Things to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier [Infographic]
Air purifiers are used to help clear indoor air of harmful pollutants and irritants. Even if you have a great seal on your windows, your home’s concentration of some pollutants if often two to five times higher than the outdoors. Pollutants can irritate anyone, but can especially be hurtful for those with allergies, asthma, pets, and for those that smoke.
Buying the right air purifier can clean the air of those pollutants, leaving you breathing easier and healthier.
There are several considerations when deciding on the right air purifier for you.
View the infographic below for Things to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier.
Using an air purifier will help create cleaner, healthier air in your home or office, so you can enjoy better indoor air quality. Here are things to consider when buying an air purifier.
Why do you need an air purifier?
Air purifiers are the best way to clean your air indoors, which may be polluted and full of particles like pollen, dust, pet dander, mold, and more.
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Smoke
- Pets
- Chemical Sensitivities
What Size Air Purifier Do I Need?
To choose the right size air purifier for your needs, consider the square footage of the room you want to purify.
Room Size:
- Small: Up to 299 square feet
- Medium: 300 and 699 square feet
- Large: 700 and 1,900 square feet
What Features Do I Need on My Air Purifier?
After choosing the type and size of air purifier you need, consider if you need any special features.
- Energy Star-Rated: To save money and conserve energy
- Wi-Fi: Control the air purifier from your phone
- Air Quality Indicators: Get real-time updates on the quality of your air.
- Noise Rating: Less than 50dB, is suitable for the bedroom.
- Other Features: caster wheels, remote controls, multiple fan speeds, and filter change indicators.
Where Should You Put an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers are designed to purify the air in one room only, so you may need to invest in additional units for your other rooms.
- Bedroom
- Kitchen
- Living Room
- Front Door
Avoid These Placements
- Corners
- Behind or below furniture
- Away from other similar devices and electronics
How Much Maintenance is Required?
- HEPA Filters: HEPA filters last about one year, depending on use.
- Carbon Filters: Activated carbon filters last up to 6 months.
- Pre-Filters: Pre-filters generally last up to3 months
Reasons to Get an Air Purifier
There are many reasons you might need an air purifier - your city might be heavily polluted, your health might require exceptionally clean air, or your living situation dictates the need. Breathing in particles for an extended period of time can cause health issues in anyone or exacerbate those already present, such as asthma. Inhaling particles found in dust and smoke can irritate lungs, leading to asthma attacks.
Air purifiers can also help those suffering from seasonal allergies and those with pets in the house. Pollen is brought in from the outdoors and will continue to circulate in your home if the air is not cleaned. Air purifiers capture pollutants and give you much-needed relief from allergy symptoms and from the effects of pet dander.
What Size to Get
No matter how large your house is, you probably have only a few spots you like to hang out in for an extended period of time. Think about where you spend the most time and place air purifiers in those rooms. If you work from home, placing one in your home office could be the best place. If you have trouble sleeping, keeping an air purifier running while you sleep could be the best option.
No matter where you place the purifier though, you need to take into account the square footage of the room.
Small air purifier is best for spaces up to 299 square feet. Medium purifiers can cover 300 to 699 square feet and large air purifiers can be placed in a space that is 700 to 1,900 square feet.
Which Features to Look For in an Air Purifier
Buying an air purifier is like purchasing any new tech product – they come with a lot of features. You should compare different purifiers and see which features are most important to you given your space and lifestyle.
Here are some common features to consider:
Energy Star-Rated:
Air purifiers that have an official Energy Star rating will save money and conserve energy
Wi-Fi:
Controlling the purifier from your phone can have several benefits. You can have your home’s air cleaned before getting home and you can check if you turned it off after you left home.
Air Quality Indicators:
Air purifiers with air quality indicators give you real-time updates on the quality of your air.
Noise Rating:
You will need to look at the noise rating especially if you are going to have the purifier running while you are sleeping. A rating of less than 50dB is suitable for the bedroom.
Other Features:
Filter change indicators, Caster wheels, Multiple fan speeds, and remote controls.
The Best Spot for an Air Purifier
Air purifiers give you clean air but are only able to filter a certain size space. First choose the spaces that you spend the most time in. Then, if you are feeling like you need more areas cleaned, place more units throughout the house.
There are also spots to avoid if you want to get the most out of your purifier. Do not place air purifiers in corners, near other devices, or behind/below furniture.
Determining Maintenance Level
All air purifiers have filters in them, but different filters require different levels of maintenance.
HEPA Filters:
These filters last one year, depending on use.
Carbon Filters:
Activated carbon filters last up to six months.
Pre-Filters:
Pre-filters generally last up to three months.
Air purifiers in your home can give you relief from a number of health issues, have you sleeping more soundly, and give you peace of mind. Keep in mind the above and get ready to breathe easy!