Best Air Purifier | Buying Guide

In this guide, we will find out how to choose the best air purifier for your needs. These products are increasingly popular, thanks to the health benefits they bring. Often, in fact, the air in our house is even more polluted than the outside and requires special attention, especially if one suffers from allergies or asthma. A necessary purchase for many, especially with the arrival of spring and the much-feared pollen.

In this article we will analyze how these products work and what criteria should be taken into account before purchasing.

What is a home air purifier

An air purifier is a small household appliance capable of cleaning indoor air through a fan-based purification system, filters and other technologies such as ionization and UV rays.

Home air is often more polluted than the outside air

Many will ask: do I really need one? Well, the answer is, absolutely yes. Home air is often polluted. Studies have claimed that domestic air can be up to 7 times more polluted than outside air. In fact, dust mites, bacteria, viruses and other unwanted elements are often present in the suspended dust. Among the unwanted particles and gases that can be found at home are:

• PM10: Pollen and allergens from flowers and plants
• PM5.0: mold and bacteria
• PM0.1: virus and ultra fine particles
• Formaldehyde (floors, carpets)
• Ozone (stoves)
• Benzene (candles, household cleaning products)
• Nitrogen oxide (stoves)

These agents, if inhaled, can lead to disease such as asthma. In addition, with the arrival of spring, the air is filled with pollen and other highly allergic substances. So, cleaning the indoor air is definitely a wise choice.

How to choose the best air purifier for your home

One of the first differentiating factors of air purifiers is certainly the purification system. There are several types of them. Let’s look at them in detail.

Filters

The most common purification system on the market is the filter-based one. The higher the number of filters, the better the performance of the product in terms of air cleaning. The results of filtration purification are, on average, very high. However, this type of air purifier requires frequent maintenance (filter replacement) and consumes much energy (air must pass through several layers). Let’s have a look at the most common filters.

• Carbon filter: Due to the porous structure, activated carbon is able to capture molecules responsible for bad odors.
• Anti-dust filter: This filter allows you to capture large particles of dust.
• HEPA filter: Hepa literally means High Efficiency Particulate Air. The presence of this type of filter is fundamental. In fact, these are capable of holding particles up to 0.3 microns in diameter. Pollen, mites and mold will all be trapped. This type of filter is definitely the most effective on the market. So, the best air filter purifiers will be equipped with this technology.
• Photo-catalyst filter: This filter uses titanium dioxide and ultraviolet rays to kill organic agents (bacteria and viruses).

Thermodynamic sterilization

With this system, impurities in the air are destroyed by heat. The air, by convention, is sucked into the ceramic core of the product, where it is heated to a temperature of 200 degrees. In this way, it is the heat itself that destroys harmful particles. Once “cleansed”, the air is cooled off and then reintroduced to the room. Unlike the filter purification system, thermodynamic sterilization does not need part replacement. In addition, energy consumption is lower and, overall, these purifiers turn out to be quieter.

Ionizer and ozone generator

The ionizer devices use the so-called electronic polarization to trap air particles. These device produces negative ions that bind to the latter, charging them electrically. At this point, an internal filter with an opposite charge will attract and trap them.

Some models also produce a small amount of ozone to remove odors and destroy allergens. However, the level of ozone in the air must never exceed a certain threshold (50 parts per billion is the limit for sanitary appliances, although this is still under discussion).

Too high levels of ozone in the air could cause complications, as the molecule can easily bond with other substances, such as air fresheners. The result is the production of new irritants such as formaldehyde or acrolein. Therefore, it is good to be cautious when buying an air purifier with an ozone generator and it is recommended to purchase one with an integrated ozone detector, in order to regulate itself.

Ultraviolet irradiation

This type of air purifiers use UV-C rays to sterilize the air. The air is pushed by a fan towards UV lamps, which burn particles. This type of system has excellent germicidal potential and is particularly suitable for mold and organic substances. However, these air purifiers are not yet widespread for commercial use.

Functionality

In addition to the air purification function, the best models offer a number of other features. For example, some models can be also used as a dehumidifier, which is very useful in damp environments. Another noteworthy feature is smart functionality. In other words, these home products are connected to an app. Through it, it’s possible to monitor air quality, program the device, and also manage it remotely.

Best air purifier for home 2019:

Levoit LV-H132

We start our selection with a product that boasts the best price to the quality ratio: the Levoit LV-H132 (Check on Amazon.com). This product features 3 levels of filtration (anti-dust, HEPA, and carbon filter) and is perfect for small rooms. In fact, it can easily purify a room of about 130 square feet. In addition, due to its small size, it can be easily placed almost anywhere. The icing on the cake, the discreet and elegant design makes it perfect for any type of environment, whether domestic or working (office).

There are 3-speed levels (low, medium, high) and a night mode that significantly reduces noise and light. Perfect product for those who are not too demanding, but also want a quality device.

Dyson Pure Cool

This product is considered by many to be the best air purifier. This device with its distinctive futuristic design has two interchangeable filters and stands out for its high performance, both as air purification and as an oscillating fan (it has 10 modes of purification and ventilation to choose from). In addition, the Dyson Pure Cool (Check on Amazon.com) air purifier is a fully connected and smart product. In fact, thanks to Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, you can manage it remotely and monitor the air quality of your home via the Dyson Link app.

Thanks to the built-in sensors, you can also let the product take care of your home in an easy and quiet way with the automatic mode. The sensors are very accurate and are capable of detecting PM 2,5, PM 10, organic particles and nitrogen dioxide, as well as other types of potentially harmful particles. Simply turn on the device and in just 12 seconds you will have an overview of the air quality of your home. A product of excellent quality where the details really matter.