How can a busy shopper find the right size purifier for the room they want to clean? The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that you should aim for five air changes per hour, in a metric known as ACH. When looking at an air purifier, look at the cubic feet per minute in airflow on the lowest setting. When measuring the cubic feet of your room, you need the room area multiplied by height. Imagine a one-foot styrofoam cube. How many cubes would you fit in a room?
Anyone purchasing an air purifier should also look for two acronyms and terms. First, look for CARB certification, which means the air purifier passed the rigorous standards of the California Air Resources Board. Next, check the filter type. Below, we break down the differences. Also, don’t forget to unwrap your filter! There is a special kind of horror when realizing that you have been running your air purifier with a HEPA filter wrapped in plastic.
HEPA filters: This is a high efficiency particulate air filter which can remove at least 99.97 percent of dust, mold, pollen, bacteria and airborne particles down to 0.3 microns. Is a great option for those who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, as it can help eliminate airborne particles that can trigger symptoms, such as sneezing, sore throat, shortness of breath, cough, and more. However, it is worth noting that HEPA filters do not remove volatile organic compounds from the air like activated carbon filters do. But these are usually combined with carbon filters.
Activated carbon: Activated carbon filters (also known as activated carbon) are highly effective because they are very porous and have a large surface area, which allows the filters to absorb polluting gases, odors and VOCs. they are The best to eliminate smoke., smoke and chemicals in the air. But these filters have to be replaced more often depending on the environment. For example, if there is a wildfire in your area and your air purifier is running harder than usual, it is important to replace a saturated filter to prevent toxic gases from being released back into the air.
Washable air filters: Some of the air purifiers we’ve listed in this guide come with washable pre-filters in addition to a HEPA and/or activated carbon filter, which is what you’ll typically find. These are the most cost-effective as you do not need to buy new ones every time a filter needs to be replaced. Simply remove it, scrub it with soap and water and let it dry.
UV-C disinfectant filters: UV filters use ultraviolet light to kill viruses, parasites, mold spores and bacteria. They I can’t delete airborne particles, VOCs or polluting gases, so they are only fully effective when combined with a HEPA filter. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency,UV lights without proper coating have the potential to emit ozone. We recommend checking she is ready from the Home Appliance Manufacturers Association for air purifiers that have been shown to emit little or no ozone.