Best Air Purifier Reviews

Wize Buying Guide for Air Purifiers

Few of us would eat food, drink water or wear clothes that hadn't first been washed or filtered of impurities, but too often we spend our days breathing polluted air. And when polluted air is trapped indoors, it collects dust, mold, smoke and microorganisms, making it five to ten times dirtier than the air we breathe outside. Air purifiers make your home or office environment healthier and help people cope with all kinds of allergies, but with so many air purifiers on the market, it can be difficult to sort through your options. This buying guide will help you decide what your needs are to make your decision as easy as possible.

Types of Air Purifiers

• HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters allow only the smallest particles to pass through the filter, trapping mold spores, pollen and dust. HEPA filters are considered to be the highest standard of purifying technology 
• Ion and Ozone Generators clean the air by emitting charged particles into the atmosphere, which cling to impurities in the air. It is important to keep in mind that ozone is a lung irritant; an ion generator may be dangerous for children, the elderly and people with asthma or other chronic lung conditions.
  
• Electrostatic air purification uses charged plates that capture impurities in the air. 

Some air purifiers use a combination of HEPA filters, with a pre-filter for capturing particles even before they get to the main HEPA filter.

Air purifiers come in many models, with different looks, sizes and features. Some are relatively small, designed to sit on a desk in an office, while large stand-up models can purify air in a large room or multiple rooms. Many products boast that they remove from 98% to 100% of impurities in the air, while others remove around 80% to 85%.

You may also want to consider whether or not you will want to periodically change filters (a HEPA purifier will need to be changed; ionic and electrostatic purifiers do not have filters) and the range of pollutants you want removed from your air (are you more concerned about allergens? Chemicals? Smoke and other odors ?). Keep in mind that some models might be noisy.

Price

Good air purifiers can be relatively expensive, but it's important to remember that you are making an investment in the quality of your environment. Air filters start at about $60 for a tabletop ionic air purifier,  like the Ionic Pro 901P2RIP04, and can run as much as $800 for a large standing model like the IQAir HealthPro, which purifies for more than 1100 square feet. The price will also vary based on the percentage of particulates that are removed from the air.

Design

Air purifiers vary greatly in design. If you are purchasing a large standing model that will cover a large area, you will want to choose a model that will blend in with your space. There are a number of sleek, modern purifiers on the market, like the RabbitAir BioFresh, as well as purifiers with classic details and wood cabinetry, like the Ecoquest Fresh Air purifier. A purifier doesn't have to be an eyesore, so look around online to get a better sense of your options.

Technical Specifications

A mid-priced ($200) standing air purifier may be low-maintenance or maintenance-free, with no filters, no fan speeds and no controls. It will probably cover a room size of 450-650 square feet. A $400 model may have an internal ionizer with a HEPA carbon filter that will last 6 months, as well as a low noise level, four fan speeds, manual control knobs and an area coverage of up to to 700 square feet. Decide which features are important to you before you shop and do your homework!

Where to Shop

It may not be easy to find a large selection of air filters in stores. Specialty stores like the Sharper Image may have a small selection, as might larger department stores. But for convenience, ease, comparison and maximum options, it's best to shop online.