Buyers guide: What to consider when buying an air purifier
Here is a guide to some features to keep in mind before buying an air purifier. There are many different systems available in the market, and it can make you confused. Consider these points discussed below to make the right choice for your air purifier.
Are air purifiers good for health?
Yes! The right type of Air Purifier is good for your health. But the wrong type can cause health issues. So, one must always keep in mind to buy HEPA filter-based air purifiers that produce no harmful by-products.
Do Air Purifiers get rid of the smell in rooms?
Air Purifiers work to remove odour or unpleasant smells by using a fan to cycle the air in the room. Air purifiers with activated carbon filters absorb the chemicals to reduce smells around the area.
Can air purifiers remove urine smell?
Yes, air purifiers are good at removing any odour, especially the smell of pet urine and the kind.
Does an air purifier remove cigarette smoke?
As mentioned earlier, it removes all kinds of odour, so it also removes cigarette smoke when the air purifier cleans the air.
Do air purifiers remove dog smell?
Yes, an air purifier will remove pet odour as long as the system includes activated carbon filters. They also remove pet dander which sometimes causes allergies.
Does an Air Purifier consume a lot of electricity?
Compared to the energy consumed by a light bulb or your computer, air purifiers are more energy-efficient than most of your electric devices! The typical air purifier power is approximately 50 watts compared to a 60 watts light bulb and 365 watts computer. Thus, Air purifiers consume less electricity.
Where should I place my air purifier?
Don’t support your air purifier in the corner of a room. It’s best to keep it in a hallway or a room with the highest air exchange within the house. Also, place the air purifier on either the floor, towel units, or desks.
Remember to always place the air purifier at least 3-5 feet off the ground. Do not place any obstacles in front of an air purifier. You should never set an air purifier in a kitchen or the bathroom. These rooms have more humidity which will strain the proper functioning of the air purifier.
So which is the best place to place an air purifier?
To answer this, we need to look for
- The rooms have the largest concentration of pollutants like mould infestations.
- Rooms with odours or smoking rooms.
Do not place the air purifier near electronic devices like TV, microwave, etc. Keep at least a 5 feet distance in case you place it near one. For maximum efficiency, keep moving the air purifier around the rooms. They are portable for this reason only!
How long does it take for an air purifier to clean a room?
The period of cleansing a room by an air purifier depends on what kind of cleaner you use. The time can vary according to the selected power setting of the system, the type of filter it uses, Air Changes per Hour (ACH), etc., of the air purifier.
The average time for an air purifier to clean a room is about 45 minutes to 3 hours. If you use the highest power setting, it will clean the room faster.
Should I leave my air purifier on all the time?
Since the air is continually polluted, it is best to leave the air purifier on all day. There are no drawbacks to keeping them running all the time. Remember to change the filter on time so that the air purifier can reduce pollutants at home.
Thus, you can leave them on all day without worrying about your electricity bill.
Does an air purifier help with a stuffy nose?
Air purifiers cannot help with an existing cold, but they can help ease the symptoms by removing the irritants from the air in the room. They can relieve and prevent nasal congestion as it removes the instigators of nasal congestion.
Air Purifiers can help with sinus infections as well. Since it removes allergens and other pollutants from the air at home, it removes all possible pollutants that cause sinus infections.
Can an air purifier make you sick?
No! An air purifier’s job is to clean the air in the room where we can place it, so the answer is a definite no. It cleans and rids the air in the space of most pollutants that will make you sick. Unless the air purifier is of bad quality or the filter is not changed in a while, the air purifier will never make you sick.
Who needs an air purifier?
- People with Asthma - Air cleaners are the best solution for people who have Asthma and like diseases. It removes pollen and particles from the air, which prevents them from reacting to the air in the room.
- Households with pets - homes with pets have a dire need for air purifiers to prevent allergies due to pet hair or dander and odours. It will allow them to live with pets rather than choose between their pets and their quality of life.
- Breathing problems - the filter system in the air purifiers removes the harmful contaminants, thus protecting the respiratory tracts of the people who suffer from breathing problems.
- Households with children - air purifiers will filter out the dangerous contaminants in the air. It will enhance their immune system and protect their respiratory system.
