Top Air Purifier Reviews

Air Purifier Advice

Best Air Purifier For Dust

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Q: “Which is the Best Air Purifier For Dust?” A: HEPA will remove much of the free floating dust in a room but if you’re hoping that an air purifier will keep bedroom dressers, rugs, and side tables completely dust free think again. Remember dust is primarily caused by skin cells shedding off your body. If the air purifier doesn’t have HEPA forget about it for dust. HEPA filters will reduce the accumulation of dust but that’s not the reason for using it. The more important reason for HEPA is to remove the free floating dust as you breathe to reduce the work your lungs have to do.

Q: “Will An Air Purifier Get Rid Of Allergies?” A: Allergy Relief is the primary reason people want an air purifier, and HEPA again is the only effective method for pollen removal. This isn’t a guarantee that all pollen particles will be removed from the air, and for some people all it takes is a few molecules to trigger an allergic response. It will reduce the load on the immune system and the odds are good that you’ll get some relief by removing as much as you can.

Q: “Will An Air Purifier Get Rid Of Odors In The Carpet?” A: No, but if the air purifier is running you’ll probably kill some of the odor so you don’t smell it as much.  Once you get odors in a carpet (pet stains, mold, etc.) it either has to be cleaned professionally or replaced to get rid of odor permanently.

Q: “Will An Air Purifier Get Rid Of Mold?” A: A HEPA filter will reduce mold by capturing mold spores which spread mold. Negative Ions will kill mold out in a room, on tile or hard surfaces. Ozone machines can help kill mold.  But if it is in carpets, sheet rock and other porous surfaces it will take more get rid of the mold such as removing and replacing the contaminated materials.

 

 

 

10 Types of Air Purifier Filters and How They Work

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Here’s  the 10 types of Air Purifier Filters explained and what they do:

Think Of There Being 3 Kinds of “Stuff” To Remove From The Air:

#1 Large stuff – dust, hair, pollen, animal dander

#2 Gas stuff – odor, chemicals, vapors

#3 Living Stuff – Mold, mildew, bacteria, germs, viruses

This Is Bad For Your Health. Here’s Why:

#1 Dust, hair, pollen, animal dander = allergies, asthma, odors

#2 Chemicals, vapors = odors, chemical sensitivity, immune system stress

#3 Mold, mildew, bacteria, germs, viruses = immune system (colds, flu, viruses), and odors

There are 9-10 Basic Technologies to Capture, Kill, Or Remove “Stuff”:

#1 Pre-filter, HEPA, Neg/Ion, Plasma Grid = Helpful some odors, asthma and allergies

#2 Carbon, Charcoal, Ozone, Zeolite = Helpful for animal smells, smoke,  odors and chemical sensitivity, and protecting our immune system

#3 UV, TiO2, Plasma Grid, Ceramic = Helpful for immune system protection (colds and viruses), and eliminating musty odors

The “Pro’s” and “Cons” of Each Air Purifier Technology

Top 10 Purification Technologies and What They Do (In Chronological order)

1. Charcoal Filters (1854) – Absorbs odor and some gases.

Pros: Good for smoke, pet odor, and hazardous fumes. Inexpensive.

Cons: None.

2. Ozone (O2) (1881) – Ozone is what you might smell in the air after a thunderstorm. It’s oxygen with an extra charged particle attached which is unstable and only lasts a second but does a great job on odor, mold, etc.

Pros: It kills odors better than anything else. Kills mildew and mold. Good for chemical removal as well. (I love a little Ozone which I turn on a few hours before bed to make the room really fresh and clean)

Cons: In small amounts (low level) it is safe and very effective. (Consumer Reports blasted Sharper Image or Ionic Breeze because their unit put out very high levels of Ozone.

Note: Because of Sharper Image Manufacturers are now either 1) avoiding Ozone 2) calling it “Activated Oxygen” 3) putting timers on Ozone

3. HEPA (1934) – HEPA filters trap up to 99.97% of dust, pollen, dander, etc. Many manufacturers however leave it out because of the manufacturing expense.

Pros: Very helpful for allergies, dog/cat hair, pollen etc. A must for asthmatics

Cons: HEPA filters have to be replaced, but they work very well. Replacement filters are typically overpriced (like printer cartridges) so look for a Purifier Brand whose replacement costs are reasonable (maybe 20-40 depending on the size/thickness).

4. UV Light (1936) – UV light kills many pathogens such as mold, viruses, germs and bacteria. (Used in hospitals) .

Pros: with today’s pathogens and bacteria strains UV is a great addition – especially if you have children, asthma, or immune challenges.

Cons: You have to replace the bulb(s) every year or so. Like with HEPA make sure the Manufacturer isn’t “soaking” you for high replacement costs. Don’t pay more than 20-30 for a bulb.

5. Negative Ion (1974)- Negative Ion is a positive thing for removing some pollen, smog, and some dust. The early ionizers would make your walls black because the charged dirt would adhere to the walls around the unit. That’s now taken care of by grid plates.

Pros: Very affordable method for cleaning the air.

Cons: It works well in combination with other technologies but it’s not very effective by itself.

6. Ceramic – Uses heat inside a chamber to kill pathogens in the air as air is drawn into and thru the chamber. (This is also how a fever works in our body, raising the temperature to kill a virus).

Pros: Heat kills pathogens.

Cons: Most experts believe UV does a better job, with a lot less electricity. You don’t see many of these filters for that reason.

7. Washable Pre-Filters – This basically catches hair and large airborne particles. Most purifiers have these.

Pros: Very inexpensive addition by manufacturers. . It also extends the life of the other filters.

Cons: None

8. Ti02 Photo-Catalytic (1991) – Enhances the UV light up to 4000% to kill germs, viruses, mold, bacteria, as it passes through the filter.

Pros: What’s great is now the UV bulb doesn’t have to be as strong or as big yet works more effectively. Cons: None.

9. Plasma Dust (or Grid) Filters (1989) – Uses a charged grid plate to shower the incoming air with both positive and negative ions. Removes some airborne particles and some micro-organisms. I wouldn’t count on this alone but it will do some cleaning as you’ll see when the plates get dirty. It’s basically an ionizer on steroids. The “Never needs a replacement filter” types (Ionic Breeze, Oreck) fall into this category. (Note: You never need a replacement filter because your lungs are filtering what it doesn’t do a good job on)

Pros: You can wash it.

