17 Best Air Purifiers (2024): Coway, AirDoctor, IQAir

How can a busy shopper find the right sized purifier for the room they want to clean? The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that one should aim for this Five air exchanges per hourin a standard known as ACH. When looking at an air purifier, look at the cubic feet per minute of airflow at the lowest setting. When measuring the cubic area of ​​your room, you need… Room area times height. Imagine a one-foot cube of Styrofoam. How many cubes can you fit in a room?

Anyone shopping for an air purifier also needs to look for acronyms and terms. First, look for CARB certification, which means the air purifier has passed the strict standards of California Air Resources Board. Next, check the filter type. Below, we break down the differences. Also don’t forget to unscrew your filter! There’s a special kind of horror that comes when you realize you’re running your air purifier with a plastic-coated HEPA filter.

HEPA filters: This is it High efficiency particulate air filter It can remove at least 99.97 percent of dust, mold, pollen, bacteria and airborne particles up to 0.3 microns in size. that it Great choice For those with allergies or respiratory problems, because it can help eliminate airborne particles that can cause symptoms — such as sneezing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, coughing, and more. However, it should be noted that HEPA filters do not remove VOCs from the air as activated carbon filters do. But they are usually paired with carbon filters.

Activated carbon: Activated carbon filters (also known as activated charcoal) are Very effective Because they are very porous and have a large surface area, which allows the filters to absorb gas pollutants, odors and VOCs. They are Best for removing fumesSmoke and chemicals from the air. But these filters It must be replaced Often depending on the environment. For example, if there is a wildfire in your area and the air purifier is running at a higher intensity than usual, it is important to replace the saturated filter to avoid releasing toxic gases 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 have to buy new filters every time you need to replace the filter. Simply remove it, scrub it with soap and water and leave it to dry.

UV-C Sanitizer Filters: UV filters use UV light to kill viruses, parasites, mold spores and bacteria. they Cannot be removed Airborne particles, VOCs, or gas pollutants, so it is only fully effective when combined with a HEPA filter. According to US Environmental Protection AgencyUV lamps without coatings suitable for lamps that have the ability to emit ozone. We recommend checking This list From the Home Appliance Manufacturers Association for air purifiers that have been shown to emit little or no ozone.