The Air Purifier Buying Guide

Free information about how to pick an air purifier. Learn how to navigate all the confusing terminology and complicated features.  This air purifier buying guide will help you choose the best air purifier for your needs.

Indoor Air Quality and Your Health

Indoor air quality has become a growing health concern in recent years. We don't see the airborne allergens or the chemical contaminants in the air we breathe – even the column of dust illuminated by a window of bright sunshine reveals only the largest particles in the air. But more and more people are beginning to feel the decrease in their indoor air quality, whether they live in a rural area or a busy polluted city. Those indoor air contaminants manifest themselves in the form of indoor allergies, respiratory problems, chemical sensitivities, trouble breathing, and poor health.

In recent studies, the EPA has estimated that pollutant levels are 2 – 5 times higher inside the house than out. Modern homes are built to seal tightly, minimizing energy leakage. This is great for your electric bill, but bad for your allergies. Those tight seals keep in all kinds of breathing contaminants: pollen that blows in when a door or window is opened, cat dander that hitches a ride in on a friend's clothes, or chemicals and irritants released by cleaners and perfumes.

And, to make matters worse, modern life isn't exactly conducive to fresh air. People spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, breathing in all those pollutants and contaminants that are trapped inside too! (Of course, if you are allergic to outdoor allergens and particles, going outside may make your symptoms even worse.) This is bad for everyone, but especially children, elderly people, sick people, and people with respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Pollutants like tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust, and animal dander can cause asthmatic and allergic reactions, making homes not so sweet for allergy and asthma sufferers. And other contaminants, like chemically reactive gases and volatile organic compounds, can cause allergic reactions and more serious health problems.

Even if your symptoms are not noticeable now, that doesn't mean the air inside your home is clean. According to the EPA, health affects may show up only after long or repeated exposure. So, it's a good idea to clean the air in your home now, especially if you have kids. Prolonged exposure to airborne allergens and pollutants can cause allergies and sensitivities, as well as more serious health problems, to develop later in life. No one wants to develop severe allergies when they are 35!

How Is Your Air?

Analyze your situation. Identifying an air quality problem can help you cure it. If you answer "yes" to some of the following questions, you may need an air purifier.

Clues from Your Health
Are you experiencing allergy symptoms? Like a stuffy or runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, sore throat, coughing, frequent headaches, or asthma attacks?

Do your symptoms correspond to a change in environment? A recent move, home remodeling, water damage, a new pet? These changes can create new pollutants, and spotting them can help you pinpoint your culprit.

Clues from Your Environment
Does your home have poor ventilation? Look for windows that won't open, a musty smell or lingering odors, or furniture that is always dusty. These are symptoms of a home with a ventilation problem.

Does your home have common sources of chemical irritants? For example, new carpet? An attached garage or basement? Do you frequently use harsh cleaners or indoor pesticides?

If you answered "yes", your indoor air quality just might need some TLC.

Three steps for cleaner air

The EPA suggests three basic strategies for improving indoor air quality.

1. Control the source
You should make every possible effort to remove the pollutant at its source. If you think you might be allergic to mold, make sure that you don't have a mold colony growing in your basement. Or, if you live with a smoker, ask them to smoke only outside, and see if your symptoms improve. Of course, in many cases the allergen or irritant is too pervasive to remove – for example, pollen. In that situation, you will want to turn to step number 3.

2. Improve ventilation
If the offending irritant stems from chemicals or gases, bringing in fresh air can be a huge improvement. Some activities create high levels of pollutants, like painting, sanding, or cleaning with harsh cleaners. Obviously, it's a good idea to ventilate as much as possible when doing these sorts of activities. However, improving ventilation has an obvious pitfall for many asthma and allergy sufferers. If your triggering allergens comes from outside, throwing open a window or a door is the last thing you want to do.

3. Purchase an air cleaner
This is the third strategy suggested by the EPA. Chances are, if you're reading this page, you're already considering it. But buying an air purifier can be darn complicated. Fortunately, the rest of this article is going to tell you how to navigate all the acronyms, advertisements, and technical jargon, to find the best air purifier for your needs and for your money. You'll also want to review this list of the top ten air purifiers.