- Households with smokers - to reduce the risks of diseases from secondhand smoke, air purifiers will get rid of the smoke before it causes damage.
What features should you look for in an air purifier?
Along with carbon filters, HEPA, or UV filters, you can refer to these features as well before buying an air purifier.
- Filter Life indicator – unless you write it down somewhere or set a reminder, you will most likely forget the date to change the filters. Therefore, it is always good to be safe and buy an air purifier that indicates the filter life and alerts you when changing it.
- No or low ozone – whether you are an environmentally friendly kind of person or not, it is always safer to use a low ozone emitting air purifier. Not only will the ozone affect the environment, but it will also cause breathing problems and increase infections as well. So, stay clear from ozone generators.
- Automatic air quality monitor – some systems have automatic air quality monitors, which come in handy if the system is in an isolated location.
- Quiet operation – you should look for quiet operating air purifiers to lower the noise level. Some systems are more peaceful than others, so look out for those. These will be preferable for households with babies and small children.
Read also: Best Humidifier for a bedroom.
Taotronics hepa air purifier
TaoTronics HEPA Air Purifier is a compact air filter for the home. It cleans the house of allergens, pet hair, pollen, odours, and dust. This system has advanced filtration and rapid purification, quiet operation, and four fan speeds and comes with an optional night light.
It has a two-year warranty when bought. You should replace the filter of the Air purifier at least once every 3 to 6 months. This filter does not support any App or remote control.
The system weighs only 1.74 kg, so it is effortless to move around. Since it has a 3 stage filtration system, it cleans the air in the room of 99.97% pollutants.
Choose if:
This product is best suitable for people who have smaller rooms.
You can use it in a bedroom or an office.
Pros
- Portable and efficient.
- Quiet in operation.
Cons
- The size is too small for bigger rooms.
Philips air purifier series 1000
The Philips Air Purifier has an upgraded VItaShield IPS technology that filters the harmful particles in the room's air. It also has HEPA protection which removes 99.97% of particles. This system has an automatic purification mode that effectively removes pollution and other harmful particles in the air. It also sends real-time air quality feedback.
The system also has a UI touch system which makes it easy to handle and use. The ECARF and Airmid have also credited this product.
Choose if:
You want a quiet air purifier.
The night sensing mode rapidly prepares your bedroom air for sound sleep and keeps monitoring air quality in the room.
Pros
- It has a child lock which prevents unintended setting changes.
- It sends alerts to you when you need to change the filters.
Cons
- Sometimes the filters don’t work after changing.
Philips series 2000 air purifier
The Philips Series 2000 Air Purifier has three auto modes, a real-time indoor feedback system, and intelligent light control. It has low noise at sleep mode, and the brilliant light will control the amount of light it displays.
The Healthy Air Lock feature and the Alert for filter change feature guarantees consistent, clean air in the room. It removes 99.9% of harmful pollutants in the room and sends automatic feedback. It removes odours and other smells in the house.
It also has multiple settings- silent, speed 1, 2, 3, and turbo and, as mentioned before, three auto modes. The VitaShield naturally purifies and filters the air in the room, assuring quality air.
Choose if:
Your home has heavy smokers, or people are prone to smoke from outside. It also has low noise in sleep mode, so great if you want it on at night.
Pros
- It removes dust particles within a 40-50 minute time-lapse.
- It is a good product for people with problems with nose congestions.
Cons
- The filter life span is too short.
Philips fy1410/30 nano protect hepa filter series 3
The Philips FY1410/30 filters common allergens, bacteria, dust, pollution, and some viruses. It maintains clean and breathable air in the room. It has a two-year warranty and works well in rooms prone to odours or mould infestations.
It is made to filter 99.97% of germs and particles in the air and has high filtration efficiency. It has intelligent purification with the NanoProtect HEPA filter series 3.
Choose if:
It works well in homes prone to odours or mould infestations, plus it does a good job at removing pollutants causing breathing problems.
Pros
- It can filter all types of pollutants and mould particles.
- It relieves some symptoms of hay fever.
Cons
- Filter replacements are pricier than other systems and are not readily available.