Research from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the concentration of some pollutants can be two to five times higher indoors than they are outdoors. If you’re concerned about the quality of air you — and those around you — breathe indoors, you may wish to purchase an air purifier.

In this post, we’ll answer questions you may have about air purifiers to help you make an informed purchasing choice.

Where is your air purifier for?

A key factor to consider when choosing an air purifier is its intended location. Is it for your home? A classroom? A dental clinic? An office?

There are many air purifiers available on the market today, and they come with a range of different features and functions. When selecting your air purifier, you’ll want to consider the size of the room you plan to keep your device in, as well as its capabilities.

How much space do you want your air purifier to clean?

It’s important to know the size of the room you plan to place your air purifier in to ensure you select a model that is capable of purifying all of the air in that room effectively.

The effective coverage area of an air purifier shrinks if you are an allergy sufferer, which is worth noting when choosing your air purifier. The effective coverage areas for standard use in some of our most popular air purifiers is as follows:

Which type of air purifier is best for you?

Air Purifiers with Carbon Filters

Air purifiers containing carbon filters (such as the Brondell Revive True HEPA Air Purifier and Humidifier) trap and eliminate odours, harmful gases, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

The HealthMate Junior HM200 HEPA Air Purifier by Austin and the HealthMate HM400 Standard HEPA Air Purifier by Austin also contain carbon filters and offer an increased area of effective coverage.

Ozone Generators

Ozone generators produce ozone. When ozone reacts with some pollutants, it changes their chemical composition, which can lead to poor indoor air quality.

Studies analysed by the EPA have concluded that low levels of ozone don’t effectively eradicate indoor pollutants. Additionally, the EPA found ozone generators may worsen asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. We recommend considering alternative types of air purifiers.

Electronic Air Purifiers

Electronic air purifiers use electrostatic precipitators and ionizers to charge particles in the air, making them stick to plates on the machine or to surrounding surfaces. These can produce ozone and as such, alternative types of air purifiers may prove to be a more suitable choice.

Atmospheric Plasma Discharge Air Purifiers (NanoStrike)

NanoStrike technology in the Novaerus Protect 200 (NV200) and  the Novaerus Protect 900 (NV900) uses an atmospheric plasma discharge to kill and deactivate dangerous airborne microorganisms.

In independent tests, NanoStrike has proven effective at eliminating the smallest of airborne viruses, bacteria, mould spores, and VOCs. NanoStrike destroys the DNA and protein found in nanosized viruses, bacteria and fungi, which prevents viruses from spreading and stops bacterial and fungal spores from reproducing.

NanoStrike is the only technology that successfully kills pathogens in the sub-second time frame. The NV200 model is best suited for reception desks, bathrooms, supply rooms, offices, patients’ bedsides, and school buses. The NV900 can be used in patient rooms, operating theatres, nurses stations, examination rooms, classrooms, and common areas.

How much does it cost to maintain an air purifier?

You should replace your air purifier’s filter(s) as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Many air purifiers have an indicator to alert you when the filter needs to be changed.  

The Brondell Revive True HEPA Air Purifier and Humidifier contains two filters — one which needs to be replaced every four months and another which should be replaced every twelve months. These filter replacements are very affordable.

The filters which come with the HealthMate Junior HM200 HEPA Air Purifier by Austin and the HealthMate HM400 Standard HEPA Air Purifier by Austin are designed to last for five years, and replacement filters cost between $280 and $350.

What are the regulation requirements of an air purifier?

An “air change” refers to one cycle of all the air in a room being filtered through your air purifier. The more air changes a device can complete per hour, the more times the air is being cleaned.  

Spaces prone to higher levels of contamination (such as laundry rooms) require less air changes per hour than rooms with lower levels of pollutants (such as bedrooms). Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to find out how many air changes per hour your air purifier is capable of.

What certifications do air purifiers have?

Air purifiers have to run constantly to be effective, so you should consider the energy cost when choosing a device. Energy Star certified air purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than other models.  

Another certification to look for is the AHAM Verifide seal. If an air purifier has this, it means the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has tested the model. AHAM’s certification program shows clean air delivery rates (CADRs) and room size guidelines on the seal.

CADRs represent the volume of clean air that an air purifier creates on its top speed setting. Higher CADRs make for a faster and more efficient air purifier. When selecting an air purifier, consider the CADR for the pollutant you are most concerned about. For example, if you have allergies, select an air purifier with a high CADR rating for pollen.

Air purifiers are a great way to improve the quality of air you breathe indoors and with many options available, there’s one to suit anybody’s needs — whether your air purifier is for residential, business, or community use.