TOP 7 BEST AIR PURIFIERS REVIEW OF 2021

Air purifiers (sometimes called air cleaners) are cleaner devices that remove pollutants from the air in the room by trapping them inside. They are beneficial to people that suffer from allergies and asthma and they reduce the amount of second-hand smoke. Models can range from small that are designed for household use and big that can be used in industrial settings to remove impurities such as and CO₂ from the air for processing. They can be also used in hospitals to remove harmful particles such as bacteria in sterile settings.

You may want to also check: how air purifier works?

If you are a person with -for example-  allergies, and other lung issues like asthma, the air purifier is something that can help you (or your pet) get through the tough times.

There are many pollutants in each house and they can have a wide range of effects on the inhabitants of a household. You might not even notice some allergens, but others will make you gasp for air. Here are some of the reasons why people get air purifiers:

• Mold – mold is a type of fungus that only needs water to grow and it can form in areas that have a lot of moisture, such as kitchens, basements,and Mold produces tiny spores that cannot be seen by the naked eye and those spores can cause health problems
• Allergies – all sorts of airborne particles can cause allergies. The symptoms of allergies are a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, irritated eyes, rashes on the skin and many more. Pollen, dirt,and dust need to be removed as much as it is possible to make the allergies go away.
• Pets – Our furry and scaly companions are great to have around, but they make sure that their presence is felt, not only by sight but also by smell. Not all allergies come from pet hair. They can be caused by their saliva, urine and skin glands
• Asthma-like allergies – Dust particles can trigger asthma attacks. Getting rid of the particles can greatly improve your quality of life if you have this affliction
• Cigarette smoke – Getting rid of the smell of cigarettes is a challenging task. Not even constant washing can take care of it once it sets in. It is important to get rid of it as it forms to prevent it from becoming a part of your background smell.

Before making a choice on which air purifier you want to get, you need to understand what sort of a problem you have and which type would take care of it best. We are going to review 5 types of technologies that air purifiers to get rid of various types of pollutants:

1. HEPA filters – This is the most commonly used type of filter for air purifiers and these filters are able to trap 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. The human eye can only see down to 10 microns – 1 micron is 1 millionth of a meter. That means that they will be able to trap most of the particles in the air and take care of your allergy and asthma problems. They are not able to get rid of smells, contrary to popular belief. For that, you are going to need a carbon filter. These filters have a limited lifespan and they will need to be replaced after a certain period of time. The manufacturer needs to state how long each type is supposed to last. These filters can cost a lot and they can add to the purchasing price significantly.
2. Activated carbon filters – These filters are very good when it comes to getting rid of smells that come from pets, chemicals, smoke,and other sources and these sorts of filters are recommended for people that are sensitive to smells. They are also great for the kitchen if you do a lot of cooking since they will mitigate the smell. They have a large surface area in order to capture the nasty smells and they need to be cleaned periodically. That task is not very pleasant since you are basically interacting with all the captured smells, so you will need gloves and a mask when you are washing or changing the filter. Like HEPA filters, carbon filters will also need replacement. The worse the air quality, the less time it will take for it to become ineffective.
3. UV technology – The ultraviolet light is usually used alongside HEPA and carbon filters to kill off viruses and bacteria. The UV bulb is inside the filter and the light itself is killing off the pathogens. UV exposure is harmful and dangerous, but since the bulb is contained within the device, there is no risk of exposure. The light does need to be replaced since it has a limited lifespan, just like the filters.
4. Ionizers – They produce an electrostatic charge that is designed to trap particles. Ionizers are not meant to remove all the particles from the air, they are designed to work alongside regular filters to give them an added boost
5. Ozone generators – They produce ozone that has a distinct smell that breaks down the particles it comes into contact with. The effects of ozone on health are not good and these types of air purifiers are not recommended. They have even been banned in some countries and regions.

Space itself can play a large role in your decision which model to buy. Always check the specifications when it comes to size. The most important factor to consider is the devices clean air delivery rate or CADR for short. As you look into the recommended room size for each model, be sure to pay attention to its CADR. Since manufacturers are free to place their own designations on the product, there is a danger that they will overstate the strength of the model since there are no legal repercussions. If you want to be sure that you are getting an adequate model, you should always buy the one that is intended for a slightly larger room then the one you have.

• For small rooms up to 155 sq. ft. the CADR should be up to 97. A desktop or mini-tower sized air purifier is enough
• Medium sized rooms between 156 and 300 sq. ft. should have a CADR rating of 98-130. You should use a tower or a mini tower air purifier
• Large rooms that are up to 500+ sq. ft. should have a CADR larger than 130. You need a tower or console model for them.

There are many special features to consider when you are getting a new air purifier. Not all may be useful for you so you should consider if you really need them carefully before you open up your wallet. We are going to list some of the more important ones:

• Filter change indicator – Most of the models need to have their filters changed every few months. The time between each change is not set in stone and it depends on a variety of factors – how dirty is the air in the room, does the air purifier operate continuously, is there a malfunction and so on. An indicator helps greatly in these cases since it lights up when a change is needed
• Air quality sensors, automatic operating mode– It is usually difficult to tell what the exact quality of air in the room is. That is important to know when you are choosing the operating speed of an air purifier. You do not want to strain the device or you might not want to hear it producing loud sounds if it can be helped. A sensor then comes in handy to tell you what you are dealing with and if it is automatic, then you do not need to worry about the fan speed at all. Cheaper models usually do not have them.
• Remote control, smartphone app – There are buttons and knobs on the devices that can be used to turn them on and off and to set their operating speed. A useful feature to have is a remote control for obvious reasons. An added bonus is a feature that lets you control the device online so you can get the device to work before you come into the house.
• Portability – Some air purifiers are too large to be moved, while others have handles or wheels for easy transport. You cannot have it all – a portable device will not be able to compete when it comes to CADR with a stationary one.
• Off timer – This can be a useful feature to have if you don’t want the device to work all night.
• Display lights off – Some models have lights that cannot be turned off. It is not a problem during the day, but it can be really annoying during the night when that device is next to your bed.
• Air purifier colors – most manufacturers usually offer just one color for their product. But there are some that make several different choices available to their consumers.
• Return policy and warranty – This can be an important factor, especially if you are on a tight budget or if you are buying a really expensive product. There are many different offers on the market and you need to make sure that you read the fine print so you do not get an unpleasant surprise down the road when something malfunctions

The price and the quality have always been tied closely together. If you have a small apartment without the children, you may not need the state of the air purifier. If you need high levels of quality, you should be prepared to put in some extra money in the maintenance and keeping your device working 24/7 It is imperative to check what is the lifespan of spare parts. Availability and cost of replacing them should factor into your decision. You should also check the energy consumption of the device, which is around 30-250 watts depending on the model.

Filters are usually the biggest headache when it comes to maintenance. Not only do they need to be replaced every few months, but they also cost a lot of money (some can be up to $50-$100) and they can easily end up costing more than the device itself. Some of the more expensive models offer filters that do not need replacement, but they do need to be washed regularly. When you are washing or replacing the filters, or just opening up the device to clean it, be prepared (gas mask, gloves) to deal with some nasty smells and hazardous materials. The device cannot make the pollutants disappear, it can only trap them.