As per WHO statistics,4.2 million deaths occur every year due to outdoor air pollution. Clean air is good for our lungs, blood circulation, heart, and other health systems. However, over the years the air quality has taken a huge dip.
Keeping the fact in mind, air purifiers have played a vital role to give clean air and reduce deaths. While room air purifiers help to reduce indoor pollution, there are limits to what they can do.
These are the various aspects on which need to be kept in mind while opting for air purifier
- Cost of replacement filters: As a general rule, one should replace filters (or clean those that can be vacuumed) every six to 12 months for pleated filters and every three months for activated carbon filters. Most of the units we test have an indicator light that lets one know when to change (or clean) the filter.
- Clean Air Delivery Rate. With the help of CADR, one can identify how quickly the air purifier functions. Higher the CADR number, better the air filtration. Air purifiers consist of three CADR numbers for dust, pollen, and smoke. If you are looking at a larger room ideally you should buy a purifier with higher CADR rating.
- Certifications: One should look for packagingis the Energy Star logo. Air purifiers must run around the clock to be effective, and one should factor in the energy cost when one shop. Energy Star certified purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than standard models. Another option is an AHAM Verified seal, which means that the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has tested the model. Many air purifiers have undergone AHAM’s voluntary certification program, which provides clean air delivery rates (CADRs) and room size guidelines on the seal.
The CADR reflects, in cubic feet per minute, the volume of clean air that an air purifier produces on its highest speed setting. The higher the CADR, the faster and more efficient the air purifier is. Room air purifiers with HEPA filters often achieve the highest CADR
- Room size:Another important aspect is the size of room. One can check our ratings to see what room size range we suggest for each model based on our test results. Also, consider sizing up: Most of the models that are suitable for large rooms (350 square feet and larger) still work well at lower (quieter) speeds, which is nice for when one is watching TV or sleeping.
- Noise:Since these machines should always be running, ideally, they should also be quiet. One may be able to find how many decibels a model operates at on its packaging. One can check our air purifier ratings; we rate models on noise levels at high-speed and lower-speed settings. As for the coronavirus, air purifiers with HEPA filters are capable of capturing the droplets that the virus travels in (when people cough, talk, or breathe). But one’ll need one that consistently draws in enough air to reduce virus particles.
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