If you’ve been thinking of ways to improve your health, cleaning up the air quality at home should be one of your priorities. However, we know how hard it can be to pick a good air purifier. Here are some things you should keep in mind when doing your shopping to make sure that your air purifier will effectively keep you and your family healthy.
- Look out for the right filters
A must-have in any serious air purifier is a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. This traps incredibly small particles that could otherwise get stuck in your throat and cause illness. Unfortunately, many air purifiers state that their filters are similar to HEPA, tricking you into buying a more affordable but overall lower-quality air purifier.Additional filters that can come in handy utilise carbon filtration, which is especially effective in removing odours, VOCs and gases. Air purifiers that use ionising or UV-light technology should be avoided, as they are generally less effective and can produce artificial, ozone-tainted air that is ultimately unhealthy to breathe.
Honeywell HPA300 Air Purifier, $329.99
- Think of the logistics
When shopping for an air purifier, there are some important practical considerations. For instance, the ideal size of an air purifier depends entirely on its use and environment. Will you be installing it in a small bedroom or a large hallway? Does it need to be compact and easy to move or do you prefer a large, static purifier? Thankfully, most air purifiers come with a so-called CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), a handy number that helps you visualise how effective each air purifier will be in a variety of surroundings.Once you have figured out your ideal purifier size, another important factor is how much you are willing to spend. This includes not only the initial cost of purchase, but the maintenance cost that will begin to add up once the purifier is installed. While more expensive air purifiers often come with washable filters that can be reused, some air purifiers will save you money during the initial purchase only to require constant filter replacements.Keep in mind that your electricity bills will also start to climb when using a particularly large purifier. To save on this end, look out for an air purifier with a wallet and environment-friendly eco mode.
- Research the brand’s reputation
Air purifiers can be a costly investment, but buying from an unreliable brand will end up costing you even more in the long run. To make sure that you are not being scammed when choosing your air purifier, particularly when buying it online, you must do your research. Look up the brand’s website, read customer reviews and find out if the brand’s products have been recommended by popular tech and home sites. The more good publicity a brand has, the more reliable it tends to be. Finally, watch out for air purifiers with a lack of warranty, as they will likely break down quickly with no reimbursement.
Dyson Pure Cool TP04 Purifying Fan, $569.99
- Pick the features you need
If you want to keep things simple, a sturdy air purifier with a good HEPA filter is all you really need. However, many purifiers come with a variety of handy features these days that can be worth looking into. Removable filters that facilitate cleaning, a customisable timer, a screen displaying your air quality, and a nifty filter replacement indicator are just a few of the extras you might come to appreciate over time. - Consider the noise
If you are used to sleeping with your air-con on full blast, a noisy air purifier might not disturb you all that much. Your children, on the other hand, might not appreciate a loud motor in their bedroom and could end up losing sleep. Luckily, many air purifiers indicate their noise levels within the product specifications. If you are still uncertain, look for honest, unsponsored video reviews of a few different air purifiers to get a realistic impression of what they sound like.
