Air purifier FAQs

James Brains/Insider

Why do I need an air purifier? 

Air purifiers can help clean indoor air of pollen, pet dander, incense, cooking grease and smoke, and more — basically, it does what its name implies. 

According to the EPA, air purifiers outfitted with a HEPA filter are an effective way to remove particles from smoke and ash and can be particularly helpful in improving symptoms for individuals with asthma or COPD. They are also an effective way to improve indoor air quality during wildfires (as we saw during 2020’s spat of fires on the West Coast).

What do air purifiers remove from the air?

An air purifier’s filter will determine what pollutants it can remove from the air. A HEPA filter removes particulate matter ranging from 0.3 to 10 microns. This includes bacteria, mold, pollen, dust, smoke, pet dander, and more. 

Activated carbon filters and other specialized filters can remove gases, including VOCs, from the air. These gases are often produced by consumer products, paints, industrial solvents, refrigerants, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fuel, pesticides, cleaning supplies, and more. Unlike HEPA filters, there is no standard for measuring the effectiveness of gas-removing filters.

What does HEPA mean?

HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” As defined by the EPA, true HEPA filters are able to capture at least 99.97% of all airborne particles, including dust, mold, bacteria, and pollen, that are 0.3 microns in diameter. 

Are all your picks true HEPA filters?

No. That said, we generally give true HEPA filter models preference in our picks. However, there are some “HEPA type” or even non-HEPA models that perform just as well or better than true HEPA filter models and have features that make them a better pick. We make a point of specifically saying if a model has a true HEPA filter.

What’s the difference between true HEPA and HEPA-type filters?

As mentioned above, a true HEPA filter can capture at least 99.97% of all airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter, which the EPA calls the most penetrating particle size, meaning particles that are larger or smaller should theoretically be easier for true HEPA filters to catch.

HEPA-type filters do not have a standard so it’s important to look for the “true HEPA” language to ensure you’re getting an effective filter.

Can an air purifier prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus?

If you’re considering an air purifier to help protect against the novel coronavirus, according to the EPA, a portable air cleaner by itself is not enough. However, when used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention such as hand washing and social distancing, running an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect you and your household.

Can HEPA or H13 purifiers capture viruses, including the coronavirus?

HEPA air purifiers help with the coronavirus but won’t completely eliminate it, says Ravi Pandey, MD, an internal medicine specialist in South Florida. He adds that the virus is smaller than what air purifiers generally capture. Most viruses, including the coronavirus, are 0.06 to 0.12 microns. HEPA filters are designed to filter out at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size.

However, while an air purifier alone isn’t enough, it can be another tool for protection when used in conjunction with social distancing, hand washing, and mask wearing.

What can you do to get the most out of your air purifier?

Bryan Buckley, the brand manager for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, recommended keeping your air purifier on at all times. “Turning the system off doesn’t allow for continuous air circulation, which impacts air purification,” he explained.

Another best practice is to keep the air purifier confined to one room, said Buckley. “If you’re constantly moving the purifier from room to room, you aren’t maintaining a consistent level of air quality,” he said.

Where do you put an air purifier? 

You’ll likely want an air purifier in your bedroom, living room, or kitchen — these are common areas that get a lot of traffic, and in the case of your kitchen, might help remove smoke from cooking.

“Wherever you decide to place the air purifier, always position the system so the clean air is blowing towards where people gather,” said Buckley. He recommended avoiding walls and closing windows to keep new pollutants from entering.

How often do you change the filter?

This depends on the manufacturer’s guidelines — some suggest every three months while others say every two years. We give you the recommended replacement schedule for each of the models in our guide.

“Replacing your air purifier filters, as recommended by the manufacturer, will help to maximize the system’s efficiency,” says Buckley.

Can plants help clean indoor air?

Think again before filling your house with plants. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology shows that indoor vegetation will not remove significant pollutants from the air.

How can you keep your air clean if you don’t have an air purifier?

Intense wildfires rage throughout the Western US every summer burning millions of acres, displacing hundreds of thousands of people, and blanketing cities hundreds of miles away from the epicenters in ash and eerie orange skies. Between wildfires and the novel coronavirus, air quality was at the forefront of many people’s minds. 

When so many people are struggling with poor indoor air quality, air purifiers tend to go out of stock quickly. We spoke with Junfeng Zhang, PhD, professor of global and environmental health at Duke University, for advice on what you can do if you don’t have an air purifier.

Dr. Zhang is particularly concerned about how individuals with asthma, COPD,

heart disease

, and other pre-existing diseases cope with poor air quality. “In the absence of a HEPA-based air purifier,” he said, “I’d suggest that people, especially those who are more susceptible/vulnerable, wear N95 face masks, even when staying indoors.”

Unfortunately, true N95 masks are still hard to come by and should be reserved for medical workers but there are some more widely available alternatives, such as KN95 masks, which can provide a decent level of filtration. The CDC has released respirator assessment results for some of these. There is a lot of misinformation and counterfeit products floating around, so be extra cautious in ensuring that you’re buying from a trusted seller. 

If you’re one of the lucky ones who has an air purifier when wildfire season hits, remember to clean your filter thoroughly and often so it can do its job. But for an effective multi-pronged attack on pollutants, you’ll want to test and improve your air. Here’s how to test and improve indoor quality and a few steps you can take to clean your air more effectively:

• Clean regularly: Irritants can collect on surfaces and cause sneezing fits when disturbed. When you clean regularly — including dusting and vacuuming — you remove allergens and more. Check out our guides for the best vacuum cleaners, best robot vacuums, best budget vacuums, and best cordless vacuums.
• Ventilate: This could include installing ventilation fans in your bathroom or kitchen, or running (well-cleaned) ceiling fans. Freestanding fans can also help clean air circulating; here are the best ones. Be sure not to open windows or doors to prevent polluted air from coming inside.
• Store chemicals outside of your house: Abrasive cleaners and other harsh chemicals are often a source of irritation. Store them in your shed or garage and not where you will be exposed to them regularly.

Are air purifiers worth it?

Due to wildfires and the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen the prices of air purifiers soar over the last year. Fortunately, you might be able to save the expense by taking other steps to improve your indoor air quality. See our article on how to test and improve indoor air quality and get some tips from the answer above.

If you clean regularly, store chemicals outside the home, and keep other irritants away yet still have indoor air quality issues, then an air purifier is a smart choice. Our testing found that even the worst air purifiers are able to improve indoor air quality. Our top picks do it efficiently. 

If price is a concern, we stand by our budget pick, the Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier. The upfront and filter costs are low. Plus, it has True HEPA and carbon filters. The only concern is its energy costs since it isn’t Energy Star-certified and doesn’t have an auto mode.

Are ionizing air purifiers safe?

There is debate over the safety and efficacy of ionizers. This type of purifier uses ionization technology to send out negatively charged ions that move through the air and stick to surfaces in the home such as the ceiling, windows, and floor. 

However, ionizers have the potential to generate ozone, which is a lung irritant. “Relatively low amounts of ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation,” said Enesta Jones, a spokesperson for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Jones said consumers should avoid ionizers that produce ozone and follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions. Look for a UL 2998 Standard Certification. This means the purifier is certified by UL to not generate ozone.

Since this is a relatively new technology that could make the air in your home harder to breathe rather than easier, we don’t recommend ionizers at this time.

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