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Air pollution is an increasingly alarming problem, and your home certainly does not need to be soiled with polluted air. An air purifier is a smart, easy purchase – and it makes a huge difference. Of course, there are also a ton of products on the market, so it can be hard to separate the good from the bad. So we aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews, tested many different models, and did the research. These are our top picks, for best air purifier.
Hamilton Beach TrueAir
With a very affordable price point, and over 3,000 stellar online reviews – the Hamilton Beach TrueAir is our top pick. It offers great air cleaning ability, an easy-to-change filter, and affordability. While you can certainly spend more and ramp up the features – this affordable model is a perfect pick for most people.
Germ Guardian AC4825
The aptly named Germ Guardian is one of the best air purifiers we’ve ever tested. A little bit more expensive, but with a great cleaning and purification system – we highly recommend it.
Alen BreatheSmart
This luxurious air purifier is a stellar choice. With over 500 glowing online reviews, and some of the best performance we’ve ever seen – this air purifier is one of the best pick on the market. Highly recommended.
Coway AP-1512HH
This great air purifier from Coway has over 1,500 stellar online reviews, and performed flawlessly during all of our testing. The filters don’t need to be replaced too often, and the machine runs very quietly. Definitely recommended.
Winix 5500-2
This air purifier from Winix has over 1,300 reviews, and the HEPA filter clears out over 99% of airborne pollutants. We liked how quiet the machine ran, and also the sleek look of it. Highly recommended.
Levoit Air Purifier
With over 3,800 great online reviews, this air purifier from Levoit offers near-perfect performance. We loved the affordable price, as well as the HEPA filter. It gave some of the best results, in all of our testing. Definitely recommended.
Radic8 Ltd Hextio Air Purifier
This air purifier is great – it removes viruses and bacteria, in addition to mold, fungi, dust, and allergens. It is not a budget pick, but it performs flawlessly. And if you really care about your air quality – it is a definite purchase.
PartU Air Purifier
This affordable air purifier from PartU offers great performance, at a budget price. With over 170 glowing online reviews, it is well-regarded, and performs much like models two to three times the price. Definitely recommended.
Pure Enrichment PureZone
With over 2,700 glowing online reviews, this great air purifier has phenomenal performance. It even destroys germs and bacteria – leaving your air as close to flawless, as possible. Definitely recommended.
Dyson Pure Cool
This deluxe air purifier offers amazing filtration, and we loved it the most out of any model. However, it is definitely not a budget pick. If that part doesn’t bother you, you will not find a better air purifier than the Dyson Pure Cool. Highly recommended.
What Does An Air Purifier Do?
Generally, air purifiers operate through a simple three-step process: 1.) an internal fan sucks in air, 2.) the air passes through a filter which captures dust particles and other household pollutants, and 3.) the clean air is pushed back out into the room.
The actual air purification mechanism is fairly universal across all air purifier models, however, filter type and additional features often make a world of difference in terms of purifier quality.
Several different varieties of air purifier exist, such as UV purifiers, HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) purifiers, and activated carbon air purifiers. These varieties are all intended for specific contexts, so it is important to be aware of what kind of household problem you are trying to treat before shopping for purifier models.
Do Air Purifiers Work?
The basic answer here is “yes”, however, there are some important stipulations to be aware of.
All air purifiers “work” in the sense that they do effectively eliminate pollutants and particles from the air. For typical domestic contexts, air purifiers can be quite helpful in reducing a large volume of airborne pollutants.
However, not all air purifiers are designed to handle the same airborne pollutants. Air purifiers are generally not effective against harmful gases such as radon, and should not be relied upon for serious decontamination purposes.
Air purifiers also have limited effectiveness against allergens and particles that are not airborne. Cat allergies, for example, may not be entirely treated by an air purifier if cat dander is not cleared from household surfaces.
While air purifiers may not be a cure-all for household detoxification, they are certainly not a scam. In fact, certain purifier models are highly regulated and must be deemed effective before entering the market. Models with HEPA filters, for instance, are required by the US Department of Energy to be able to eliminate 99.97% of particles at a .3 micrometer diameter.
What Is A CADR Rating?
CADR stands for “clean-air delivery rate”. It is a measurement invented by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers used to evaluate the effectiveness of an air purifier model.
Specifically, CADR ratings measure the volume of clean air produced by an air purifier on its highest fan setting. CADR ratings are calculated by averaging the effectiveness of purifiers against the three most common household pollutants: smoke, dust, and pollen.
CADR ratings are calculated by multiplying the volume of air taken in by the purifier (measured in “cubic feet per minute”) by the percentage of purification effectiveness. For example, a purifier that cleans 300 cfm with 90% effectiveness would receive a CADR rating of 270.
The reason CADR ratings are useful is that they factor in both power and quality. An air purifier may be marketed as being highly effective, but in reality, it may only be able to clean a tiny area. CADR ratings help consumers to find models that are not only high-functioning but also practical for large household spaces.
