Having an air purifier in your home can help with the quality of life and health for you, your family, and your pets. With so many different models to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?
Here are some information and tips on what to look out for before purchasing a new air purifier that will keep both you and those around you breathing easy.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
You’re probably wondering what the fuss is about and why people love air purifiers. We’re going to tell you ALL about it!
Not only do they clean the air, but they also improve your health. How? Well, air purifiers remove all the pollution from the air – small particles that come from cooking, motor emissions, dust, smoke and allergens that can irritate your respiratory system and cause health issues or allergies. If you’re a person who has asthma, you’ll absolutely love these machines!
According to research, our indoor air actually has more pollution than outdoor air. That’s insane, right? It’s due to poor ventilation and a compact area that contains a lot of polluting elements – pets, motors, stoves etc.
Let’s dive into this more.
Air purifiers filter the air; therefore, the best ones are the ones with specialised filters. Filters like the HEPA filter or the PECO filter. The atmosphere is purified by the air purifier, which deactivates toxins or uses an ultraviolet light steriliser that kills mould and other bacteria. Some use an electrostatic filter which attracts particles to a metal plate on the inside. Generally, most air purifiers combine attracting and also trapping particles for cleaner air in your home.
Air Purifier Filters
Let’s dive deeper into filters. As mentioned above, a HEPA filter and a PECO filter are the most common and useful filters on the market.
1. The HEPA Filter
HEPA means ‘high efficiency particulate air.’ These filters are specifically made to clean up 99.7% of all particles in your home or office, even as small as 0.3 microns and larger. The non-profit Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology tests all air purifiers so you can have the cleanest air possible. The HEPA attracts particles with a fan and traps them in its fibres.
2. The PECO Filter
PECO means ‘photoelectrochemical oxidation.’ It uses reactive atoms that break particles down at a molecular level. They remove and deactivate smoke, gases, bacteria and mould in the air, where the HEPA only filters these out of the air.
Benefits of Air Purifiers
If you have asthma or your lungs are easily irritated by dust and such, buying an air purifier can do you so much good. Asthma attacks are sure to decrease with a machine like that in your home.
It also helps clean out the air of harmful bacteria, dust and gasses that might make you ill, cause allergic reactions or cause lung diseases.
Today, the coronavirus is hard on those with respiratory issues, so if you can prevent your lungs from being under other pressures, you might not be sensitive to the virus’s symptoms.
How to Choose the Best Air Purifier
You might be wondering how you’ll ever choose the right one. Well here are a few tips:
- Consider your needs – if you have pets, you’d most likely want to get rid of foul odours, pet hairs and pet-related dust and particles in the air. Other people who live in a very humid area might be concerned about mould. There are cleaners designed to deal with mould mainly.
- Consider different filters – some filters can be washed and reused, others need to be replaced every 3-6 months, depending on the filter. This will affect your budget, and it requires a lot of maintenance. Make sure to consider this when choosing an air purifier.
- Consider the CADR (clean air delivery rate) rating, the speed at which it cleans air – this will determine how often you’d need to run your air purifier and how much you’ll pay for electricity. Some cleaners have a high CADR score, and you’ll only have to run it for a short amount of time, saving you electricity.
- How frequently would you use the cleaner? If you want the air to be clean only when there’s someone home, you’ll only have to run it a bit before you get home and until you leave again. Some purifiers have settings to turn on and off on a timer, perfect for that scenario.
- Consider the room size – some air purifiers don’t work well in large rooms.
- Consider maintenance level – if you don’t have enough time to maintain it, get one that only needs its filter replaced twice a year or so, otherwise get one whose filter can be reused, for example.
What We Looked at in Air Purifiers
We reviewed so many air purifiers to showcase only the top purifiers on the market. To find them, we looked at their filters, their aesthetics, their price-to-quality ratio. We also looked at purifiers for different room sizes and office spaces that need industrial purifiers. We also looked at noise levels and efficacy on lower power levels etc.
After considering all these aspects, we reviewed the top purifiers for you to check out. After reading our detailed reviews, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which purifier to buy. You won’t be sorry!
3 Ways to Keep Air Clean
Once an air purifier cleans your air, it’s a good idea to minimise dirtying the air again.
- Open windows during the day if possible.
- Make sure your aircon is often running so that your air continues circulating throughout the day.
- While cooking, make use of an exhaust fan.
Popular Questions
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
How Do Air Purifiers Keep You Healthy?
What Are the Most Common Filters to Use?
Are There Any Benefits to Getting an Air Purifier?
In Conclusion
The air purifier market is a quickly evolving space. With new products coming to the forefront every day, it’s hard for customers to know if they are making the right decision when purchasing an air purifying device.
If you want to be sure that your air purifier is the right choice for you, make sure you do your research before investing in a new product and know what features you need. We hope this article has helped you understand how to pick an air purifier and what factors are important in the decision.
