Reviewing the best air purifiers

Due to the increasing need for air purification, there are a growing number of air purifiers available in the market. However, consumers should be cautious and selective when choosing the right air purifiers that best suit their needs. To assist consumers with their decisions, we added categories that can be looked out for when checking air purifier products.

Find an air purifier with the right size in proportion to the size of the area you need to purify. A small room will only need a small air purifier, and the inverse applies as the area to be purified area gets bigger. This is the basic determining factor in the type and capacity of air purifier you want to choose.

The Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) is the number of times the unit can filter the air within an hour. This rating relates to the size of the space in which the air purifier operates. By default, most manufacturers set the ACH rating as 5x for the coverage area measure in sq ft, but it pays to check the labels and fine print to be sure. Also, as a basic rule, a higher ACH rating is needed the more contaminated or polluted that the air is in a particular area. Houses usually need a 5x ACH rating. Commercial spaces may need an 8x ACH rating; industrial environments need an 10x ACH rating; the highest ACH rating of 12x goes for hospitals and other critical environments that need to be free from contamination.

The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the metric developed to measure the performance of air purifiers. This is one of the common information provided in air purifier reviews. The CADR rating shows the volume of air in cubic feet per minute that is cleaned of particles such as dust, smoke and pollen. Going back, this is in proportion to the size of the room. For example, if your room size is 120 sq ft, you will need a purifier with a CADR rating of 120 or higher.

Ideally, look for an air purifier with a pre-filter that can be vacuumed. The pre-filter helps block larger particles and protects the HEPA (High efficiency particulate air) filter, which filters out smaller particles. An activated carbon coating or filter layer may be preferred to absorb smoke smells and odors.

Aside from efficacy, you also need to check for the noise level of the air purifier when operating. This can affect household or office activities that need concentration. Noise can also be distracting to sleep.

The other thing to consider is the ozone emission. Ozone emission can be harmful to the lungs over a period of time. Look for purifiers that emit the lowest possible ozone emission rating or better yet, no ozone emission at all. Read the labels or check with the manufacturer to be sure.

Warranty is another feature to look for. The recommended minimum warranty should be at least 3 years. Products with lower period than this may have doubtful quality.

Now that you know the things to look out for, you can check out reviews and shop for the best air purifier for you. The concept of the best air purifier is a subjective one, as it depends on the specific needs and preferences of each consumer. So when it comes to the best air purifiers, what matters is which one can suit your needs best. Having a criteria can be helpful in your decision making.