An air purifier can be a worthwhile investment for your home, as it can help remove allergens and other pollutants from the air. There are numerous health benefits associated with the use of air purifiers, and the results vary from person to person depending on the types of pollutants inside. In general, air purifiers are beneficial. The best models in our tests effectively disinfect air from dust, smoke and pollen.
CR recommends more than two dozen models in our air cleaner ratings, and most use a HEPA filter; some also have carbon filters. For families with pets, an air purifier works effectively to filter out pet dander from the air and leave the environment cleaner and healthier. In some cases, young children are more sensitive to pet dander than adults, so for families with young children and pets, an air purifier is an excellent investment. For families with children or parents with respiratory diseases, doctors often recommend keeping air quality as high as possible to allow easy breathing and eliminate the possibility of health problems.
This means that in addition to the purchase price of an air purifier, you should also consider operating costs and filter replacement costs. A CADR of 200 for pollen means that the air cleaner can reduce the pollen concentration by the equivalent of adding 200 cubic feet of fresh air per minute. If you're interested in buying an air purifier that uses ionizers, make sure it doesn't produce dangerous levels of ozone (a gas composed of three oxygen atoms that is often marketed to help break down pollutants), since ozone could irritate the lungs and further aggravate asthmatic conditions. The EPA warns that, for a typical room size, most air purifiers do not have CADR ratings high enough to effectively remove large contaminants, such as dust mites and cockroach-related allergens.
There is very little medical evidence to support that air purifiers directly help improve your health or relieve allergies and respiratory symptoms. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ and the Blueair Blue Pure 411 have ionizers integrated into their patented HepaSilent filters, but their manufacturer says they produce very little ozone. In general, you'll want to look for an air purifier that uses a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, the standard recommended by the EPA and the American Lung Association. The possibility of COVID spreading indoors increases because indoor air circulation and ventilation are not as strong as outdoors.
Typically, ozone air purifiers will have what appears on the packaging or in the commercial descriptions. CR generally does not test or recommend electronic air purifiers, because they can produce ozone. What Air Purifiers Don't DoAn air purifier can eliminate allergens only while they are floating in the air. As air moves through the filter, contaminants and particles are captured, and clean air is expelled into the living space. Are air purifiers worth the price and can they alleviate health risks? This blog is a resource to provide you with more information about the medical benefits of air purifiers.
