Air Purifier Reviews - How to Find the Best Home Purifiers

Air purification is one way to reduce impurities for better quality indoor air. The other two methods are to get rid of the source of contaminants, and to make sure your home is well ventilated. All three need to be used together for best results.

Information and air purifier reviews should help you with the decision about which type is best for home or office.

Will air purifiers reduce health problems?

Some pollutants such as dust, tobacco smoke and light spray mists can be removed with filters. These particles are suspended and can be inhaled deep into the lungs.

Larger particles like pollen, mold and animal dander settle on surfaces rather than floating. They can only be handled by an air purifier if they are disturbed and re-suspended.

Air purification systems must use either activated carbon or alumina to deal with gases and odors. Masking the smell with scent does not mean that the odor causing pollutants have been removed.

Professional reviews and standards

Although the US government has not established standards to determine the effectiveness of air cleaners, other institutions have. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) program was developed by the members of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and their reviews are based on accepted standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Their goal is to test and certify air purifiers so that reviews are based on reliable data. Their approval means that the test protocol has gone through a peer review process and has been accepted by the scientific and public-health communities.

Knowing what the CADR measures is helpful in choosing an air purifier whether a portable air purifier and room cleaning device or a whole house filter. It can be used to compare removal rates between different types of purifiers so that you can estimate the how well contaminants in any size area will be eliminated.

For example:

If a unit is 45% efficient and operates at a flow rate of 100 cubic feet/minute it delivers clean air at the same speed as a unit with 90% efficiency moving air at 50 cu/ft/minute.

However, if the second unit is placed near a source of pollution it would generally keep the air in the rest of the room fresher than would the other model.