How does a busy shopkeeper find the right size purifier for the room they want to clean? The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that one should aim for five air exchanges per hourIn the metric known as ACH. When looking at an air purifier, look at the cubic feet per minute of air flow at the lowest setting. When measuring the cubic footage of your room, you need The area of the room times the heightImagine a one-foot cube of Styrofoam. How many cubes can you fit in a room?
Anyone shopping for an air purifier also needs to look at two acronyms and terms. First, look for CARB certification, which means the air purifier has passed rigorous standards California Air Resources BoardNext, check the filter type. Below, we break down the differences. Also, don't forget to open your filters! There's a special kind of dread that comes with realizing that you're running your air purifier with a plastic-wrapped HEPA filter.
HEPA Filter: this is one high efficiency particulate air filter Which can remove at least 99.97 percent of dust, mold, pollen, bacteria and airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. Its a great option For those who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, as it can help clear airborne particles that can trigger symptoms – like sneezing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, coughing, and more. Some. However, it's worth noting that HEPA filters do not remove volatile organic compounds from the air like activated carbon filters do. But these are usually combined with a carbon filter.
activated carbon: Activated carbon filters (also known as activated charcoal) are highly effective Because they are very porous and have a large surface area – which allows the filter to absorb gas pollutants, odors and VOCs. They Best for smoke removalSmoke, and chemicals from the air. but this filter must be replaced More often depends on the environment. For example, if there is a wildfire in your area and the air purifier is working more intensely than usual, it is important to replace a saturated filter to prevent toxic gases from getting back into the air.
Washable Air Filter: Some of the air purifiers we list in this guide come with washable prefilters in addition to the HEPA and/or activated carbon filters you'll typically find. These are the most cost-effective because you don't have to buy new ones every time you change filters. Simply remove it, scrub it with soap and water and let it dry.
UV-C Sanitizer Filter: Ultraviolet filters use UV light to kill viruses, parasites, mold spores, and bacteria. They can't remove Airborne particles, VOCs, or gas pollutants, so they are only fully effective when combined with a HEPA filter. according to United States Environmental Protection AgencyWithout proper lamp coating UV light has the potential to emit ozone. We recommend checking this list From the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers for air purifiers that emit little or no ozone.