Higher CADR ratings are always better, and a CADR rating should be 300 or above to be considered for a typical room.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Allergies?
Although there is limited science on the objective benefits of air purifiers for allergy-sufferers, air purifiers are generally considered helpful in reducing airborne allergens.
Since high-quality air purifiers, such as HEPA purifiers, can eliminate pollen and dust from the air, there is a high likelihood that they are useful for allergy-sufferers. One study did conclude that “HEPA PRACs [portable room air cleaners] trended toward clinical benefit”.
It is important to note that air is not the only source of allergens. Dust and pollen can settle on surfaces and can accumulate rapidly in an uncleaned space. Therefore, an air purifier should be considered a piece of the puzzle in allergy relief, rather than a cure-all solution.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Smell?
Different air purifiers will have a different impact on household odors.
One of the central benefits of the “activated carbon” air purifier is that its capacity to eliminate gaseous pollutants makes it a great odor reducer. HEPA air purifiers, though overall more effective in cleaning the air, are less effective in reducing smells.
Consumers looking to rid their home of odors should look into activated carbon purifiers, or better yet, combine an activated carbon purifier with a HEPA purifier for a comprehensive solution.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Mold?
Mold is a common household problem that can have a serious impact on health. Certain types of air purifiers have been demonstrated to help clear the air of mold spores.
True HEPA filters can capture airborne mold spores, while additional features such as UV lights can help to kill these spores.
Since many of the health effects caused by mold are due to the inhalation of mold spores, air purifiers can be a good line of defense against airborne mold.
However, it is important to note that air purifiers are not able to completely eliminate mold from a home. If a house is seriously infected with mold then the mold will have to be cleared from surfaces, and the underlying conditions which allow mold to grow will have to be treated.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Dust?
Dust is present in every household. It is a fine substance made up of different types of residual matter: soil, skin cells, plastic particles, etc. Although household dust is not a serious problem, it can be an irritant and can contribute to allergies in sensitive individuals.
The elimination of airborne dust is one of the most clear-cut benefits of an air purifier. HEPA purifiers are especially good at capturing dust. While purifiers will not eliminate surface dust, they can help prevent its accumulation by taking it out of the air.
What Is The Best Air Purifier?
As is the case with all products, “best” is a flexible term that comes down to a combination of context and quality. Our list is mainly concerned with quality: the air purifiers that work best regardless of context.
To find the best purifier for you, it’s important to examine what exactly you are going to be using the purifier for. Once you have identified your principal problem, you can begin to research different air purifier models to see which one is the best match for your specific context.
To make it easy, here’s a list of some of the different types of purifiers with a description of their intended use:
HEPA Air Purifiers
HEPA, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air, purifiers are some of the most common and effective purifiers on the market. These purifiers operate by using several layers of filtration to capture particles of varying sizes.
HEPA purifiers have a solid reputation, in most part because they are highly regulated. They are usually seen as the best all-around choice for the average consumer looking to rid their home of particles like dust and pollen.
Activated Carbon Purifiers
Activated carbon purifiers are traditional air purifiers that use a carbon filter. Carbon filters are unique in that their adsorptive properties (that’s right, “adsorptive”: meaning things stick to them, but don’t become “absorbed”) can filter out substances that HEPA filters cannot, such as volatile organic compounds. Carbon filters are also quite useful at eliminating odors compared to other purifier models.
Carbon filters do have a trade-off with HEPA, in that they better at eliminating gaseous substances but worse at eliminating particles like dust.
UV Air Purifiers
A UV, or “ultraviolet” air purifier functions by combining the mechanism of a typical air purifier with a UV light which kills pathogens. These purifiers are often used by consumers with more aggressive household problems, such as mold.
Ionic Air Purifiers
There are two types of ionic air purifiers: electrostatic precipitators and air ionizers. Both work by emitting charges that attract airborne particles. The chief benefit of ionic air purifiers is the lack of filter and, in some instances, the lack of a running fan.
Ionic air purifiers are considered a controversial product. Their effectiveness is often challenged, and many models are criticized due to the fact that they generate ozone, a pollutant and an irritant, as a byproduct of their function.
Do I Need An Air Purifier?
Air purifiers have a fairly obvious benefit: they strip undesirable particles from the air. But is the benefit substantial enough to warrant purchasing one?
If you are an individual with sensitivity to allergens and dust, or if you are trying to rid your home of lingering odors, then yes, an air purifier is one of the best products out there for you. These devices can have a fast and effective impact on situations where the air in one’s home is noticeably compromised.
As for the average consumer with no specific problem to deal with, air purifiers can still be quite useful. Certain air pollutants, such as dust and pollen, are fairly universal, and air purifiers can be a useful line of defense against their accumulation over time.
The Best Air Purifier
There you have it – our top picks for the best air purifier. There are lots of options out there in the home market, so be sure to check out our other product reviews.