Cons: Works well, but needs other technologies to do a good job.

#10 New Air Technology From Japan: Pollen, Odor, Dust Sensors I think this is very cool and very useful. The Japanese have developed sensors that detect pollen, odor, and dust in the air.

Pros: Saves electricity and guesswork as you can leave the unit on “Auto” all the time. I think it’s the greatest thing for allergy and asthma prevention. The sensors turn the technologies on/off /low/high depending on the needs of the room.

Cons: None.

 

Will an Air Purifier Help Dog or Cat Allergies?

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Up to 30 million Americans, close to 10%, have a pet dander allergy.  To relieve a pet dander allergy it’s important to understand what causes of the allergy to begin with.

Dander, skin flakes, saliva and urine from dogs and cats, can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, wheezing, runny eyes and noses. Both feathers and the droppings from birds, can increase the allergen exposure. 

Dog or Cat Hair Is NOT The Cause of Allergies

I can say that there is also no such thing as a completely non-allergenic breed.

Cat Pet Dander Allergy Relief Allergy

An estimated 6 million Americans are allergic to cats and approximately one third of them have cats in their homes. Allergic reactions to cats can range from inflammation of the nose and eyes to asthma attacks. Sadly, although the most effective treatment is removal of the pet, recent scientific studies have shown that steps can be taken in to significantly decrease one’s exposure to cat allergen without having to find another home for your beloved family member .

Cat allergen is not actually cat hair, or the dander itself, but a protein present in the dander and saliva of cats. The allergens that become airborne as microscopic particles when inhaled into the nose or lungs, can produce allergic symptoms. 

Dog Allergy

Dog allergies are less common than cat allergy. To contrary to popular belief, dog hair is not what makes you feel miserable – just like with cats, it is a specific protein in the dander that gets to you. For some allergy sufferers, a dog’s lick may also set off an allergic response.

Because dogs tend to scratch themselves more than cats, dog allergen can be more easily introduced into the air. The reason for excessive scratching may be that the dog itself is allergic to something in your home. There are hundreds of possible causes of this, the most common is mold. It is worth mentioning that the same source may be worsening your own allergy symptoms, so taking care of it would make life easier for both you and your pet.

4 Types of Purification for Pet Allergies

These are the 4 types that will help with pet dander allergy relief, in order of effectiveness:

Washable PreFilter Having a washable pre-filter on your air purifier screens out particles of dust coming into the unit. A washable pre-filter removes most of the larger particles before they have a chance to reach the other technologies. 

Washable Electrostatic Grid is an  electric dust collector trapping also  pollens, pet dander, molds and someother airborne pollutants that passed through the PreFilter.

Hepa Filter  A Hepa Filter is extremely important technology to have for anyone with asthma or any allergies. It removes pollen, dust, mold spores, and pet dander.

Activated Carbon Filter is by far the most effective filter for removing pet odours. 

Additional Technologies Negative Ions, UV, TI02. Although these other technologies don’t specifically or directly help with Pet Allergies, UV and the magnifying effect of UV by TI02 does kill viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew that will be helpful to both Pet and People with a pet dander allergy.

Conclusion

Having an Air Purifier for a pet dander allergy relief that also generates negative ions is a plus for pets and humans alike. The addition of negative ionization in a room is known to ‘make birds sing’ as it mimics air conditions in the forests and in general creates ‘healthy’ air.

How do You Choose a Portable Air Purifier?

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What Should You Look for in a Portable Air Cleaner?

There are several criteria to consider when selecting a portable air cleaner.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) How many square feet is the purifier recommended for?

2) What is the size and weight of the purifier?

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

4) Is the purifier too fragile to travel with?

5) What will you use the purifier for? Let’s cover these one at a time:

1) How many square feet is the purifier recommended for?

Know the square footage rating of the purifier you are reviewing and estimate if it will be adequate for your travel situations. You may travel to many locations, some with small rooms and some with large rooms. If you have minimal luggage room, it may pay to have a smaller travel purifier. If you are driving or traveling for a longer time period, a larger purifier that will cover more square feet may be desirable.

2) What is the size and weight of the purifier?

Some people travel light and some travel heavy. Obviously when you travel by plane or overseas, you will need a smaller purifier. When traveling by car, your choices may allow you to carry something larger. Many of the active technologies are fairly compact and light and still pack a cleaning punch. Realize that you may not be able to take your air purifier from home and take it on the road. Some are just too large and cumbersome. You may need to have one specifically for traveling. If you do much overseas traveling, make sure you have the correct adapter for differing electrical outlets.

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

There are choices. You will need to decide between passive or active technology. Review the technologies if necessary and then continue on to review the best brands.

4) Is the purifier too fragile to travel with?

Some home air purifiers are designed to stay at home. Moving them around can be a little like moving a computer or a heavy piece of furniture. When traveling with any expensive purifier, make sure it is packed carefully to avoid breakage. Moving home based purifiers can be done, but it takes a little extra packing effort. If you travel often. consider models that are more durable and made for travel.

5) What will you use the purifier for?

Use your common sense here. If you tend to go to the same place often, like a second home, you may just want a second purifier there. Bringing one back and forth to work may be a hassle. Maybe a smaller unit at work or get the office to purchase one might be a better idea. Hotel travel or vacation travel is best with a portable air cleaner. A good purifier can make a nights stay in a “stuffy” room much better. Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands for portable air cleaner.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Portable Air Cleaner

SBI!

Why A Mold Air Purifier Often Won’t Kill Mold or Mildew

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There is no specific ” mold air purifier ” but rather different technologies that do different things when it comes to mold. And most air purifiers don’t do much for killing mold, although they claim to help with mold. That’s because HEPA air filters will capture mold spores, but they do absolutely nothing for killing mold, they just help it from spreading faster.

This means that the Austin Air, IQAIR, Honeywell (and other primarily HEPA air purifiers) will not do a good job. It also means there may be a growing problem inside the HEPA filter itself as mold can grow there. To kill mold you have to go out into the room where it exists.

Common molds include Mucor and  Stachybotrys which grow in warm and damp areas. The mold does not trigger the allergic reaction but the spores in the air do.  Common reaction are coughing and sneezing when the spores are inhaled. 

