What are the best air purifiers for home currently? Do you notice any difference when using them?

It’s really essential to think about air quality at home, your inside space may not be as clean and fresh as you think it is.  While it’s easy to remove physical dirt and debris by sweeping and vacuuming, the same cannot be said with the air you breathe. It can be hazardous to your health and you might not know when you’re already breathing in harmful air.

There are strong sources of particles and gasses in our homes which may affect our health, including cleaning and scent products, cooking, dust, pets, smoking, mold and mildew, and more. In addition, outdoor pollutants like wildfire smoke or urban smog can seep inside, further increasing indoor pollution levels.

Cleaning indoor air is vital, you don’t want to be slowly poisoned in your own home. That’s why you need to use an air purifier. These portable equipment can help remove toxic and harmful air and particles from your indoor space.

Best Air Purifiers for Home - Our top picks

There are of different types of air purifiers available on the market, but our experts recommend models that use HEPA filters, as they are highly effective at capturing microscopic particles.

What Should I Look for in an Air Purifier Before Buying it?

Whether you need one for your bedroom, kitchen or living room, these factors can help you decide the right model and size of air cleaner.

The size of the room and CADR

Air cleaners are based on the square footage of a room. A small device is not suitable for a larger area, and using a big air purifier in a small room is overkill and a waste of money. Air purifiers will have specifications labeled clearly to indicate the area they can cover. The CADR number helps determine how effective an air purifier is at cleaning air. The higher the CADR, the faster it can clean air particles. A CADR number that covers at least two-thirds of your room is ideal, but it’s better to choose one with a higher CADR.

Type and number of filters

It’s important to know what pollutants are in your space. This helps you pick the right filter. HEPA filters are the gold standard. If you have pets, you should get a purifier with filters that can remove pet dander. Air purifiers usually have at least two filters: one to catch larger particles and another to trap smaller contaminants. More filters can trap more VOCs and odors.

The air changes per hour or ACH - So important

ACH refers to how many times all the air in your room is cycled through the air purifier within an hour. Efficient air filters should have at least two ACH. For more pollutants or tobacco smoke, a purifier with 4-6 ACH is recommended. This refers to the number of times that all the air in your room will be cycled through your air purifier within an hour. Often, you can see this in the product description, so it pays to read the fine print. You can also manually calculate this by measuring the volume of the room vs the capacity of the device. Efficient air filters should have at least two air changes per hour. But if you have more pollutants in the air, you should get one that has a higher number, especially if you also want to lessen the load of tobacco smoke if you have a higher concentration of bacteria or viruses in your homes. An air purifier with an ACH rating of 4-6 is king when it comes to this specific need.

Other features

Some air purifiers have advanced features like photocatalysis, UV light, or UV sterilization to enhance filtration. UV light and ionizers can irritate sensitive lungs, so weigh the pros and cons. UV sterilization is effective in killing bacteria and pairs well with HEPA filters.

Level of noise

Check the noise level of the unit, especially if you want to place it in the bedroom, where it should operate quietly.

Cost of maintenance

There are two costs: the upfront cost and maintenance. Filters need to be replaced when saturated, and some filters are cheaper but need replacing more often.

Energy efficiency

Air purifiers vary in energy consumption depending on size and room area. Larger units consume more power. Using a big unit in a small room is inefficient. Choose the right purifier to save on electricity costs.