Air is vital to our survival, and air-borne pollutants are not limited to the outdoors. Considering that we spend most of our time inside, investing in an air purifier can prove to be beneficial to your health.

What is an air purifier? An air purifier is a portable device that filters out unwanted particles in the air. Depending on the technology they use to do this, purifiers can be of many kinds. Air purifiers can benefit those suffering from asthma or allergies as they filter out most of the pollutant particles in the air that aggravate these conditions.

Before choosing an air purifier, you should research the various kinds available. Factors to be considered are the size of the area to be filtered, what you expect your filter to deliver and the cost of the device.

How big is your room? Check the area of the room you want to filter to settle on a suitable device. The clean air delivery rate or CADR rating of an air purifier gives you an idea of the particle size reach in square feet that the filter can work for. Generally, HEPA filters tend to be a better option for medium to large rooms while PECO filters are better suited for small rooms.

What do you want to filter? What they are capable of filtering depends on the type of filtration system the device uses. Several air filters like HEPA, ion, PECOand UV filters remove varying degrees of particles from dust to mold. HEPA filters are capable of filtering particles even 0.3 microns in size like pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. While HEPA filters only trap the pollutants, PECO filters are known to destroy contaminants like bacteria and VOCs. For odor elimination carbon filters work best, although they don’t trap particles in the air. The number of filters your air purifier has depends on the company & what you intend to use it for. 

What can you afford? Depending on how much you are willing to pay, filter technology may vary. Some purifiers even offer controls via a smartphone app over Wi-Fi. Various models from different manufacturers offer multiple automatic filtration modes that depend on your home’s air quality and some even boast Alexa and Google support. 

Where does the research point? Agencies like EPA have linked research studies on asthma and allergy relief to the effective use of air purifiers. While the results of these studies lean towards their effectiveness, there is no official recommendation for their use. Many allergies are triggered by dust mites and particulate matter.

Research conducted in 2018 found that using PECO and HEPA filter air purifiers at home cuts the risk of these allergies and breathing issues.  

While choosing an air purifier that suits your needs, keep in mind that they only filter pollutants from the air and not the ones settled on the walls and floor. So, in a world with ever-increasing levels of dust and pollution, putting money down towards a good air purifier for your home may help you breathe a little easier.