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Air pollution is a major concern in many parts of the world, and indoor air quality (IAQ) is no exception. Poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on our health, leading to respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues. An air purifier can help improve indoor air quality by removing harmful pollutants from the air. However, with so many different types of air purifiers on the market, it can be challenging to determine which one is right for your home.
In this blog post, we'll explore the different types of air purifiers available, and provide some guidance on how to choose the right one for your needs. You will find my recommendations at the end of the post.
Types of Air Purifiers
There are two main types of air purifiers: stand-alone air purifiers and ducted air purifiers.
Stand-alone Air Purifiers
A portable air filter provides the flexibility to target specific areas, offering localised and efficient air purification where it's needed most. Stand-alone air purifiers are portable units that can be moved from room to room as needed.
They work by drawing air into the unit and filtering out pollutants using a variety of filters, such as a pre-filter, a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter. Ideally, Hospital Grade HEPA is preferred as they filter down to .003microns (not 0.3 microns per a standard HEPA filter, see below)
Stand-alone air purifiers are ideal for small spaces, such as bedrooms and living rooms, and are often used in conjunction with other air purifiers to provide comprehensive coverage throughout the home.
Pros and Cons of Stand-alone Air Purifiers:
Pros:
Portability: Stand-alone air purifiers can be moved from room to room as needed, providing flexible coverage throughout the home.
Affordable: Stand-alone air purifiers are typically less expensive than ducted air purifiers, making them a more cost-effective option for small spaces.
Cons:
Limited Coverage: Stand-alone air purifiers are only effective in the room they are placed in, making them less effective in larger homes or commercial spaces.
Maintenance: Stand-alone air purifiers require regular filter changes to ensure optimal performance.
Ducted Air Purifiers
Ducted air purifiers, also known as whole-house air purifiers, are installed in a home's HVAC system. They work by filtering the air as it circulates through the ductwork, ensuring that all areas of the home are covered. Ducted air purifiers are ideal for larger homes and commercial buildings, where stand-alone air purifiers may not be practical.
Pros and Cons of Ducted Air Purifiers
Pros:
Comprehensive Coverage: Ducted air purifiers provide coverage throughout the entire home or commercial space, ensuring that all areas are covered.
Low Maintenance: Ducted air purifiers require less maintenance than stand-alone air purifiers, as they do not require regular filter changes.
Cons:
Expensive: Ducted air purifiers are typically more expensive than stand-alone air purifiers, making them a less cost-effective option for small spaces.
Installation: Ducted air purifiers require professional installation, which can add to the overall cost of the system.
CONCLUSION
Both of these types will help reduce airborne allergens, bacteria, mould spores, viruses, VOCs and odours, resulting in healthy, breathable, fresh-smelling air.
Product Recommendations for Stand-alone Air Purifiers:
Australia:
Winix Australia Zero+ PRO 5-Stage Hospital Grade True HEPA Air Purifier with Pet Filter AUS-1250AZPU. This is much more readily available in Australia and ha TRUE HEPA FILTRATION, confirmed to remove 99.97% of airborne pollutants (i.e. viruses, bacteria, smoke and allergens) as fine as 0.3 microns
Inova Air: These are ugly little things, but gosh they are effective. Any from their range is great. H13 medical-grade HEPA filter air purifier in Australia in this price range. Plastic-free, chemical-free aluminium powder-coated construction. 100% Ozone free.
IQ Air: IQAir HealthPro 250 NE. Another ugly little unit, but effective. Hospital-grade filter media effectively removes even the tiniest pollution particles, viruses and microorganisms (tested .003 micron efficiency) with an absolute minimum efficiency of 99.95%
Vitrality Air: AD-06 – Small Room Air Purifier: medical grade HEPA 13 filter, small, in-built sleep timer and air quality indicator The HEPA 13 filter is hospital-grade and can remove 99.95% of airborne viruses
Hava Air: pre-filter, medical-grade H13 Filter, 99.95% of all particle sizes down to 0.1 microns* and carbon filter.
USA:
Amaircare Roomaid Portable HEPA Air Filtration System: 3-stage filtration: foam prefilter, HEPA filter and carbon inner filter. Small and portable, I personally use this in bedrooms
Intellipure Compact Air Purifier: 6-stage VOC adsorption filter removing harmful gases and odours. Patented DFS technology removes 99%+ of airborne mould, bacteria, & viruses from the air you breathe. Tested and certified to meet or exceed HEPA efficiency standards. Certified zero ozone.
Molekule Air Pro: PECO technology and true HEPA 99.97% particle-capture efficiency rate, 1000sq ft.
Auraair: removes 99.9% of harmful particles, pre-filter, HEPA-RAY filter, Sterionizer™ that creates pure air by releasing positive and negative ions (with no Ozone). It does have wifi, however, so I keep it out of bedrooms. Some will like that it can connect to smart home devices.
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ Formaldehyde purifying fan heater; Precise solid-state formaldehyde sensor with a unique catalytic filter that continuously destroys formaldehyde.2 HEPA H13 and activated carbon filters also capture dust, allergens, gases5 and other ultrafine pollutants. HEPA H13 filter captures 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. A layer of activated carbon also removes odours and gases including VOCs. Catalytic filter continuously traps and breaks down formaldehyde molecules into water and CO2. WiFi mode can be switched 'OFF' by pressing and holding the 'Standby ON/OFF' button on the purifier for between 10 and 15 seconds.
Worth a mention if you don't mind Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity (EMF exposure):
V Breathe Tasman: Wifi and Bluetooth enabled, also "expels microscopic all-natural VActive Gel vapours" something I would avoid but they claim to be food safe so eachPurifier Hot+Cool™ Formaldehyde purifying fan heater to their own.
Product Recommendations for Ducted Air Purifiers:
Delos In-Duct HEPA Air Purification Unit It is a high-quality HEPA/MERV16 air purification unit, that connects to love Delos (disclaimer I used to work with them), and they can help you with an existing duct with a bypass design that diverts, and cleans, and circulates air back into your home. It is a three-stage filter, with Stage 1 being a foam pre-filter that captures large particulates and VOCs, Stage 2 is a HEPA filter (that is easily interchangeable) that traps harmful and irritating particulates, and the Stage 3 carbon VOC filter absorbs chemical/gas pollution. I love Delos (disclaimer I used to work with them), and they can help you with this.
*Medical-grade air filtration is frequently misrepresented as meeting the HEPA 0.3-micron standard. However, today's HEPA standard is considered insufficient for comprehensive air filtration in a hospital setting. Many harmful airborne pollutants, such as bacteria and viruses, are as small as 0.1 microns or even smaller. This means that so-called "medical-grade HEPA filters" cannot effectively capture these hazardous particles. Genuine medical-grade air purification solutions are designed to capture ultrafine particles as small as 0.003 microns, providing up to 100 times more filtration than a standard 0.3-micron HEPA system. IQAir's medical-grade units have been rigorously tested and proven to remove particles at this exceptional level of filtration, making them indispensable in various medical facilities for controlling airborne microbes and particle contaminants.