NOTICE: IF YOU HAVE A MOLD PROBLEM INSIDE WALLS, UNDER RUGS, OR SHEETROCK YOU CAN’T SIMPLY STICK AN AIR PURIFIER IN THERE AND EXPECT IT TO GO AWAY. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE SHEETROCK IN MOST CASES. IT CAN HOWEVER REDUCE THE HEALTH RISK IN THE MEANTIME, AND PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING….

4 Types of Purification For Killing Mold

These are the 4 types of Mold Air Purifier Technologies that will help, in order of effectiveness:

Ozone. By far the most effective at rapid mold and mildew removal Ozone will go out into a room, and onto walls, where it will kill it on contact. The downside is that Ozone in high levels will also irritate lungs. So if you have an ongoing problem you might get an air purifier to “treat” a room. In other words turn the Ozone up and leave the room closed. Turn it off and let it “air out” for several hours. Ozone tends to dissipate very fast. 

Negative Ionizers. Negative ions will kill mold on walls and in rooms. Not as fast or effective as Ozone on the other hand it is actually good for lung problems. Negative ions can increase energy and mood according to Russian research.

Ultraviolet Light Somewhat effective at mold it kills the spores as they passes thorough the air purifier. I like the combination of UV and negative ions as one kills the spores while the other goes out into the room where mold is spreading. It also helps keep mold from growing inside the HEPA filter.

Titanium Dioxide (Tio2) This nanotechnology enhances Ultraviolet light up to 1000x according to my scientist friend, and hence helps UV do a much stronger job on Mold and Mildew. It needs UV light to shine on it.

Treating A Room With Mold and Mildew

If you have moldy sheetrock, or you have wet conditions (as in flooding or high moisture) then you’re going to want a Mold Air Purifier for your health, but you’ll need to replace sheetrock if it is moldy (A mold air purifier will not fix moldy sheetrock). You’ll also need chemicals or professional help if it is under floors, behind walls, inside wood, etc. Mold is dangerous for your health, and some houses have to be remodelled or even destroyed if the mold has taken over. Any mold Air Purifier is just a way to protect your immune system while the work is done.

However if the problem is small, or contained pretty well, then the mold air purifier may be all you need. If it’s a wet basement with mildewy smells an air purifier with Neg. Ions, and UV /Tio2 will kill the smell and mildew but you may need a de-humidifier to keep the build up at bay.

If I use an Ozone Generator Air Purifier to kill mold – I’ll crank it up and let it run overnight. Then air it out for several hours before spending time in the room. These units can be expensive (there are a few inexpensive ones around too) so maybe you can borrow one.

If I use a Negative Ion/UV/Tio2 Machine – I’ll crank it up and let it run on high for a few days then reassess how the room is doing.

A suggested Air Purifier for Mold…

Airpodcleaner MT3C – 6 Stage Air Purifier

The affordable, yet powerful Airpodcleaner MT3C  is a 6-stage air purifier which includes HEPA, On/Off Ozone, Negative Ion for mold killing plus its very effective against pollen, dust, odor with Carbon and a pre-filter. It also includes UV light for viruses and germs. It will cover 500 square feet.

Conclusion

Get a timed (on/off) Ozone Machine if Mold is your only problem. If you also have allergies, and want to continue cleaning your house after getting rid of mold get a multi-stage air purifier that include negative ions, Ultraviolet light (UV), along with HEPA to capture the spores.

Is An Asthma Air Purifier Really Safe?

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Overview

I first started looking for an asthma air purifier in 1965, when I was 8 years old and suffered with terrible allergies to pollen, dust and dogs.

Asthma attacks brought with them a fear of death. These attacks were triggered in the fall, around dogs, and in the horse hair seats at church. I also had food allergies. I ended up with an old HEPA filter/purifier, an ionizer (which turned the wall black), and an old carbon filter machine all running at the same time in my bedroom. I went for allergy shots each week and took medications to prevent and/or relieve asthma attacks.

These machines weren’t specifically designed for asthma, but since my triggers were airborne (mostly) I wanted to try and help my lungs. Did my asthma air purifier really help? At that time I honestly didn’t know whether the relief was psychological or physiological but I did sleep better and feel better.

Asthma Air Purifier Technology

Which type of technology does an asthma air purifier use? It all depends on the type of asthma you have, or more specifically what triggers the asthma. The type of filtration changes whether you have pollen-triggered asthma (as I did), lung condition asthma, exercise-induced asthma, or a cough related asthma. Also the specific type of allergens change the filters needed. Here are the basic asthma air purifier filters as they relate to asthma:

HEPA – HEPA filtration is the #1 technology for asthma since it removes the most airborne particles. Most allergists will recommend a HEPA asthma air purifier first for allergy-induced asthma. HEPA is a cloth-like filter that has to be replaced every 4-9 months on average. It is best for capturing and removing dust, pollen, dirt, and most airborne particles. If your asthma is allergy-based asthma start with HEPA. But don’t stop there. If you’re allergic to (or “also allergic to”) mold HEPA will not do the job.

UV – Ultraviolet (UV) light kills most germs, bacteria, mold, mildew, and viruses. Because asthmatics often have a weakened immune system and these foreigners or pathogens stress the immune system adding UV, while not primary, can be an inexpensive and helpful addition.

PreFilter – A Pre-filter looks like a screen door, is usually washable, and captures hair and dust. HEPA does a much more complete job and the washable prefilter in front of it is primarily to save money by extending the life of the HEPA. If you have dog or cat the hair captured will be worth its inclusion.

Carbon – Carbon filters are treated charcoal minerals which have millions of tiny cell pockets. These pockets are very effective at trapping gas, odor, and toxic chemical fumes. If you are chemically sensitive, and /or chemical fumes bring on asthma, Carbon would be added to your list. Because these toxins affect and weaken the immune system it can help the body.

Electrostatic – Also called “truman cells”, grids, ionic cleaners, or ionic plates. These type of air purifiers capture particles using positively and negatively charged “washable plates” or grids. Oreck is one example. Most do not have HEPA filters. The washable part is great (and great for marketing), but the effectiveness is limited. Good for smoke it will not remove pollen, dust and airborne particles like HEPA. Also, some models with flat plates and no holes in the plates can cause asthma which can trigger asthma attacks.

Tio2 – Used in conjunction with UV it simply magnifies the effectiveness of the virus, germ, and bacteria killing of ultraviolet light.

