What to Look Out for When Buying an Air Purifier
When buying an air purifier, it’s crucial to check certain factors such as its HEPA filtration and ACH ratings. To reap the maximum benefits from your air purifier and avoid certain negative effects, consider the following factors:
Size Compatibility
Different air purifiers are designed to clean the air in rooms of specific sizes. Check with the customer service representatives of various brands about the compatible room size. Air purifiers are most effective when they are compatible with your room size. To save on energy bills, buy a model meant to be effective in a slightly bigger room. That way, the air purifier continues to be effective even at a lower setting.
Noise Level
Most air purifiers with HEPA filters produce noise ranging from 35 to 70 decibels. The noise level depends on your operational settings. To avoid sleep disruptions due to noise, opt for air purifiers which are effective even set to a lower noise level.
HEPA Filters
Look for true HEPA filters, avoiding purifiers with “HEPA like” or “HEPA type” filters. True HEPA filters are the most efficient because they can capture minute pathogens. If you want to avoid odors and gases as well, try air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters.
Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certification
Many household products on the market claim to control allergens, but sometimes these claims are exaggerated. To help consumers make an informed decision, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in association with Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) has created a certification program. Before certifying products, they run the products through many tests to ensure the air purifiers remove most of the harmful particles.
Once the home air purifiers clear all the tests covered under the program, they earn the “asthma & allergy friendly®” mark. The certification assures you a quality product with superior air filtration abilities, perfect for allergy sufferers as well.
Clean-Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
The air purifier’s CADR specifies its overall cleaning speed for a particular size room. It shows the speed at which the purifier can filter dust, smoke, and pollen particles (three of the most common indoor air pollutants).
Smoke particles are the smallest and can range between 0.1 to 0.3 microns. Dust particles vary between 0.5 to 3 microns, while pollen particles are around 5 to 11 microns. High CADR indicates the filters can purify the air quickly.
CADR is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). For example, an air purifier with 400 CFM will purify the air in a 400 square feet room much faster than an air purifier with 300 CFM. On average, bedrooms are between 250 to 350 square feet in size. Air purifiers with CADR 300 to 400 should be perfect for average-sized rooms.
The CADR of air purifiers is based on standards set by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).
Air Change Per Hour (ACH) Rating
The ACH rating shows the number of times per hour the entire volume of air in your room gets filtered. A higher ACH rating indicates better efficiency. If you are prone to allergies or asthma, it’s best to opt for purifiers with at least a 4x or 5x ACH rating. That way, you ensure the indoor air is filtered at a faster rate. Frequent filtration reduces the chances of leaving behind pathogens in your indoor environment.
Ozone Emission
Some air purifiers generate ozone during the filtration process. Ozone gas can be damaging to your respiratory system. Before buying, check if the air purifier emits ozone gas.
Maintenance
On average, air purifiers are priced at around £150. There are others available at a higher or lower price, depending on the type of filters, maximum room size it can filter, and the brand. When buying an air purifier, you should factor in the maintenance cost as well.
The maintenance costs are dependent on how often you have to replace your filter. You should also factor your HEPA filter use in your energy bill. Some air purifiers, such as those with UV lights, include washable filters, but they need more watts to function. This may inflate your electricity bill. UV light air purifiers may not be as effective as HEPA air cleaners because many bacterias are UV-resistant.
HEPA air cleaners are energy-efficient, but the filters should be changed once in three months for optimum benefits. Generally, replacing filters cost around £100 per year. If you buy an air purifier with a combination of filters, you may spend more on changing filters. For example, if your air purifier contains HEPA and activated carbon filters, you will have to change both filters every 3 to 4 months, and that may end up costing you more than £200 per year.