Buying An Air Purifier – The Basics

This article outlines a basic approach to choosing an air purifier. The three basic steps are:

1. Identify your pollutant
There are several types of pollutants, and each will be best targeted with a specific type of filter. So, before finding the right air purifier, you'll need to figure out what you want it to remove. This section identifies various types of indoor pollutants.

2. Choose your filter
HEPA? Carbon? Ionization? A variety of methods can be used to remove indoor pollutants. Some work great, and some don't work so well. This section explains the pros and cons of each. It also has some tips for steering away from false claims and marketing gimmicks.

3. Choose your features
An air purifier isn't just a filter. There are a host of other things to consider: noise level, square footage, unit size, filter replacement, energy cost, and usability features. This section gives you the low-down on all those details that you may not even consider until you get your air purifier home.

For the especially curious, there is also a section on Terms and Terminology. This quick reference will explain some terms you may be wondering about.
So, now that you have your strategy, you're ready to start.

Section 1: Types of pollutants

Airborne particles and allergens
Includes pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust, dust mites
These airborne particles are the most common cause for indoor allergies. Particles ranging in size from a few microns to a fraction of a micron are small enough to be inhaled, but too large to be easily exhaled. They are more likely to become lodged in lung tissue, where they can cause a wide range of health problems. Airborne allergens like these can cause allergy and asthma attacks. A look at the sizes of various airborne allergens:

*A micron is 1/25,000 of an inch.

Household odors and gases
Includes offenders like cooking odors, kitty litter, or tobacco smoke, various toxins, and smaller concentrations of gaseous pollutants, like indoor pesticides or aerosols.
Household odors can be annoying and can exacerbate allergies and asthma if they are severe enough. Toxins and gases can be hazardous to your health.

Chemically reactive gases and volatile organic compounds
Volatile organic compounds are found in a wide variety of common household products: paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, glues and adhesives, and even new carpet and building supplies. Look for ingredients like benzene, chloride, formaldehyde, ethylene, and toluene.
VOC's can cause symptoms ranging from eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea, to severe and chronic health conditions such as damage to the nervous system. The presence of VOC's can also exacerbate asthma.
Gases that are chemically reactive or volatile require a different kind of material to break them down; these are called "chemisorbents".

Micro-organisms
Includes antigens and pathogens, bacteria, viruses.
These are the everyday germs which make us sick. Mold also falls under this category.

NEW! Blueair ECO10
This eco-friendly air purifier uses up to 95% less energy than other air cleaners in its class.

Featured Product Austin Air Healthmate Air Purifier Sturdy, reliable, and consistently ranked one of America's best air purifiers. Seen on Extreme Makeover Home Edition The best air purifiers, by far, are manufactured by IQAir. The IQAir HealthPro has been featured on popular television shows, and is a bestseller.