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Here's a quick look at some great products to reduce dust, pollen, mold, and/or smoke from your home:
Many homeowners are unaware that the concentration of certain pollutants is often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. Portable air purifiers can remove those pollutants from a single room to larger spaces. If you are an allergy sufferer, an asthmatic, or have local air quality issues from wildfires or smog, these devices can clean the air in your living space.
Particulate matter (PM) is one of the air pollutants monitored by the EPA. The EPA considers particles smaller than 10 micrometers to be of concern as they can easily enter the lungs. Coarse particles (PM10) are typically found in dust from roads, farms, dry riverbeds, construction sites, and mines. Fine and ultrafine particles are even smaller at PM2.5 or smaller. US fine particle pollution comes primarily from cars, trucks, buses, construction equipment, burning fuels such as wood, heating oil or coal, and fires in forests and grasslands. Exposure to particle pollution can cause a range of health effects across populations. Coarser particles (PM2.5-10 micrometers) can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. Fine particles (PM2.5 or smaller) are considered the most dangerous because they can infiltrate deep into lung tissue.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can also impact indoor air quality. Concentrations of VOCs indoors can be up to ten times higher than outdoors (Source: EPA). Many common household products emit VOCs, including paints, varnishes, and fuels. The health effects of VOC exposure include eye, nose, and throat irritation. They can also cause damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics are known to cause cancer in animals, and some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
There are many types of purifiers, but the most common are those with either mechanical or carbon-activated filters or both. Mechanical filters are often HEPA filters. HEPA is an acronym for High-Efficiency Particulate Air and is a technology that has been used for many years to filter particles. True HEPA filters must meet a standard of trapping at least 99.97% of all particles larger between 0.3 and 10 microns. H13 True HEPA filters are considered medical grade and must meet a standard of trapping at least 99.95% of all particles with a minimum size of 0.1 microns in diameter. Carbon-activated filters help to eliminate odors and are used to clear smoke and chemicals out of the air. Some devices also have a UV-C Light which helps reduce airborne bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. As lower-cost sensors have become more widely available, and with the rise in airborne diseases, the U.S. air purifier market is expected to grow nearly 9% by 2028.
Many factors might affect how often the filters need to be replaced. If you notice filters are getting clogged, more frequent cleaning or replacement might be necessary. Following the manufacturer's guidance for when to replace or clean filters is recommended. Some models allow water cleaning or using a vacuum on pre-filters, but inner filters need to be replaced. It might be helpful to schedule regular checks on air filters as part of seasonal maintenance.
You may be wondering what you are breathing in at home. If you spend a lot of time indoors, and research indicates people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, an indoor air quality monitor can help you learn more about the air you breathe. Consider the following checklist and whether you can take steps to eliminate some of your indoor air quality problems at the source.
❐ Do you have any health symptoms such as poor sleep, headaches, sneezing, or allergies?
❐ Are there very young children, older adults, and people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease who spend most of their time indoors?
❐ Are there any indoor smokers?
❐ Are cleaning supplies, paints, insecticides, and other commonly used products stored indoors?
❐ Does it smell musty? Is there visible mold or mildew?
❐ Is indoor humidity 50 percent or higher?
❐ Are your fuel-burning appliances (stove, water heater, furnace) properly vented and regularly serviced?
❐ Have you recently installed new carpeting, remodeled, bought new furniture, or painted?
❐ Are there any outdoor sources of concern, such as: radon, pesticides, and other sources of air pollution?
❐ Is your indoor air quality impacted by severe weather events? Extreme temperatures, droughts, wildfires, severe storms, and flooding can all contribute to poor indoor air quality. Storms and flooding, for example, can increase humidity and mold growth.
Nearly every home (96 percent) has at least one indoor air quality problem. You can take steps to improve the air quality in your home by reducing or removing the sources and by proper ventilation with clean outdoor air. Additionally, research shows you can effectively supplement this by filtering the air and catching pollutants, allergens, and dust particles with air purifiers.
To help you select your best product for improving indoor air quality at home, we chose the following products based on high ratings, filtering capacity, noise levels, pricing, and room size.
Price: $
Particle Removal: True HEPA filters at least 97% of particles down to 0.3-micron level
Room Size: Ideal for small rooms, up to 178 sq ft, travel-friendly
Noise Level: 25-44 decibels, based on the fan's intensity level
Replacement Filters: Range from $20-25
Need to replace your air filters? Click here for Levoit Mini replacement filters.
Price: $$
Particle Removal: True HEPA filters at least 97% of particles down to 0.3-micron level
Room Size: Ideal for medium/small rooms, 150-200 sq. ft.
Noise Level: Up to 50 decibels, based on the fan's intensity level
Replacement Filters and Bulbs: Filter costs range from $15-35, and Bulbs are $14-25
Need to replace your air filters? Click here for Germ Guardian Air Purifier replacements
Price: $$
Particle Removal: True HEPA filters at least 97% of particles down to 0.3-micron level
Room Size: Cleans spaces up to 547 sq. ft. in 30 minutes, 219 sq. ft. in 12 minutes
Noise Level: 24-50 decibels, based on the fan's intensity level
Replacement Filters: Range from $30-35
Need to replace your air filters? Click here for Levoit Core 300 air filter replacements.
Price: $$$
Room Size: Cleans spaces up to 2,500 sq. ft. every 30 minutes
Noise Level: 39-47 decibels, based on the fan's intensity level
Particle Removal: H13 True HEPA filters at least 99.9% of particles down to 0.1-micron level
Charcoal Filter: Part of the HEPA filter
Replacement Filters: Range from $132-278
Need to replace your air filters? Click here for Medify MA-112 air filter replacements
Price: $$$
Room Size: Cleans spaces from 540 sq. ft. in about 12.5 min up to 2,592 sq. ft. in 60 minutes
Noise Level: 31-56 decibels, based on the fan's intensity level
HEPA Filter: HEPASilent, filters at least 99.9% of particles down to 0.1- micron level
Charcoal Filter: Part of the filter
Replacement Filters: Starting at $65
Need to replace your air filters? Click here for BlueAir 211 air filter replacements.
Price: $$$
Room Size: Cleans spaces up to 698 sq. ft. every 12.5 minutes
Noise Level: 33-62 decibels, based on the fan's intensity level
Particle Removal: HEPASilent, filters at least 99.9% of particles down to 0.1-micron level
Charcoal Filter: The dual protection filter model that has a carbon layer
Replacement Filters: Starting at $94
Need to replace your air filters? Click here for BlueAir 605 air filter replacements.
Disclaimer : These products are not endorsed by AreaHub. AreaHub will not be liable for using the product if you purchase it. If you buy something through any of these links, AreaHub will be compensated by the seller or the product platform.
You can run an AreaHub report to learn about air quality in your area and use Wildfires by AreaHub to check the latest EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) so that you can monitor current levels. Also, you can read more about air quality, including the harmful effects of air pollution on your health and what you can do about it. The AQI index is composed of five major air pollutants: