicator light that lets you know when to change (or clean) the filter. The costs of filters vary widely: In our tests of large air purifiers, they range from $20 to more than $200. Filters with odor-removing carbon can cost as much as $50.

Certifications: There are a couple of labels you may want to look for on the packaging. The first one is the Energy Star logo. Air purifiers must run around the clock to be effective, and you should factor in the energy cost when you shop. Energy Star certified purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than standard models.

The CADR reflects, in cubic feet per minute, the volume of clean air that an air purifier produces on its highest speed setting. For example, a purifier with a CADR of 250 for dust particles reduces particle levels of dust to the same concentration that would be achieved by adding 250 cubic feet of clean air each minute. The higher the CADR, the faster and more efficient the air purifier is. Room air purifiers with HEPA filters often achieve the highest CADR. In our tests, a CADR above 240 receives an Excellent rating; 240 to 180, Very Good; 179 to 120, Good; 119 to 60, Fair; and under 60, Poor.

There are different CADR ratings for removing tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen. Focus on the CADR for your main pollutant of concern. For instance, if you live with a smoker, choose an air purifier that has a high CADR for tobacco smoke. 041b061a72