Breathe Cleaner: The Best HEPA Air Purifier of 2024 | Oransi (2024)

FAQs

What is the most highly recommended air purifier? ›

All of the allergists we spoke to unanimously recommend HEPA filters for air purifiers. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air filters, and they're the gold standard for effectively improving indoor air quality.

However, in general, the duration of use required depends on the size of your space and the amount of indoor pollution (which varies throughout the year). This is why most manufacturers will recommend you to leave your air purifier running all day, especially if it comes equipped with an automatic setting.

HEPA (high efficiency particulate air [filter]) is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm), which can include dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria.

HEPA Filters

With a MERV rating nearing 16, HEPA filters provide the highest protection for your home. They're able to remove even the smallest microns or airborne particles, including tobacco and bacteria. Those who live with allergies or other respiratory issues may benefit from HEPA filters the most.

H13-H14 HEPA are within the highest tier of HEPA air filtration and are considered medical-grade. “A HEPA grade of H13 can remove 99.95% of all particles in the air measuring 0.2 microns in diameter, while a HEPA grade H14 removes 99.995%,” says Nagl.

Carbon air scrubbers remove smoke and odors through the use of materials that adsorb these gases. This includes granular activated carbon, alumina and potassium permanganate. They provide clean air in larger square footage spaces than you typically find in a room air purifier.

Using an air purifier can also help if you live in areas with high air pollution or seasonal wildfires. For people with COPD who share their home with pets, room air cleaners may even help their lungs work a little better. Air purifiers may cut levels of cytokines, or cell proteins that are linked to inflammation.

Fortunately, air purifiers do not consume a huge amount of power. Most HEPA air purifiers utilize a low amount of energy - around 50-100 watts of energy every hour based on the airflow speed.

Where is the best place to put an air purifier in a room? ›

Living room air purifiers should be a medium between the middle of the room and near seating areas. The middle of the room is the best spot for an air purifier to handle air pollution, because it both has access to the most particles and can have the biggest impact on moving air in the room.

Specialists recommend placing the device on the floor, because it is near the ground that there is a higher concentration of pollutants. Setting it on a shelf can significantly reduce the filtration efficiency. An important issue is also where not to place the air purifier.

Headaches, sore throat, coughing, Asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing are a few of the symptoms that can be brought on by some air purifiers. Yes, that's right. Your air purifier may actually aggravate many of the health issues you hoped it would solve.

What are the downsides of air purifiers? There aren't a lot of downsides to having an air purifier in your home aside from the financial investment. Many ionizers, especially older models, can generate ozone when they are operating, which is known to exacerbate asthma.

HEPA filters may cause air to become too dry. Finally, some HEPA filters may produce ozone, which is an unhealthy gas that can irritate the lungs. If your home or certain office areas are frequented by individuals who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, HEPA filters may prove to be of great value.

Expensive air filters often have a higher MERV rating than cheap air filters, which means that they have a larger surface area to filter and can trap smaller particles. MERV stands for “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value,” and it's a measure of how well an air filter can remove particles from the air.

Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.

What Makes Blueair Filtration Better? Blueair HEPASilent filters are less dense than standard HEPA filters. In addition, the electrostatic charge causes airborne particles to stick to the filter, so the fan doesn't have to work as hard.