What Causes Asthma

The path I took to get asthma relief did include different asthma air purifiers as a way to prevent attacks. I use an air purifier today to be as healthy as possible, even though I no longer have asthma. To get rid of asthma, which also meant getting rid of my allergies, I had to:

1) Getting my liver cleansed of toxins which were causing me to create too many histamines.

2) Special treatments to the brain which had to do with the mind-body causes of allergies. Many allergies (and hence asthma attacks) are caused by patterns in the brain which cause energy blockages in the nervous system.

3) Building up my adrenal glands which relieved the muscle spasms of asthma.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for asthma relief from allergy-enduced asthma then I would try and remove as many problems from the air as I could with HEPA, UV, Tio2, and a Pre-filter. I would also try and have the air circulate in the room thorough the asthma air purifier at least 3-4 times.

Best Air Purifiers for Smoke Reviewed

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Air Purifiers For Smoke

Overview

The truth is that most air purifiers for smoke (when it comes to cigarettes and cigars) will disappoint. That’s because most are designed for pollen and dust and not smoke – the challenge is the tar. However 3-4 of the 10 available technologies for air purifiers may satisfy that need.

In this review I’m starting with tobacco smoke, but also will be handling smoke problems for:

1 – Cigarette & Cigar smoke removal

2 – Stove and Fireplace fumes

3 – Kitchen/cooking smoke

4 – Industrial smoke from pollution, factories, etc.

Air Purifiers For Smoke From Tobacco

Two problems exist with cigar/cigarette smoke, smoke and odor. Removing tobacco smoke from the air is easy, and many air purifiers for smoke can do that. The hard part is tobacco smell because of tar. Let’s handle the smoke part first, and here are the technologies that work for this:

1 – Ionizer Plates (also called electrostatic or truman cells)- include washable electronic plates (as with the Oreck Air Purifier, and Ionic Breeze), or electrostatic grids (Alive Air). This technology attracts and disable molecules of smoke via positive and negative electrically charged plates and wires. With this technology the air must go into and through through the purifier to be effective.

2 – Negative Ionization – Negative ion generators don’t use plates but send negative ions into a room disabling some smoke. Not as effective as the plate/grid method it sends the negative charge into the air which means the particles can drop and attach to the carpet or other surfaces in the room.

3 – Ozone Machines – Ozone is probably the fastest way of removing smoke. The downside is that ozone can irritate or even damage lungs in high levels (it is not recommended that you be in the room during it’s use). Brands include Ecoquest (formerly Alpine and now Vollara) however there are several inexpensive chinese brands available for low levels of ozone.

4 – Carbon – Carbon will very effectively remove smoke, however the carbon will need to be in high amounts and will have to be replaced often.

Conclusion

For smoke it is best to use the electrostatic air purifiers. In preference use the “grid” types as the “plates can generate ozone which could irritate sensitive lungs.

If you want to get rid of smoke and dust or pollen then a combination of HEPA and electrostatic would be the way to go.

Air Purifiers For Tobacco Odor

Cigarette smells are easy to remove at the time of smoking, but becomes a more serious problem when it gets into curtains, walls, carpets, etc. The air purifier WILL NOT get the odor out of walls and fabrics, no matter whether it uses ozone, ions or any of the ten technologies. This is due to the tar attaching itself to the actual molecules in these materials, and it will continue to emit smells for years. Cleaning or replacing the carpets, curtains (drycleaning may work) or painting the walls is the only way, unfortunately. That’s how deep tar gets into the molecules.

Conclusion

To reduce cigarette smell from your home you have to remove the cigarette smoke from the air as the smoking occurs, before it attaches itself to the materials in the room.

Fireplace & Woodburning Stoves

Smoke from Fireplace & Woodburning Stoves is best removed at the time the fireplace is on, before can attach itself to curtains, carpets,etc. (Unless you love the smell – as I do). Wood burning smoke is not as strong, or unhealthy as cigarette smoke and will not attach itself as deeply as tar. The use of electrostatic (found in many smoke air purifier as mentioned above) will remove most smoke.

The one thing I would include in this situation is a negative ion generator. Not only will it kill some of the smoke (although it’s not as effective as otehr means) more importantly it will make the air healthier, especially because wood burning will utilize oxygen in the room.

Kitchen Smoke & Cooking Odors

Cooking smoke (QUICK – before the smoke alarm goes off!) is relatively easy to remove with air purifiers that include carbon or electrostatic grids or plates. Cooking odors also are easily removed with electrostatic, carbon, negative ion or any combination of the three.

Conclusion

For kitchen smoke you’ll find most types of smoke air purifiers will clear the air rather quick. The exception is HEPA – which will remove dust and pollen but not gas particles.

Air Purifiers For Smoke From Car Pollution

At my house in Manhattan Beach California I lived a block from the ocean. But I had a pollution problem: Why was it that after washing the windows I’d would find a layer of black soot within a day?. Was it jet fuel? I lived close to LAX airport.

I finally realized that the car traffic nearby was the culprit. So despite living with an ever present ocean breeze the air was very polluted by nearby traffic. I put in a 9 stage Alive Air Purifier with a washable pre-filter, washable electrostatic grid (and HEPA filter). The black soot meant washing the pre-filter and grid every week or so. Better it than my lungs!

The carbon removed more of the toxic gases within the air, while the negative ion generator in it re-enlivened the air (pollution is positively charged ions which, by reducing healthy negative ions, can create headaches and will reduce both brain function and energy levels).

Conclusion

For Car Pollution – use electrostatic, negative ion generators, ozone, and/or carbon filters.

Smoke Conclusions

I hope this review of air purifiers for smoke helped your search for the right model. In general – electrostatic grids are the most affordable. Carbon and ozone are the most effective, although carbon will cost money and ozone can irritate lungs.

The comparison chart on this site and video reviews can show you which models include the technologies for smoke removal.

Compare Air Purifier I Use These Criteria

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Compare Air Purifier Criteria

10 separate rating factors are utilized to compare air purifier against air purifier. The top possible rating score is 100 points. Each rating factor has a maximum point value listed below.

I use a combination of objective criteria (labeled O) and subjective criteria (labeled S). Objective means it is supported by factual data. Subjective is more of an experiential rating factor. Subjective depends on the expertise of the reviewer. Combining both objective and subjective is the best way to compare air purifier against air purifier.

At the end of this page you will find additional factors that were considered before final rating scores were given.

