Are Air Purifiers Worth It?

Do the promises of air purifiers stack up? Studies have consistently shown that they can help reduce contaminants in our homes and places of work. But do they really get rid of impurities like smoke, dust, odors, and pet hair all while improving the air quality around you? And if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or want to help prevent the spread of COVID, an air purifier claims to be able to help with that too.

But let’s be honest, it’s a lot to ask for from a seemingly simple sanitizing machine. And begs the question, “are air purifiers really worth it?”.

In this article, we’ll cut through the noise and use our years of experience to help you decide if an air purifier is a waste of money or worth every dollar.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Air purifiers are made to clean the air of harmful chemicals, allergens, and pollutants. But to answer the question, “are air purifiers worth it?” you need to understand what they do and how they work to achieve this.

Think of an air purifier as a tiny, environmentally friendly lung. It uses a fan to pull in dirty air, a filter to clean out the pollutants and harmful particles within it, and then pushes clean air back into the room. Giving you a healthier environment in which to live.

How an air purifier accomplishes this is primarily based on the filter or series of filters it uses. These filters trap hazardous particles before allowing clean air to flow back into the room. It’s important to note that the combination of filters an air purifier uses will vary based on the ultimate goal of the air purifier you purchase.

For example, an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter is great for capturing physical particles in the air like dust, mold, bacteria, and pollen.

While activated carbon filters are ideal for soaking up bad smells, strong odors, and some types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like those commonly found in paint.

Now that we know what air purifiers do and how they work, let’s dive into the benefits you can expect to achieve from one.

Benefits of Air Purifiers for Your Home

The primary benefit of an air purifier is its ability to continuously sanitize the air to significantly improve indoor air quality. If you suffer from asthma, respiratory problems, or allergies then an air purifier can greatly improve the quality of the air you breathe. Creating an environment that can lead to overall better health and prevention of future respiratory issues.

In addition, air purifiers can help with smells and bad odors as well as remove hazardous pollutants like paint fumes from the air you breathe. It can also prevent the spread of mold, bacteria, and other harmful organisms in your home, which can have a significant impact on your overall health.

However, it’s important to note that air purifiers can’t fix everything and do come with their limitations.

Air Purifiers Have Their Limitations

Air purifiers can do a lot to help keep your home clean and the air you breathe fresh but there’s a limit to their capabilities.

For one, air purifiers can be great at cleansing the air of household germs but their effectiveness is limited to the room that it’s in. If you’re trying to use a single air purifier to cleanse the air in your whole house then it won’t work effectively. In addition, any viruses or bacteria that settle on any surface won’t be cleaned by the air purifier. You’ll still need to maintain good hygiene and routinely clean all surfaces to ensure your home is safe.

In addition, air purifiers can’t guarantee frequent air changes in a room. The best way to ensure frequent air changes is to use natural ventilation by opening windows or doors and letting the wind blow in. However, that’s not always possible. Especially if the room you’re looking to clean has poor ventilation, the outdoor air is too hot or cold, or smoke comes in. It’s in situations like these that a portable air cleaner can help.

The ability of an air purifier to consistently cleanse the air in the room can be very important in preventing the build-up of harmful particles like dust, mold, viruses, and pet dander as well as preventing odors and other pollutants. If you choose an air purifier with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) too low for the room you’re looking to clean, then it won’t have enough power to properly cleanse the room. Make sure to choose an air purifier with a CADR the same size or even higher (ideally) for the square footage of the space you’re planning to place it in.

Unfortunately, no matter how great your air purification system is, it won’t replace the need to dust and clean your home to prevent buildup. An air purifier is designed to remove the majority of particles in the air, but it won’t capture everything and anything brought in that settles on various surfaces will need to be removed manually.

Is it Worth Buying an Air Purifier?

Air purifiers can be worth every penny, especially for those who have respiratory issues or live in an environment where bad odors and/or air pollution are very high. By constantly removing hazardous materials and bacteria from the air, an air purifier can be very effective at continuously cleaning the environment in which you live.

However, air purifiers aren’t a magic bullet for fixing existing smells or poor hygiene. If your home wreaks of cigarette smoke or cat smell because the odor is baked into the carpet, walls, and furniture then an air purifier won’t be able to fix it. But it will help to prevent new odors from settling as soon as it’s turned on and will give you fresh air going forward. So think of an air purifier as your best defense against new particles entering your home and keeping your home fresh. And get ready to finally feel the difference that an air purifier can make today.

If you’re having trouble deciding on the best air purifier for your needs and want to speak with our team of world-class air purifier experts, give us a call at (877) 791-8083 or shoot us an email at support@wellnesjunction.com and we’d be happy to help.