2020 Best Overall Air Purifiers

The Role of the Air Purifier

An air purifier is an appliance that boosts indoor air quality by removing airborne contaminants and thus cleans the air, making them great for us in homes, offices, or any space where they can benefit people who suffer from discomfort, asthma, allergies, respiratory problems, and chemical sensitivity.

These appliances draw in polluted air from its environment and then pass that air through layers of filtering media. Depending on the types of filtration media featured on the system, different allergens and contaminants of all sizes, ranging from microscopic to larger particles, are eliminated from the air passing through them. At the end of the process, clean air is then returned back into the room.

The Air Pollutants that Can Affect Your Indoor Environment

Ambient air pollution is a major environmental problem and a risk to public health. What most people don’t realize is that all homes are affected by this issue, whether they are in an urban city or in a rural town. To understand the factors that can influence your living space, the Clean Air Act has set air quality standards for some of the most common pollutants:

• Carbon monoxide is a gas that is released when furnaces and house heaters burn fossil fuels. The presence of carbon monoxide in the air makes it hard for the human body to get the amount of oxygen it needs to run properly. Dizziness, headaches, and tiredness are the main symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure. Elderly people who have heart conditions are hospitalized more often when they live in a space that contains high carbon monoxide levels.
• Ozone is a pollutant that forms near the ground as a result of nitrogen oxides interacting with volatile organic compounds. It can lead to a large number of health problems, including asthma attacks, sore throats, breathing difficulties, and coughs.
• Nitrogen dioxide is a gas with a strong smell, and it comes from engines that burn fossil fuels. People who are exposed to high levels of nitrogen dioxide can suffer from pulmonary edema and acute bronchitis, and these lead to a higher risk of contracting respiratory infections.
• Lead is a metal that can be found in many forms. This blue-gray metal can have a devastating impact on a child’s development as it can lower IQ and affect the kidneys. Furthermore, adults are at risk of stroke, brain damage, and heart attack when exposed to high amounts of lead.
• Particulate matter is comprised of dust, tobacco smoke, asbestos, and other impurities that are small enough to enter the lungs and cause serious problems.
• Sulfur dioxide is an odorless gas that comes from factories which produce chemicals, fuel, or paper. It irritates people’s eyes, throats, and noses, and it can cause asthma and emphysema, as well.

Benefits of Using an Air Purifier

Besides outright removing the various sources of pollutants inside your home, the best way to improve indoor air quality is to use an air purifier. In fact, minimizing exposure to air pollutants can prevent 70 percent of asthma cases among children and adults.

Because indoor air contains a relatively higher concentration of impurities, taking proper measures to maintain clean indoor air is recommended. Again, opting for an effective air purifier is the best thing to do in this situation. Detailed here are the advantages that you can get from using such an appliance:

• It ensures a safe environment for your family

  Air purifiers eliminate indoor pollution and help create a safe living space. Given that people spend much of their time indoors, we need to be able to reduce the elements that pose a threat to our health. Opting for a device that cleans the air gives you access to long-term health benefits and allows you to protect your family from serious illnesses.

• It creates better conditions for those who already suffer from asthma

  An air purifier can remove allergens that represent a serious problem for people who have asthma. Clearing the air of particles that trigger allergies, then, can be a great relief for asthma sufferers that are prone to discomfort.

• It eliminates bad odors

  Some air purifiers have the capacity to remove bad odors. Air purifiers with a carbon filter can eliminate cigarette smoke, cooking odors, and pet odors, to name a few. For extreme odors, get an ozone generator.

The Different Types of Air Purification Systems

Deciding among the many types of air purifiers that exist on the market can seem intimidating. The first thing that you need to know about air purifiers is that some of them integrate technologies that manually filter the air, while others clean the air by destroying pollutants. Some models combine these two methods for better performance and versatility, as well. Here are your options:

Filters

Most air purifiers have some type of filter, which trap unwanted particles and contaminants in order to provide clean air. There are many different types of filters, but the most common ones are pre-filters, HEPA filters, and activated carbon filters.

Most air purifiers have a pre-filter by the default. Pre-filters are perfect for capturing large debris such as hair fur, dust, and some pollen. Once these particles are trapped, the other filters inside the air purifier can work at maximum levels. Its main purpose is to act as the first line of defense in order to capture the largest particles possible. Generally, pre-filters don’t need to be replaced and only need to undergo regular cleaning. If the pre-filter is combined with activated carbon, though, it’ll need to be replaced when the activated charcoal surface stops functioning.

Air purifiers that use a True HEPA filter, like the Coway Airmega 400S or the Levoit LV-PUR131, were designed to have an efficiency of 99.97% for trapping particles that are at least 0.3 microns in diameter. While they remove dangerous contaminants like bacteria, asbestos, lead paint, pharmaceutical dust, mold spores, and pollen, HEPA air purifiers can’t remove bad odors and chemical fumes.

Activated carbon filters are made of carbon, an absorbent material that traps gaseous contaminants as they penetrate the filter. Activated carbon/charcoal filters have the ability to eliminate chemical fumes, tobacco smoke, gases, and odors, but they can’t remove allergens like dust and microorganisms which is why it’s best paired with a HEPA filter. The Whirlpool Whispure WP500 and the GermGuardian AC4825E both combine the efficiency of the activated carbon filter with a HEPA filter to ensure maximum performance in eliminating both air particles and odors.