Rating Factors:

1) Value – 20 pts(S/O) – This is a somewhat complicated measure. The cost is an objective measurement. Cleaning Ability is a combination of objective fact and subjective feel. Cleaning ability will be ranked on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best. Two factors will define cleaning ability, What is removed (#3 below) and how well. What is removed contributes 5 pts as follows 15pts (from #3) = 5pts, 12 pts = 4 pts, 9 pts = 3 pts, 6 pts = 2 pts, 3 pts = 1 pt. The “how well” factor will be a multiplier. not well = .5 pts, well = 1 pt, very well = 1.5 pts, extremely well = 2pts. Value = Cost divided by Cleaning ability. <100 20 pts, <110 18 pts <120 16 pts, <130 14 pts, <140 12 pts, <150 10pts, <160 8 pts, <170 6 pts, <180 4 pts, <200 2 pts.

2) Quality – 15 pts(S) – Quality defines good products. Fit, finish, and workmanship up to 5 pts, cleaning medium(s) and/or cleaning technologies up to 5 pts, setup and ongoing support material up to 3 pts, and intangibles up to 2 pts.

3) What is Removed – 15 pts(O) – An air purifier is only as good as what it removes. Partial points are given in any category for sub par results. Particles >0.3 microns 1 pt, Odors and Gases 3 pts, VOCs 2 pts, Basic Microorganisms 3 pts, Particles <.03 microns 2 pts, Advanced Microorganisms 2 pts, Any other additional 1 pt.

4) Yearly Operating Costs – 15 pts(O) – Included would be standard consumable items like filters and UV lamps as well as electricity costs. Averaged over a 5 year period. <£50 15 pts, <£100 12 pts, <£150 9 pts, <£200 6 pts, <£300 3 pts.

5) Warranty – 8 pts(O) – A good warranty period generally shows that a company has faith in their products. <1 year 1pt, 1-<2 years 2 pts, 2-<3 years 4 pts, 3-<5 years 6 pts, 5+ years 8 pts.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning – 7 pts(S) – How easy it is to change filters, clean the purifier, and do other routine maintenance. Easy 7pts, mostly easy 5pts, some easy, some not 3 pts, not as easy as others 2 pts, most not easy 1 pt.

7) Manufacturer Years in Business – 5 pts(O) – The time a company is in business speaks for itself. Companies do not stay in business if they do not make effective products. <1 year 1 pt, 1-<5 years 2 pts, 5-<10 years 3 pts, 10-<20 years 4 pts, 20+ years 5 pts.

8) Look and Feel – 5 pts(S) – How the unit looks and how easy it is to use. Looks great and very easy to use 5 pts, looks good and easy to use 4 pts, looks ok and usable 3 pts, questionable looks and/or questionable usability 2 pts, questionable 1 pt.

9) Set-Up Time – 5 pts(S) – This is the time it takes to unpack, browse the set-up materials, place and start running. <10 min 5 pts, <20 min 4 pts, <30 min 3 pts, <45 min 2 pts, <1 hour 1 pt.

10) Noise Level – 5 pts(O) – Two factors form this rating, noise level on lowest an on highest setting. Low: below 35dB 2 pts, below 45dB 1 pt. High: below 35dB 3 pts, below 55dB 2 pts, below 70dB 1 pt.

Additional factors:

Area Coverage: The square footage that a purifier is recommended for. There are different ways to compute and compare. This does need to be taken into account when purchasing a purifier. Look for this information in the summary for each purifier review.

Air Change Per Hour (ACH): This applies only to passive technology. It is a measure of how many times a purifier can exchange the air in a given sized room per hour. The purifiers’ ability to “suck” the air through the technology (filters or other) is rated. This factor is best associated with cleaning ability and does find its way into my rating. Not all purifiers publish this information.

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): This factor is calculated by AHAM (The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). It gives a square footage measure indicating how much air is cleaned for three different pollutants: tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust. When AHAM have tested the air purifier they will a marked with the e AHAM Certified seal and CADR numbers. The higher the CADR rating, the more effective the air purifier is against that pollutant. The biggest drawbacks are that this rating does not factor well with all types of purifier and that only 40 or so manufacturers have paid their “dues” to be included in the certification. These numbers are included in the basic specifications for each purifier when given by the manufacturer. They are an additional way to compare certain models and are taken into account in my reviews.

I truly believe this rating system will give you a great way to compare air purifier against air purifier.

Return to STEP 3 Reviews from Compare Air Purifier Criteria

How do You Choose a Car Air Purifier?

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We spend a lot of time in our cars. Using a car air purifier is becoming more and more popular. Making a good choice depends on several important criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1. Are you driving a small vehicle or a large vehicle?

2. Will you use it just for the car or the hotel as well?

3. Should you use passive or active technology or both? Let's cover these one at a time:

1. Are you driving a small vehicle or a large vehicle?

The only consideration here is getting a purifer sized correctly to do the job. A standard auto purifier may be too small to clean the air effectively in a semi-truck or RV. There are larger

units for larger jobs. Also, make sure the unit you want has the proper adapters for the power source you want to use it with. 2. Will you use it just for the car or the hotel as well?

Some purifiers are able to work in the car using the cigarette adapter and also have a standard wall plug to use in a hotel room. These are nice if you travel and stay overnight often as

many hotel rooms are "stuffy" even if they are non-smoking. It may make sense to find a car air purifier that doubles nicely as a hotel air purifier. 3. Should you use passive or

active technology or both?

Several different technologies are available, so you will need to pick one that suits you. Evaluate the technologies again as needed. Many of the car purifiers use mini versions of popular

full-sized purifiers. Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Air Purifier Types from Car Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Personal Air Purifier?

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What should you look for in a personal air purifier?

These are mainly air purifiers that you can wear around your neck. There are several brands on the market. Some are more effective then others. There are a few criteria you should consider

before buying one.

What criteria should I use to decide?

1) What is the size and weight?

2) Does it use rechargeable batteries?

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

4) Is it effective?

5) Do you really need one? Let's cover these one at a time:

1) What is the size and weight?

You will be wearing this around your neck. Nobody wants a big anchor around their neck. The goal would be to have a purifier that is as small as possible and weighs as little as possible,

but is still effective. There are some that are small, light, and effective and even color coded to your attire.

2) Does it use rechargeable batteries?

