With so many health issues going on, it’s time to be aware of how important it is to keep indoor air quality in good condition. Fresh air is beneficial, but your indoor air may not be so. In big cities, for instance, the air inside houses or buildings can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside. Isn’t that crazy?
The chemicals in household cleaners and room deodorisers can contribute to poor air quality. You are aware that our shoes might bring allergens and other toxins into the home. You also know that you spend too much time indoors breathing in these contaminants.
And you are feeling the consequences – indoor air can cause health problems. These irritants may make you sneeze, itch your throats, and dry your eyes for months at a time. They also contribute to the spread of colds and allergies. Worse, long-term exposure to common contaminants can lead to various lung ailments.
The good news is that a high-quality air purifier can eliminate a huge amount of toxins from your home or office. The device improves indoor air quality and, as a result, your health.
With so many brands available in the market, it’s not easy to choose an air purifier. To help you make a better decision, here are the factors that you need to consider:
HEPA Filter
A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can catch up to 99% of airborne particulates. It is a typical filter in air purifiers and is made of malleable materials such as paper and cotton. Because of its composition, it needs to be replaced regularly.
When shopping for air purifiers, check if the machine has a “HEPA-type” or a “true HEPA” filter. Many sellers would say they are the same, even if they’re not. True HEPA filters are HEPA-grade filters that pass higher HEPA criteria.
Purifiers with HEPA-type filters are suitable for general usage as it effectively removes dust, dander, and pollen. However, if you need an air purifier to lessen asthma or allergy triggers, you should choose one with a true HEPA filter.
Room Dimensions
When shopping for an air purifier, consider the size of the space where you will use the device. While an air purifier can be used in any area, the size of the room can affect how successful it is in cleaning the air. Manufacturers often mention the maximum room size the machine can handle. Pay close attention to this detail to ensure the good performance of the device.
CADR Score
Another critical feature of an air purifier is the unit’s clean air delivery rate (CADR). The CADR rating reflects the amount of air a purifier can clean, derived by multiplying the purifier’s cubic feet per minute (CFM) output by the filter’s efficiency.
Essentially, this indicates how rapidly the machine works to clean your air at its maximum pace. In a more polluted setting, such as a house with a wood-burning fireplace, an air purifier with a high CADR rating can help stabilize air quality inside the room.
Costs
As with anything, the price is important, especially if you’re on a tight budget. However, you must be cautious and look beyond the first payment. To get the most from your money, you must consider two long-term costs: energy efficiency and maintenance.
Energy Conservation
Air purifiers are powered by electricity. While they don’t take a lot of power, they operate for several hours a day, accumulating high energy costs in the long run. If you’re concerned about energy consumption, use an Energy Star-certified model. You can also get a purifier with a timer or an air quality monitor.
Maintenance
Air purifiers require minimal maintenance, but that little maintenance they do is expensive. HEPA filters, for example, need replacement every few months since extended use renders them inefficient.
Noise
The noise level is another factor to consider when looking for an air purifier. Because air purifiers often have many speed settings, some brands have intolerable noise levels.
The less noise an air purifier produces while working, the better. This means that you should think about where and when you want to use it. The noise level is sometimes proportional to the size and efficiency of the unit.
If you will use an air purifier in your living room, a larger, noisier unit may be more effective than a tiny, quiet one. Meanwhile, a compact, silent purifier in your bedroom while you sleep is the best option.
Smart Options
Remotes, timers, controls, and filter replacement indications are smart features that can also be very helpful depending on your lifestyle or in certain conditions.
For instance, if you live with a smoker, you will need an air purifier to help you eliminate bad odor in your house. You may simply put a smart air purifier on auto mode and configure it to shut off automatically when the air quality has improved.
Avoid Ozone-Producing Air Purifiers
The ozone layer in the atmosphere protects humans from UV radiation. However, ozone inside your house is a proven lung irritant. It can aggravate asthma symptoms and impair the body’s capacity to fight respiratory infections.
Electrostatic precipitators or ionizer air purifiers electronically charge pollutants as they enter the device, producing a tiny quantity of ozone as a byproduct. Because many of the best air filters utilize one or both purifying technologies (along with HEPA and carbon filters), they are tough to ignore.
Other air purifiers, known as dedicated ozone generators, create significant ozone levels. While these purifiers work great in trapping air allergens, the amount of ozone they make may not be worth the hazard it brings. Avoid buying these types of air purifiers.