Purchasing an Air Purifier? Here’s What You Need to Know
Been looking to pick up an air purifier lately but not sure what makes one a good choice over another? The options can seem overwhelming. You’ll find that most large retailers and online shops will proudly boast about how many classes their products are certified in. These certifications help you know the performance levels of the machines and allow you to pick the best machine for your needs. Read on to know what you need to look out for when purchasing an air purifier.
Quick Tips
-Look out for a purifier that’s good at filtering out pollutants specific to your health or home needs. For example, cigarette smoke, removing pet dander, etc.
-Compare CADR ratings. This will show you how effectively an air purifier filters specific pollutants.
-Pick a device that uses a HEPA filter as it’s the gold standard for indoor air purifiers.
-Analyze the noise levels in product specs. Depending on where you’ll be using your air purifier, you may want a quieter device.
-Calculate the air purifier’s maintenance and electricity costs. This can help you budget beyond your initial purchase.
-Skip bonus features like app integration, unless money is no object.
Choosing the Right Air Purifier for Your Room Size
The first step to picking out air purifiers is figuring out how much space you want your device to clean. Small devices aren’t very effective in large living spaces, while larger, heavy-duty air purifiers may be overkill. Instead, look at “air changes per hour.” This metric will be included in your air purifier’s specs. Analyzing it can help you understand how filtration works in practice
The Types of Pollutants and Air Purifiers
Some air purifiers work better at filtering out certain types of pollutants than others. If your target concern is cigarette smoke, you’ll need a different device than someone who lives with a lot of pets. Air purifiers are rated on how well they filter different pollutant sizes. While most air purifiers are similar, some are slightly more effective at catching dust than smoke or vice versa. If odors are your primary concern, you should find a purifier that comes with an activated carbon filter.