Simple Air Purifier Buying Guide
Selecting the "right" air purifier is important as you want to buy the unit that meets your needs. With so many options, evolving technologies and so much information (sometimes outdated or misleading) to sort through, this can be a daunting task. Here is a simple guide to help you get started.
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Area Size |
This is a critical and sometimes very confusing step. The manufacturer's recommended coverage area is a good reference. But you need to understand the assumptions with the size recommendation. If you want to have assurance that you are getting the right size air purifier, check out our blog on air purifier size. |
| Concern | What pollutants do you want to clear out? Air purifiers can help with allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, smoke, dust, and much more. |
| Price Range | Smaller, more affordable models may work well for those with less need(s) or cover smaller sized rooms. More powerful models cost more and often translate to having much more space cleaned or higher cleaning efficiency. Keep on-going maintenance in mind regarding replacement filters and energy cost. For example, if the filter(s) need to be replaced every 3 months, remember to add the filter replacement cost to understand the total cost of ownership every year. |
| Noise Level | Air purifiers will generate some noise. Everyone's sensitivity is different. For example, some prefer certain sound to help them sleep while others prefer absolute quietness. The overall amount of noise created will vary from model to model, but it is something that should be considered during the buying process. See our air purifier noise level reference for more details. |
| Features |
The most important feature is a machine that addresses your air purification needs. Features such as remote control, Wi-Fi capable, filter change indicator light, programmable timer are nice to have. |
| Efficacy |
For HEPA, it's typically 95% at .1 microns and 99.7% at .3 microns. For Super/Ultra HEPA or ULPA, it's typically 99.9% at .1 microns. For Ionizers and Photocatalytic Oxidation, some can destroy particles smaller than .1 microns. |
| Up Keep |
Every air purifiers require some maintenance. If you consider tasks like changing out a HEPA Filter or a Carbon Filter an annoyance to deal with, you may want to choose a model that uses a filter with a long-life or even filter-less machines. The Wattage is used to determine power consumption and ultimately how much it costs to operate. If you want to learn more you can do a full cost benefit analysis |