Air Purifiers Effectiveness
by Mary Louise Harrelson (Stamford, CT.)
Q; How can we measure an air purifiers effectiveness? I have an allergy air purifier now (or allegedly it is!!) and I don’t notice a difference in my allergies.
A: I’ll give you several easy practical things and then more technical (or expensive) solutions. I’m not sure what allergies you have and that will determine an air purifiers effectiveness.
Here’s a list of tests:
Tests you can do yourself:
Check the HEPA filter, or inside of the air purifier
Check the pre-filter
Clean off the electrostatic grid
Purchase a particle tester
In home tests for radon, mold, etc.
Professional Tests:
Particle tester – for small and large particles
Gas discharge meter. Co2, Carbon Monoxide, Radon tests, etc.
HEPA Air Purifier Effectiveness
If you’re allergic to dust, pollen or dander then I hope you’re starting with a HEPA filter (which I’ll assume you have because it is the first choice for allergies to dust, dander and pollen).If it is HEPA then the filter should be showing dust, dirt, etc. If you haven’t changed it for awhile that could severely affect whether it is working or not.
To get a better idea of a HEPA filters effectiveness (or any air purifiers effectiveness for that matter) then a Particle Tester is the best way to test for its effectiveness. A particle tester determines how many particles, both large and small, are in the air. On this website I have done particle tests on all the major brands
Electrostatic Air Purifiers Effectiveness
If you have an Oreck air purifier, an ” electronic air purifier “, an ” ionizer” or similar named units then you are using electrostatic to clean the air. On the particle tests for these unts you’ll find that they do not remove all the dust pollen or dander from the air. They’ll remove some of the dust, just not most of it. While inexpensive to maintain (washable) it works primarily on smoke, odor, and pollution ( car, truck, industrial pollution, etc.).
The particle tester shows the ineffectiveness of electrostatic for pollen and dust. If it’s an allergy to smoke, odor, etc. then the way to test the effectiveness is in the lab, or with a gas, Co2, or other meter which can measure gases.
Mold, Mildew Air Purifiers Effectiveness
For mold or mildew then you’ll want UV , negative ion or ozone generators. I recommend ozone to “treat” the room and not for everyday use since Ozone can harm or damage the lungs. Of course the mildew smell should go away and any visual mold or mildew should be gone too. if it is in the carpets or walls however then the air purifiers effectiveness will not be enough to remove these problems by itself. most likely you will have to have the walls, sheetrock, carpeting, etc. removed completely.
If you need more help please contact me and ask your questions.
Below is a link to comparison charts, particle tests, and complete reviews that should give you an idea of how effective your air purifier is: