Before you purchase an air purifier make sure you understand the different types of air purifiers. Different purifiers use various cleaning and purifying technologies. Your first step is to identify what air quality issues are most important to your health. From here, it will be easier to select a purifier that will satisfy your needs. The following tips can suggest key aspects to look out for when shopping for an air purifier.
1. What do you need?
Do you need an air purifier for allergens, pollen, gas, dander, smoke, etc? Determine what contaminants you want the air purifier to remove and meet your health concerns. This will help you choose the right system because certain air filters are built to remove certain contaminants.
2. Filter efficiency
The efficiency of an air purifier can be measured by the particle size being captured. 0.3 microns or smaller is an excellent capture size for any air purifier. Pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and bacteria are in between 0.3 to 5 microns. A HEPA filter can easily trap these contaminants or anything bigger than 0.3 microns.
Contaminants such as viruses, chemical fumes and cigarette smoke are smaller than 0.3 microns and cannot be filtered out by HEPA filters. If you are looking to remove these contaminants you will need to purchase an ionizer, activated carbon filter, or an Ultraviolet air purifier.
3. Clean air delivery rate
The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a standard measurement of the total volume of air that an air purification system can cleanse of a specific pollutant in one hour. A higher number indicates the unit is more efficient in cleaning the air of that particular pollutant. Another measurement to note is the Cubic feet per minute (CFM). This is the amount of air that flows through the purifier per minute. This is important because you will not receive the full value of your air purifier if the amount of air filtered per minute is very small. For reference, 350-400 CPM is a more powerful air purifier.
4. Noise level
Operating noise can become a concern when the system is running 24 hours a day. Most air purification manufactures list a decibel rating for each air purifiers fan speed. Use the chart below to get an idea for the level of sound an air purifier will make based on its decibel measurement.
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10 dB
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Breathing
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20 dB
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Falling Leaves
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30 dB
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Whisper
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40 dB
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Raindrops
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50 dB
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Average Home
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60 dB
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Normal Conversation
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70 dB
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Vacuum Cleaner
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5. Reliability & Warranty
If you purchase a cheap air purifier with a short warranty, you may find yourself replacing the unit sooner than you would like. Choose an established manufacturer with a comprehensive warranty. The best warranties are those offering five years on the main fan and motor parts. A reliable purifier should not have any problems with the components as long as the filters are being periodically cleaned or replaced.
Purchasing a quality air purification system is a big investment and should not be taken lightly as it will have an impact on the health of your family. Do your research on the available technologies and always buy from a reputable manufacturer or retailer that is willing to work with you to determine which system is best for your needs and provides a long-term warranty.
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