While air purifiers are starting to grow in popularity in the Philippines, they remain a rarity in people’s homes. This might be because the benefits of owning an air purifier aren’t as obvious as those of other home appliances.
However, people that do get them usually can’t say enough great things about them. After all, they can reduce allergic rhinitis, remove odors, give you a better night’s sleep, and even reduce the amount of dusting you have to do. And now that more Filipinos are becoming aware of the dangers of air pollution, air purifier sales have slowly picked up over to years to the point that they are now considered a “must-have” appliance for those living in urban areas.
So what is the best air purifier for your needs? We’ve listed down 6 critical features to look for in your next air purifier.
1.) Filter type
If there’s one thing that’s non-negotiable when you buy an air purifier, it’s the type of filter it can use. While there are several types of filters available on the market, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are the gold standard. HEPA filters are rated for removing 99.97 percent or more of particles at least 0.3 microns in size. For reference, an average human hair has a diameter of about 40 microns.
While other non-HEPA filters may be fine for capturing large dust particles, most harmful pollutants can easily pass through these filters and recirculate into the air.
Pollutants such as pollen, pet dander, smoke particles can only be reliably captured by HEPA filters. This means that air-purifiers with non-HEPA filters will do little to protect your health.
Be aware of terms such as “similar to HEPA”, “99% HEPA”, and other such claims, as this means the filters are not really effective at capturing tiny air particles.
2.) Capacity
You’ll want an air purifier that’s appropriate for the size of your room. You can check on this by looking at the appliance’s Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). This shows how much air a machine can effectively exchange in a minute, expressed in cubic meters or feet. The higher the CADR, the more air it can filter every minute.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) in the US recommends using an air purifier that is two-thirds of the room’s area, assuming a ceiling height of 8 feet. This means that if your room is about 150 square feet (you may have to do some conversions to metric), then a 100 CADR air purifier is the minimum capacity that will get the job done.
However, you still want the highest CADR model that you can afford. The increase in power requirements tends to be negligible compared to lower CADR models, and you can get more out of your appliance.
This is because even if a low-CADR air purifier will eventually filter all the air room, this presupposes that it is working within a properly sealed space, which is almost never the case in the real world. Also, if you leave your windows open, outside air pollution will enter your space at a faster rate. By having a sufficiently powerful machine, you can still enjoy most of the benefits, even if you do tend to leave the windows open.
3.) Fan noise
Air purifiers are typically more useful in areas where you spend most of your time, such as in bedrooms and offices. Of course, these are the very same places where you’d want your appliances to be as quiet as possible. When operating at full capacity, some air purifiers can be loud enough to disrupt sleep or virtual meetings with colleagues. If you want an air purifier in the bedroom or office to help improve air quality while you work or sleep, it just makes more sense to invest in a quieter model.
4.) Quality
Air purifiers are relatively simple appliances, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on quality. Generally speaking, you want them to last far longer than the lifespan of the filter. Make sure to stick with trusted brands that offer a good warranty and avoid models from manufacturers that do not have a service center in your area. If you don’t expect to be using the same air purifier a decade from purchase, you should reconsider buying it.
5.) Filter Availability
While it’s impossible to ensure this with any certainty, you should do your best to pick a brand that will likely still be in the market over the next 10 years. This is because air purifier filters are often specific to a brand and are meant to be replaced regularly. An otherwise functional air purifier that’s only 3 years old is of little use if you can’t replace the filter.
You can’t just reuse the same filter forever, either. Unfortunately, while there are some ways to extend the life of an air filter, they won’t retain their effectiveness for long.
How regularly filters need replacing depends on the environment they are in and how often you run your air purifier. If you always keep your windows open and live right next to a major thoroughfare, you can expect to replace filters monthly. If you usually keep your windows closed and live somewhere with better air quality, 6-18 months is more likely. In any case, sticking to popular, well-regarded brands is a good way to ensure that you can get a regular supply of replacement air filters.
6.) Energy-Saving Options
Good-quality air purifiers are designed and built to be run continuously. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s wise to leave them on when no one is in the room. While the power consumption of an air purifier is quite low and comparable to that of an electric fan, over time it still adds up.
For this reason, it’s best to turn off your air purifier if you leave the room for more than just a few hours. The exception would be if you are using an air purifier to control pet dander, in which case you should leave it on so long as the pet is in the space treated by the machine.
Of course, you can always invest in air purifiers that have smart energy-saving options. Some air purifiers can be set to a timer so that they turn themselves off or go into a low power mode during the times you are unlikely to be in your room. Others have automatic sensors that keep the air purifier in a low power setting until it detects an increase in the level of air pollution, such as when someone in the room smokes or when you burn something in the kitchen.
Summary
Air purifiers perform a specific function, that is, to keep the occupants of your home healthy. Because of this, these are not appliances that you want to skimp on. If anything, spending a little more on your air purifier usually means that they cost less to run, last much longer, and work better at keeping you and your family safe.