You could go through a lot of batteries if you have a purifier that is not rechargeable. If you plan to use it regularly, look into one with rechargeable options.

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

Review the technologies and select one that is best for you. There are not as many choices here, but browse the reviews, as they will describe the details for each purifier.

4) Is it effective?

Do a little research and buy from a reputable brand. There are some "toys" out there that are virtually worthless. There are also a few excellent models.

5) Do you really need one?

Make sure that a personal air purifier is what you really need. If you are mostly in the same area, you may be better off with a portable model. If you are on the move in and out of

different locations, a personal model may work better.

Certain situations warrant one especially if you are chemically sensitive or concerned about your air. My favorite two places to use them are on airplanes and in restaurants. The air on

airplanes is some of the worst you will ever find. The brand I use is hardly noticeable, but effective enough to get the job done.

Do not plan on this being your main air purifier. Most are only effective if you are in a sitting or standing position. They will not work as well or at all if you are laying down sleeping,

etc … Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Personal Air Purifier

What Should You Look for in Whole House Air Purifiers?

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When looking for whole house air purifiers it is important to be aware of the choices available. Making a good choice depends on several criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) Are you cleaning a few rooms, a small apartment, a regular sized home, or a larger home?

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

3) Do you have a forced air and heat (HVAC) furnace in your home?

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

5) What is your Budget?

Let’s cover these one at a time:

1) Are you cleaning a few rooms, a small apartment, a regular sized home, or a larger home?

First write down an approximate square footage and the number of rooms in your home. In general, the larger the home, the more complex the whole house air purifiers system. If you are cleaning just a few rooms or a small apartment, you may be able to get by with a single larger passive air purifier. If you live in a larger apartment (1000+ sqft) or average home (1000+ sqft) you will need to use multiple passive units, one or more active units, and/or utililize the HVAC system. Larger homes (2500+ sqft) may require multiple active purifiers and/or HVAC systems. Sometimes combinations of technologies or purifiers work best.

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

Knowing the basic contaminants in your air will help you choose the best purifier. If you do not know what is in your air and you are concerned, it may be best to get a purifier that offers the most complete cleaning. Generally speaking, the more complete the cleaning, the more expensive the air purifier. Finding a balance between wants and needs may be necessary. Review all your options.

3) Do you have a forced air and heat (HVAC) furnace in your home?

Having HVAC will open up a few additional possibilities for you. You will be able to evaluate both passive and active HVAC technologies. They could either stand alone or be used in tandem with other technologies.

The 3 Basic HVAC technologies are:

  • HEPA filter whole house air purifiers – passive
  • Basic UV technology – mostly passive
  • Advanced UV technology – passive/active

The whole house HEPA filter unit would probably be used by itself. There are a few quality brands available, but realize they may be pricey. The Basic UV and Advanced UV technologies are best used in tandem with another technology, preferably a purifier designed to remove particles effectively.

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

If you read through the technologies section of this website, you will realize that there are several choices available to clean your air. The first basic choice you need to make is between a passive or an active technology. If you have made up your mind on technology already, that’s ok, review the purifiers with that type of technology. If not, you will need to review both technology types and make a decision. The purifier review section will help as it provides in-depth reviews and research.

5) What is your Budget?

In general, the larger the space cleaned, the higher the cost of the cleaning system. There are several options for each home size. Quality passive technology tends to be more expensive if you want to do a complete whole home cleaning. Quality active technology can provide a very cost competitive complete whole home cleaning. Know your budget and choose what is most important to you first. If you have dollars left, look at additional options or upgrades.

There are 3 major costs involved:

  • initial purchase price + possible installation cost
  • ongoing cost of filters, UV bulbs, etc…
  • energy cost

Congratulations! You’re finished with whole house air purifiers and are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Whole House Air Purifiers

How do you Choose a One Room Air Purifier?

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Many air purifiers are designed to clean only one room. Making a good choice for a one room air purifier depends on several important criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) What is the size of the room or space you would like to to clean?

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

3) What quality level of room air purifier are you after?

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

5) What is your Budget?

Let's cover these one at a time

1) What is the size of the room or space you would like to to clean?

The first point to consider would be the actual square footage of the room you want cleaned. Make sure this is a reasonable match to the room air purifier you select. It is ok to get a

purifier that can do more than your rooms square footage, but generally you want the purifier rated for at least as much as the size of the room. Over-powered ok; under-powered not as

desirable.

Other considerations on size: standard ceiling height is 8'. Anything above 8' needs to be taken into account. To get a basic estimate, add 10% to the overall square footage of your

room to be cleaned for each foot above 8' ceiling height.

Example: Your room is 15 ft x 20 ft = 300 sqft. The ceiling is about 10' high. Since it is 2' higher then standard, add 20% to your figure and search for an air purifier that will

handle at least 360 sqft.

Other factors that may cause you to consider a higher capacity air cleaner would be strong room air flow, an open plan layout, or extra contaminants. Strong room air flow in and out of the

room is good, but will make the purifier work harder at keeping that one room clean. An open layout would stretch the purifiers cleaning power to adjoining rooms. Extra contaminants such as

multiple pets or tobacco smoke may require a stronger purifier.

Many purifiers have multiple speed fan adjustments or even square footage adjustments that allow you to tailor the purifier to your space as needed. Review each air purifier's

specifications to see if it is adequate.

2)What contaminants are present in your air?

Knowing the basic contaminants in your air will help you choose the best purifier. If you do not know what is in your air and you are concerned, it may be best to get a purifier that offers

the most complete cleaning. Generally speaking, the more complete the cleaning, the more expensive the air purifier. Finding a balance between wants and needs may be necessary. Review all your

options.

3) What quality level of room air purifier are you after?

In my opinion, quality always pays. There are many brands of purifier on the market that can be had for less than £100.

Generally there are 4 reasons not to purchase a cheap model.

  • may do a poor cleaning job because of inefficiencies of design
  • may have higher filter cost or may need replacing more often
  • may be less energy efficient
  • may be noisier

Look at a purifier as an investment. A little more upfront will pay dividends in the long run. Choose wisely and realize quality is usually a good investment.

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

If you read through the technologies section of this website, you will realize that there are several choices available to clean your air. The first basic choice you need to make is between

a passive or an active technology. If you have made up your mind on technology already, that's ok, review the purifiers with that type of technology. If not, you will need to review both

technology types and make a decision. The purifier review section will help as it provides in-depth reviews and research.