UV Light

UV light is able to turn molecules of oxygen and water found in the air in your home into ozone and hydroxyl. These molecules react with air contaminants and destroy them, turning them into harmless components like water and carbon dioxide. The effectiveness of a UV light filter is fully dependent on the wattage of the light and the length of exposure to the light. To maintain the effectiveness of UV light air filters, the UV lamp should be regularly monitored and replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

UV light technology is best when used with other particulate filters like HEPA and activated carbon filters. Without a filter system, too many microorganisms get shaded from the UV light by particulates, ultimately decreasing the effectiveness of the UV light filter. Therefore, most air purifiers that employ UV light start off by filtering the air with HEPA and activated carbon and use the UV light filter as a final stage of filtration. A good example of an air purifier that uses UV light to purifier the air is the GermGuardian AC4825E.

Ionizers

Home air ionizers use a process known as corona discharge to create negative ions that help purify the air. These negative ions attach themselves to air pollutants and impurities, making them too heavy to stay in the air. As such, even microscopic particles that would otherwise stay airborne will fall to the ground. On the other hand, the resulting particles have a tendency to stick to ceilings, walls, and furniture as they don’t get destroyed or held in a filter. Therefore, you’re expected to regularly clean your home and wipe off dusty surfaces so that these particles don’t end up being recirculated. Air purifiers like the Alen BreatheSmart include an ionizer feature that increases their efficiency in removing air impurities.

Ozone Generators

An ozone generator is designed to alter oxygen molecules and turn them into ozone, which is the device’s main weapon for purification. Ozone attaches to any type of molecule that it encounters and proceeds to disrupt it at the molecular level, which enables it to remove odors and kill mold and bacteria. Important note: an ozone generator can be dangerous to animals and people. Air purifiers that use ozone should be used for strong odors only and in empty rooms.

Electrostatic Air Cleaners

Electrostatic purifiers use an electrical field to catch and trap particles, and they can be installed as central filtration systems or as portable units with fans. The advantage of purchasing this type of unit is that it’s typically associated with low energy costs, thereby allowing the user to eliminate pet dander and dust while saving money. On the other hand, it can’t remove contaminants like mildew, chemicals, smoke, and bacteria. It’s also not as efficient as HEPA filters (see below). A good example of an air purifier that uses electrostatic precipitation is the Oreck AIRPCS. You can read our full review of this product here.

The best air purifiers out these use a combination of the methods above to effectively purify your air.

What’s Behind our Ratings

If you want to invest money in a reliable air purifier, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:

• Area Coverage and Filter Efficiency

  Keep in mind that the square footage listed for the air purifier must be the same as (or bigger than) the square footage of the space where you want to use it. In addition, make sure that the air purifier is designed to remove the specific types of pollutants that exist in your space.

• Budget for Filter Replacements

  Most air purifiers use physical filters to purify the air, remember to check how much the replacement filters will cost you over time. Given that the price of an air purifier is not the only cost related to running such a device, you should also consider the cost of replacing the filters. Changing the filters when required will help you maintain your unit’s purifying efficiency, therefore consistently giving you the best filtration results.

• Energy Usage

  Unlike other appliances, air purifiers are commonly being run 24/7, so you should consider your energy bill before finalizing a purchase. Take a look at your chosen models’ daily kilowatt usage, and choose the unit that is the most efficient. Moreover, we advise you to search for products that are Energy Star rated, like all those models recommended here.

• Noise Level

  While some air purifiers are very quiet, some might be too loud for you if you’re noise-sensitive. With that said, opting for an air filtration system that has adjustable speed will give you the power to control the level of noise emitted by the device. Check the decibel level of each model on the chart above. The quietest model is the Coway Airmega 400S.

• Warranty

  Buying a cheap air purifier might seem like a no-brainer if you’re on a budget, but if it comes with a short warranty it might require a replacement sooner than expected. The Alen BreatheSmart Classic comes with a hefty price tag, but is guaranteed for life.

• True HEPA Filters

  True HEPA filters are the gold standard when it comes to air filtration because they have been required to meet a standard to filter at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. Particles that HEPA filters are able to trap include chemicals, bacteria, and viruses, thus, HEPA air purifiers create a more sanitary environment. Air purifiers that use HEPA filters are automatically more efficient at trapping and removing airborne pollutants.

• Air Changes Per Hour (ACH)

  The number of air changes per hour (ACH) is defined as the number of times an air purifier is able to completely cycle all the air in a room of a specific size within an hour. As a minimum requirement, a good quality air purifier should be able to purify all the air in the room at least twice per hour, but for homes with more serious air quality problems or for individuals who suffer from some form of respiratory disease 4 to 5 ACH is more ideal.

• What does the CADR rating stand for?

  CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and it is given in three measurements, each of them indicating the purifier’s performance when tackling a certain contaminant: a rating for pollen, a rating for dust, and a rating for tobacco smoke. It is an indicator of the quality of the air purifier’s performance which gives you the volume of filtered air provided by the purification system per unit time. The higher the CADR ratings, the better.