If you suffer from seasonal allergies or have a pet that sheds a lot, you might already know how great a air purifier can be. However, with continued concern over air pollution, and now the Covid-19 pandemic, more people are looking for ways to purify the air in their homes. Luckily, there are a number of different types of air purifiers available to suit any need.
Air purifiers help reduce the amount of airborne pollutants like dust, pollen and particulates. The best air purifiers can also remove smoke and toxic gases, as well as bacteria and viruses. So, in addition to spending less time outdoors during wildfire season, experts suggest using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaning filter to keep the particle pollution from the smoke from embedding in your lungs.
Air purifiers need to be able to do two things in order to be effective. They need to be able to remove harmful particles and gases from the air, and they need to be able to circulate most of the air in the room through those filters multiple times per hour. The best air purifiers will do both of those things well.
Consider Your Apartment Size
The size of your apartment is an important factor to consider when choosing an air purifier. Air purifiers come in different sizes and shapes, and some are better equipped to handle large spaces than others. The best way to determine which air purifier is right for your apartment is to look at the CADR number.
The CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate, is a good indicator of how much air the purifier can actually purify. It’s worth noting that the CADR number is just a guideline, and there are other factors to consider when choosing an air purifier for your home.
An air purifier should have a separate rating for each type of particle it filters, but you will be filtering multiple particle types when using the purifier, so these numbers individually are not very useful. The size and speed of the purifier’s fan can also influence CADR, which doesn’t tell you anything about how well the purifier actually works.
The higher the CADR number, the more efficient the air purifier. However, keep in mind that even the best air purifiers will have a hard time filtering out particles in a large space. If you have a medium to large apartment, you might want to consider getting an air purifier with a higher CADR number.
Choose a Portable Air Purifier
A great way to get the most use out of an air purifier is by picking a portable one! That way, you can easily move it from room to room as needed. For example, you can keep it running in your bedroom at night, then move it to your living room or office during the day. Or, if you spend a lot of time cooking in your kitchen, you can purify the air there too.
EPA has noted that there are several ways you can get the most out of your air purifier, and it all starts with careful placement. They recommend placing the purifier in the room where people who are most vulnerable to health concerns spend the majority of their time. This includes infants, elders and asthmatics.
A bedroom is usually a good place for the purifier, as it gives everyone a chance to breathe easier during the night. It’s important to place air cleaners in a way that allows the clean air to reach the people in the room directly. This way, you can avoid any ‘short-circuiting’ that could happen if the output flow is obstructed by furniture or other objects.
Type of Filters
Filters are really the only way to go when it comes to choosing a high-quality portable home air purifier because other methods, such as using ultraviolet light or ionization, aren’t regulated and usually aren’t suitable for home use. If you’re looking for an air purifier that will do a great job of clearing the air in your home, look for one with a HEPA filter.
HEPA filters are made from a dense tangle of very fine fibers, which trap particles – smoke, dust and pollen. There are a variety of US and international standards for HEPA filters, so you’ll find mentions of HEPA filters, graded 10 to 17 according to the European standard, which are graded in terms of their efficiency.
But you don’t need a filter specifically designed to remove ultrafine particles to get rid of these microbiological contaminants or nano particulate contaminants. Keep in mind that N95 masks are still the standard for combating transmission of the Covid-19 virus, and they use similar technology that is even less efficient.
There are a few reasons why these filters are effective against smaller particles. First, many of these tiny threats tend to stick together or piggyback on larger particles. According to the EPA, filters don’t need to remove particles as small as viruses to be effective.
Key Takeaway
An air purifier that works well in a house will also be effective in an apartment. However, for the best results, it is recommended that you use a portable air purifier to keep the air in your apartment clean where you need it most.
