Quality air purifiers are of most importance for your good health, as many of us are spending most of our lives indoors. Choosing the best HEPA air purifier may be confusing, as there are many brands and models available on the market. Comparing all the sizes, features and prices can be overwhelming.
We created this air purifier buying guide in order to help you learn about the different options and make an informed decision.
We will discuss here some things to look for when you are shopping for HEPA air purifier.
Three Main Types of HEPA Air Purifiers
- Portable HEPA-type
- Portable true HEPA air purifier
- Whole-house UV air treatment
One criteria in your purchasing decision must be the common household air pollutants you want to get rid of. Air purifiers target different household air pollutants, so it is important to know which pollutants you may have in your home and need to eliminate.
The most common household air pollutants are airborne particles such as dust mite allergen, pet dander, plant spores, pollen, mold, fungi, and tobacco smoke; household odors and gases such as kitty litter, cooking odors, tobacco smoke, gaseous pollutants, various toxins, aerosols and indoor pesticides; volatile organic compounds such as varnishes, paints, cleaning supplies, adhesives and glues, disinfectants, new building and new carpet supplies; and micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and antigens.
Air Purifier Filter Types
There are many air purifier filter types that are designed to target various types of indoor air pollution. Among them, HEPA air purifiers are the most popular because they work well in eliminating most of the common household allergens such as animal dander, dust, and pollen.
However, they are not the best at capturing organic compounds, foul odors, chemical fumes and viruses. Many air purifiers use in the same unit two or more filter types in order to eliminate more types of allergens.
For example, the Austin Air Healthmate air purifier features a HEPA filter along with a carbon filter. Combining both a carbon filter and a HEPA filter provides the most effective air cleaning solution on the market today.
Another example of air purifier mixing two technologies is the IQAir Clean Room, which utilizes a HEPA filter that is also treated with special agents in order to kill airborne microorganisms.
Other air purifier models such as NQ Clarifier, Germ Guardian AC5000, or AllerAir 5000 EXEC UV, feature a UV lamp to kill germs.
High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA)
This is the best technology that sets the standard for air purification today. A HEPA air purifier filter can eliminate around 99.97 percent of all particles with dimensions as small as 0.3 microns. HEPA technology for air purifiers was originally developed in order to remove radioactive particles.
Most allergens are captured by HEPA filters because they allow only very small particles to pass through. Dust, mold spores, animal dander, and pollen are all trapped in a HEPA filter air purifier.
However, in order to ensure the best efficiency you will need to periodically change the HEPA filter.
Of course, not all HEPA filters and are created equal and you will need to choose a reputable brand, such as Holmes HEPA air purifier for example.
Other reputable brands of HEPA air purifiers are Blueair, Airgle, Austin Air, Alen, Aller Air, IQAir, NQ Clarifier, Honeywell, Amaircare, Whirlpool, and Germ Guardian.
Additional factors to consider when you shopping for an air purifier are features such as area coverage, air changes per hour, clean air delivery rate, filter replacements, energy usage, noise level, extra features, brand reputation, warranty policy, and price.
We hope this article help you to make the right decision when attempting to purchase a hepa air purifier.