18 best air purifiers (2024): Coway, AirDoctor, IQAir
How does a busy shopper find the right size purifier for the room they want to clean? The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that people aim for it five air exchanges per hourin a metric called ACH. When looking at an air purifier, look at the number of cubic feet per minute in airflow on the lowest setting. When measuring the area of your room, you need Room area multiplied by height. Imagine a foot-sized block of Styrofoam. How many cubes can you fit into a room?
Anyone buying an air purifier needs to look for two acronyms and terms. First, look for CARB certification, which means the air purifier has passed our rigorous standards California Air Resources Board. Next, check the filter type. Below, we break down the differences. Also, don’t forget to open your filters! There’s a special horror in realizing you’re running your air purifier on a plastic-coated HEPA filter.
HEPA filter: This is one High efficiency particulate air filter can remove at least 99.97 percent of dust, mold, pollen, bacteria and airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. Its a great choice for people with allergies or respiratory problems, as it can help remove airborne particles that can cause symptoms — like sneezing, sore throat, shortness of breath, coughing, etc. , it’s worth noting that HEPA filters do not remove volatile organic compounds from the air the way activated carbon filters do. But they are often paired with carbon filters.
Activated carbon: Activated carbon filter (also called activated carbon) is High efficiency because they are very porous and have a large surface area—allowing the filters to absorb airborne pollutants, odors, and VOCs. They are Best for removing smokesmoke and chemicals from the air. But these filters must be replaced more often depending on the environment. For example, if there is a wildfire in your area and the air purifier is working harder than usual, it is important to replace the saturation filter to avoid toxic gases being released back into the air.
Washable air filter: Some of the air purifiers we list in this guide come with a washable pre-filter along with a HEPA and/or activated carbon filter—which is what you’ll typically find. This is the most cost-effective way because you don’t have to buy a new one every time you need to replace the filter. Simply remove it, scrub with soap and water, and let dry.
UV-C disinfection filter: UV filters use UV light to kill viruses, parasites, mold spores and bacteria. Surname inoperable airborne particles, VOCs or gaseous pollutants, so they are only effective when combined with a HEPA filter. According to United States Environmental Protection AgencyUV lamps without proper lamp coating are capable of emitting ozone. We recommend you check it out this list from the Home Appliance Manufacturers Association for air purifiers that have been shown to emit little or no ozone.
