Air Purifiers Buying Guide

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) reports that indoor pollution levels in American homes can be five to six times more than outdoors. This includes many types of particulate matter like pollen, pet dander, plant spores, dust mites, and residue from cigarette and cooking smoke. Purchasing a quality air purifier may help you breathe more easily.

HEPA Filters – Highly Effective Particle Arresting filters. These filters have been tested and certified as being capable of removing most types of airborne allergens.

ACH Rating - ACH stands for Air Changes per Hour. This rating tells you how many times air is circulated through an air purifier in an hour.

AHAM Accreditation - Adherence to certain manufacturing standards earns air purifiers an AHAM accreditation. AHAM is an acronym for Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

CADR Numbers - CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rates. These rates are represented in numbers and are allotted by the AHAM.

VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals found in several products used commonly in most homes. Benzene, ethylene, toluene, formaldehyde, etc., fall under this category. These chemicals, found in paints, cleaning supplies, glues, and other household items have the potential to turn into allergens.

Currently, there are three main types of air purifiers available on the market. These air purifiers are classified based on the way they filter air: mechanical, electronic, and combination.

Mechanical Air Purifiers Air purifiers of this kind are fitted with fans to pull air through HEPA filters and/or carbon charcoal filters. Health experts find HEPA air purifiers to be very effective. Mechanical air purifier fans can create a bit of noise when in use.

Electronic Air Purifiers This type uses ionizers to remove suspended particles from air. The ionizers charge the suspended particles present in the air and collect them.

This process can be performed in three main ways:

• Fans present in the purifier draw air into a chamber in the purifier. Here the particles in air are ionized (i.e.positively charged). These positively charged particles are attracted onto negatively charged surfaces as the air is directed out of the air purifier. Air purifiers of this kind are called electrostatic models.
• A charged filter is fitted in the air purifier that attracts particles from air as the air passes through it. This type of an air purifier is called an electret air purifier.
• A negative ionizing purifier discharges negatively charged particles into the room. Once out of the purifier, these negatively charged particles settle onto surfaces like walls and curtains, leaving the air safer to breathe.

Using electrical charges to clean air also releases ozone. Homes with asthma and allergy sufferers need to be careful as even small amounts of ozone can trigger asthma attacks. Larger amounts of ozone can be highly toxic.

Combination Air Purifiers Combination air purifiers use two or more kinds of filters. Generally, these air purifiers combine HEPA filters with charcol or activated carbon filters, which have the ability to absorb odors and gases. Other models may combine several pre-filters, ionizers, and a fan to do the job. A few manufacturers, like Friedrich, use a combination of different technologies to make highly effective air purifiers.

Hybrid Air Purifiers The basic structure of a hybrid air purifier is two chambers in a metal box. This is attached to the central heating or cooling duct of a home. The air passes through filters placed atop the lower chamber in the metal box and then into the room.

There is one class of air purifiers which can neutralize strong odors. These purifiers are fitted with ozone generators. Ozone has the ability to remove strong odors. However, large amounts of ozone are not considered safe for human health, per EPA specifications, but there is still no consensus on how exposure to ozone affects healthy individuals.

All air purifiers are marked with the square footage they cover. Make sure it is the same as, or at least a little more than the area of your room.

Check the ACH rating of purifiers to evaluate their performance. If there are allergy sufferers at home, you should buy a purifier with a 6 or 8 ACH rating.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers tests and certifies air purifiers. Check for the AHAM seal. The test report will give Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) numbers for dust, pollen, and tobacco smoke - the three most common indoor air pollutants. A comparison of CADR numbers of different models will help you evaluate their performance.

Check for cost and frequency of filter replacements. Some air purifiers are fitted with washable filters that are dishwasher safe. Air purifiers that are fitted with combination HEPA and carbon filters will need replacements of both types at different times. Check with the manufacturer for an annual maintenance program that includes filter changes. Remember, a cheap air purifier that needs frequent filter changes can work out to be more expensive over time.

The noise level of an air purifier is another aspect that needs to be considered carefully. Noisy purifiers can turn out to be a real bother. A demonstration before the actual purchase will help you decide if the noise level is tolerable. Air purifiers that are labeled ‘quiet operation’ should be chosen for bedrooms and living areas. The extra cost involved will be more than worth it.

An air purifier needs to run continuously in order to be effective. Find out how much running the air purifier will add to your utility bill. Be sure to look for an energy efficiency label to keep this cost down.

Check out the duration of the warranty and also what it covers. A ten year warranty will not be very useful if it does not cover the fan, motor, and other components. Some manufacturers link the warranties to filter replacement purchase plans.

The prices of air purifiers depend upon size and quality: For every 250 square feet that must be covered, you will need an air purifier capable of processing approximately 100 CFM (cubic feet per minute). Console or tabletop air purifiers come in small sizes that have a 100-150 CFM rating. Bigger models give more output. Room models generally start at 400 CFM.

Manufacturers like Rubbermaid, Hunter and Holmes give you small compact tabletop air purifiers that can give coverage for up to 200 sq ft. Such compact models are generally fitted with replaceable HEPA filters. These can be bought in the $15-$30 price range.

Quiet air purifiers for small rooms typically cost between $50-$100. Most top manufacturers make compact, quiet air purifiers in this price range. Replaceable HEPA filters are a common feature. Area coverage may vary between 200-500 sq ft.

The $100-$200 price range will bring you compact air purifiers with features like replace filter indicators and germicide filters. Surround Air, Hunter, Hamilton Beach, Honeywell and Frontgate offer several models.

$200-$300 will bring you mid-sized air purifiers that can easily purify the air in a 400 sq ft-500 sq ft room. Most of the air purifiers in this category have a very low noise level and are equipped with a replace filter indicator. Austin, Sharp, Honeywell, Whirlpool, and Allen make popular models.

$300-$500 will get you slightly larger console units with a capacity of purifying rooms that measure up to 600 sq ft. Air purifiers that can be integrated with existing heating and/or cooling systems are also available. Different manufacturers use different types of combination filters. Console units often feature sleek designs to blend easily into any kind of décor.

$600 and more represents high-end models. These are capable of removing gases, bacteria, viruses, and dust particles from the air in your homes. HEPA filters suffice for allergy and asthma sufferers. If you are looking for air purifiers for people with specific medical conditions, there is a whole range of models fitted with germicidal filters to choose from. Most high-end air purifiers are fitted with efficient filters and large fans.

IQAir
Ionic Pro
Honeywell
Whirlpool
Hunter
Hamilton Beach
Holmes Products
Austin Air
Surround Air
Blueair
Alen