5) What is your Budget?

You may have a budget in mind. If so, you can view the reviews by price and get an idea which purifiers are in your range.

If you haven't decided on your budget yet, you can browse all of the reviews. Keep in mind the upfront cost as well as the ongoing costs. These costs as well as other factors will be

presented for each purifier.

Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands of air purifiers. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from One Room Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Commercial Air Purifier?

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There may be reasons to use a commercial air purifier in a business instead of one designed mainly for residential use, although, many “light” commercial locations could utilize a residential purifier effectively.

Which commercial locations will be discussed?

Commercial spaces come in many types. Because the scope of this website is mostly residential, I will limit my discussion here to commercial locations that are close in type to residential and thus in most cases could use similar technology. Our discussion mostly applies to smaller offices, smaller retail spaces, and other businesses with simple, open areas.

This will not be a discussion of complex air cleaning situations like industrial or chemical plants, hotels, paint booths, restaurants, large retail, nail salons, bars, schools and other large buildings. These commercial locations generally need a custom solution provided by a commercial air specialist. A commercial air purifier or system would be more suitable. If you work in one of these places, it is possible to use a home air purifier and get some benefit, but to do a complete analysis requires more discussion and variables then we can do here. I may expand this section to include a more complete commercial air purifier guide at a later time.

What are the 6 major differences of residential and commercial?

1) The rooms/ spaces may be larger.

2) The air flow and air handling equipment may be more complex.

3) There generally are more people inside.

4) There may be many different types of contaminants.

5) You need to take into account your neighbors businesses.

6) There may be code considerations.

Let’s discuss these briefly one at a time.

1) The rooms/ spaces may be larger.

Many Commercial air purifier spaces are larger. Many ceilings are higher and some are drop ceilings. Some spaces change in size and shape with partitioned walls and/or different retail set-ups. You may need to take these factors and others into account before making a decision.

2) The air flow and air handling equipment may be more complex.

Commercial air purifier spaces can have many types of air flow. Your office or retail space may be tied into its own heating and cooling system or it may be part of a larger system. There can also be more in and out traffic, numerous hallways and doorways, garage doors, etc … On one extreme, there are simple spaces that you can treat just like a regular room and on the other extreme, the spaces are very complex. Most are somewhere in between.

3) There generally are more people inside.

Many Commercial air purifier spaces have more people inside them then residential. More people means more cleaning power needed. In larger spaces the need for a commercial air purifier system becomes necessary.

4) There may be many different types of contaminants.

The number can vary from few to many. Many offices are connected to warehouses. Certain office supplies, new products/ samples, dusty inventory/ boxes and copy machines are just a few possibilities. Every type of industry is a little different. Some businesses may appear to have only standard contaminants, but examine these spaces more closely and you may find some additional ones.

5) You need to take into account your neighbors businesses.

Mini-malls, downtowns, office complexes, and industrial locations tend to have close neighbors. Some of these locations share air flow. The problems can even depend on which way the wind is blowing.

6) There may be code considerations.

Most commercial locations are under local and state codes. This means that where you place something needs to be within code. You can’t block exits, breaker boxes, or hallways. You also need to be mindful of things like extension cords. If you have questions, check with your boss or if you own the business, run it by the code inspectors on their next visit.

I did not cover any of these in very much detail, but you can begin to see the possible complexities of cleaning the air in a commercial situation and the need for a commercial air purifier or complex system. With all that said, many locations are “easy” to clean and can be treated pretty much like a one room or whole home residential situation.

Two criteria used to make a good decision on a Commercial air purifier

1) Do you want to clean one room/office, multiple rooms/offices or the whole business location?

This is a primary decision you will need to make. You may just want to clean a certain room or the place where you work most. In some cases budget can be a limitation. In other cases it can be the size of your office/business or the layout. Even the cooling/heating system can be a factor in your decision.

Let’s look at each of these. First though, if you have made up your mind and only want to clean the air in one room/office. If you are not sure, continue on.

Budget: Cleaning the whole business will generally be more expensive than effectively cleaning just one room/office. One good active or passive air purifier will clean one room/office. If you want to clean multiple rooms or the whole business it can get a little more complicated. If you are on a budget you will need to look at cost effective solutions.

Business Size: Business size generally only matters if you want to clean more than one room. When using passive technologies your choices are limited. A single passive air purifier will clean only a single room or office. Some passive technologies can be hooked through your HVAC system and thus reach the whole business. To do the whole business with passive technologies your choices are limited to more than one unit or a more serious unit hooked through the HVAC. Active technologies may provide more “bang for the buck” for whole business cleaning. Read my section on whole house/ multiple room air cleaning for a more detailed discussion.

Layout: Businesses can be single story or multiple stories. Some have basements. Some offer an open layout and some a closed layout. No matter what air cleaning choice you make, you will have to make some concessions. No layout or purifier combination is a perfect fit. Looking at all the options and having a plan will be helpful, but will not eliminate some “tweaking” once you pick a purifier. One nice thing about most air purifiers is they are moveable. You can move them around and find the best spots.

Heating and Cooling: All air purifiers work better with air flow. Central air and heat systems or HVAC are best at doing this. If you are in a business without central air and heat, consider installing a ceiling fan or using some sort of fan setup to get better air flow. Both passive and active systems will clean the air better with increased air flow.

2) Which contaminants do you want to clean?

Basic Particles – dust, pet dander, allergens: Use HEPA, Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters, or Ionization

Smells and Gases – cooking odors, kitty liter, aerosols: Use Activated Carbon Filters, Ozone or Advanced Filterless Technology

Basic Microorganisms – each technology has varying effectiveness: Use Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters, UV, Ozone, or Advanced Filterless Technology

Advanced Microorganisms – some technologies have proven studies: Use Advanced Filterless Technology

Small Particles – like tobacco smoke: Use Ionization or Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters

Before we get to the plan of action, you may need to decide if your location can benefit from a standard air purifier or if you need a specialized commercial air purifier. Use the basic guidelines presented above to make that decision.

Ok, time for a plan of action!

Plan of Action:

1) Decide if you want to clean the whole business or just one or two rooms/offices.

2) Make a list of all major known contaminants in your home. Figure out what you want to clean and add to the list anything else you want removed from your air.

