How to Choose the Best Air Purifier

Purchasing an air purifier is one of the best steps you can take in creating an allergy-friendly environment in your home. But finding an air purifying unit that matches your particular needs can be an overwhelming task. To help guide you through the process, here is a checklist of factors to consider when making this most important investment in your family's health:

What kinds of allergies do you have? If you or anyone in your family suffers from allergies, most likely you experience symptoms in the presence of the most common allergen found in the home: dust mite allergen. Depending on the season and climate, you may also react to the presence of pollen and mold spores found in the home. An air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter, which captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, is essential for effectively removing these most common allergens from the home.

Do you have pets? Pet dander, which can be as small as 0.3 microns, is one of the smallest allergens – and it is pervasive in the homes of those with pets. Rest assured that a HEPA air purifier will trap not only dust mite allergen, pollen, and mold spores, but pet dander as well

What other factors contribute to your allergy symptoms? Do you find that strong fragrances or other chemical smells bring on allergy attacks? Do you live near a busy road? Have you recently painted your home or installed new carpet? Is there a busy artist at work in your home? Chemicals and other toxic gasses can often trigger allergy attacks in sensitive individuals. To combat these factors, a HEPA filter is not enough; you need an air purifier that also contains an activated carbon filter to absorb toxic gases and fumes.

Do you or your family members suffer from asthma or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)? Asthmatic and chemically sensitive individuals are also prone to react to chemicals, fumes, and other gasses present in the indoor environment. The best air purifiers for these individuals will have activated carbon.

Where will you place the unit and what size are those rooms? It's important that the air purifier you choose has the capacity to remove allergens effectively from your indoor environment. We suggest a CADR rate that delivers four air changes per hour for those who suffer from allergies, and all of our room size recommendations are based on this. For additional help, see our Air Purifier Customizer.

What other factors are important to you? There are several other considerations in terms of operation and style when it comes to choosing an air purifier. For instance, are you worried that the air purifier will make too much noise? If so, a Blueair with its HEPASilent operation, is a good choice. If you want a unit that fits neatly into your home's décor, consider a Filtrete Ultra Slim, which is one of the thinnest and sleekest designs we offer.

What is your budget like? In general, when it comes to air purifying units, you get what you pay for. The most expensive units we offer feature powerful, reliable, and comprehensive air purifying capabilities. However, we do have excellent units to fit any budget. Our Honeywell units, for example, are equipped with HEPA filters and will provide you with much relief from the effects of the home's most common allergens.

To browse through our wide range of air purifying units and to find the best air purifier for you, see our Air Purifier page and explore our interactive tools and guides, such as our Air Purifier Buying Guide. Or to receive additional personal help, contact our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives at 1-800-339-7123.