3) Review the appropriate section on single room or whole house/ multiple room.

4) Review the technologies again if needed and know which ones interest you.

5) Go to STEP 3 Reviews and start your review of air purifiers That’s it! You have your plan, let’s go forward…

Return to STEP 2 Types from Commercial Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Home Air Purifier?

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What two criteria do you look at to make a good home air purifier choice? Since the air problems found in most residential homes are similar, let's start by looking at typical

residential spaces.

Most homes have similar challenges.

Every home has dust and dust mites, food odors, and pollution entering the house from outside. We typically add contaminants from cleaning and beauty

products, painting and home repair, as well as out-gassing from new furniture or carpeting. Many have pollen, mold, and other allergens entering the home regularly. Some of us have pets. Others

have seasonal projects that affect the air. Some people smoke or entertain regularly. We all bring in "stuff" when we are out coming and going. All of these are relatively normal

residential challenges for a home air purifier.

Some homes with basements have a slight leak or small water problem or foundation problem and may have a musty or moldy basement. A small roof or

wall leak can also cause a room or rooms of the house to be musty. An air purifier can help these situations as well, but it is always wise to find the root of the problem and fix it if

possible. These types of problems generally get worse over time. They occur more often in older homes or certain rainy parts of the country.

Some places are dustier, more polluted, or have seasonal challenges. Sometimes there are forest fires or other environmental hazards. Apartments and other houses close together can share air

flow at times. Cooking, smoke, and grill smells can sneak under doors in hallways or outside windows. Again, these are common challenges for a home air purifier.

One major difference between a residential space and a commercial space is that most of us sleep at home. Since the average time spent sleeping is about 8 hours, you may pick this as a place

that you want clean air.

You may have a business in your home or live in an adversely polluted environment or you may have special needs. If you have any out of the ordinary home air situations that are ongoing, you

may need to consult a specialist to solve your air cleaning needs.

The two criteria needed to make a good decision

1) Do you want to clean one room, multiple rooms or the whole house?

This is a primary decision you will need to make. You may just want to clean a certain room or have a purifier where you sleep. In some cases budget can be a limitation. In other cases it

can be the size of your home or your homes layout. Even the cooling/heating system can be a factor in this decision.

Let's look at each of these.

First though, if you have made up your mind and only want to clean the air in one room, If you are not sure, continue on.

Budget: Cleaning the whole house will generally be more expensive than effectively cleaning just one room. One good active or passive home air purifier will clean one room. If you want to

clean multiple rooms or the whole house it can get a little more complicated. If you are on a budget you will need to look at cost effective solutions.

Home Size: Home size generally only matters if you want to clean more than one room. When using passive technologies your choices are limited. A single passive air purifier will clean only a

single room or space. Some passive technologies can be hooked up through your HVAC system and thus reach the whole home. To do the whole home with passive technologies your choice is limited to

more than one unit or a more serious whole home unit hooked through the HVAC. Active technologies may provide more "bang for the buck" for whole house cleaning. Read my section on

whole house/ multiple room air cleaning for a more detailed discussion. Layout: Homes can be single story or multiple stories. Some have basements. Some offer an open layout and some a closed

layout. No matter what air cleaning choice you make, you will have to make some concessions. No layout or home air purifier combination is a perfect fit. Looking at all the options and having a

plan will be helpful, but will not eliminate some in-home "tweaking" once you pick a home air purifier. One nice thing about most air purifiers is they are moveable. You can move them

around and find the best spots.

Heating and Cooling: A home air purifier works better with air flow. Central air and heat systems or HVAC are best at doing this. If you are in a home without central air and heat, consider

installing a ceiling fan or using some sort of fan setup to get better air flow. Both passive and active systems will clean the air better with increased air flow. 2) Which contaminants do you

want to clean?

Basic Particles – dust, pet dander, allergens: Use HEPA, Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters, or Ionization

Smells and Gases – cooking odors, kitty liter, aerosols: Use Activated Carbon Filters, Ozone or Advanced Filterless Technology

Basic Microorganisms – each technology has varying effectiveness: Use Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters, UV, Ozone, or Advanced Filterless Technology

Advanced Microorganisms – some technologies have proven studies: Use Advanced Filterless Technology

Small Particles – like tobacco smoke: Use Ionization or Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters Ok, time for a plan of action!

Plan of Action:

1) Decide if you want to clean the whole house or just one or two rooms.

2) Make a list of all major known contaminants in your home. Figure out what you want to clean and add to the list anything else you want removed from your air.

3) Review the appropriate section on single room or whole house/ multiple room.

4) Review the technologies again if needed and know which ones interest you.

5) Go to STEP 3 Reviews and start your review of air purifiers That's it! You have your plan, let's go forward …

Return to STEP 2 Types from Residential Home Air Purifier

How Does a Silent Air Purifier Work?

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Summary:

There is a certain appeal to a silent air purifier. Why is silence not necessarily golden if you are an air purifier. The question is, do they work?

Silent usually refers to an air purifier with no fan or a very low noise fan or another technology that makes little noise. In most cases a fan is the noise maker.

Nature cleans the air partially by using wind and storms. Both are noisy.

Most HEPA filter and filter air purifiers clean the air using fans by drawing the air to the purifier for cleaning. Again some noise involved.

Most active technologies or passive/active technologies use a fan well. Again the noise.

Most technologies either need to blow outwards to clean the air or draw inwards to clean the air. One could make an argument that active ionization could be silent, but I wouldn't

consider it a stand alone technology. It doesn't do a comprehensive cleaning job alone.

Put a silent purifier in a normal size room with minimal or no airflow and the results would be poor. Put the same air purifier in a room with moderate air flow and the results would be

better.

My recommendation is to only use a silent purifier if you have consistent, moderate air flow from a source other then the silent air purifier.

More Detail

If you object to the noise level of your purifier, there are a few things you can do.

1) Run the purifier on low when you are around and higher when you are not.

2) Get a purifier type that allows you to locate it in a place out of ear shot or at least in a place that is better suited for your "noise" needs.

3) Get a brand that has a lower noise level. Some quality purifiers do.

In-Depth Reference(s)

– Nothing additional at this time –

Buying Considerations

In most cases "wind" is a part of cleaning. Wind has a noise factor. Maybe someday someone will come out with a universally effective silent purifier. Stay tuned 🙂

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Silent Air Purifier