How does a busy shopper find the right size purifier for a room they want to clean? The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that one should aim five air exchanges per hourin a metric known as ACH. When looking at an air purifier, look at the cubic feet per minute of airflow at the lowest setting. When measuring the cubic footage of your room, you need it area of ​​the room times the height. Imagine a one-foot cube of styrofoam. How many cubes can you fit in a room?

Anyone buying an air purifier also needs to look for two acronyms and terms. First, look for CARB certification, which means the air purifier has passed the rigorous standards of the California Air Resources Board. Next, check the filter type. Below, we break down the differences. Also, don't forget to clear your filter! There's a special kind of horror that comes with the realization that you've had your air purifier with a plastic-wrapped HEPA filter.

HEPA filters: This is a 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. Is it a great option for those who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, as it can help remove particles from the air that can trigger symptoms - such as sneezing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, coughing and more. It should be noted, however, that HEPA filters do not remove volatile organic compounds from the air like activated carbon filters. But these are typically paired with carbon filters.

Activated carbon: Activated carbon filters (also known as activated carbon) are very effective because they are very porous and have a large surface area, which allows the filters to absorb gas pollutants, odors and VOCs. I am better to remove fumessmoke, and chemicals from the air. But these filters must be replaced more often depending on the environment. For example, if there is a wild fire in your area and the air purifier is working more intensively than usual, it is important to replace a saturated filter to avoid toxic gases from being released into the air.

Washable air filters: A few of the air purifiers we've listed in this guide come with washable prefilters in addition to a HEPA and/or activated carbon filter, which is what you'll typically find. These are the most cost-effective since you don't have to buy new ones every time you need to replace a filter. Just wipe it off, wash it with soap and water, and let it dry.

UV-C Sanitizer Filters: Ultraviolet filters use UV light to kill viruses, parasites, mold spores and bacteria. They can't delete it air particles, VOCs, or gas pollutants, so they are only effective when combined with a HEPA filter. According to the US Environmental Protection AgencyUV lights without proper lamp coatings have the potential to emit ozone. We advise you to check this list by the Home Appliance Manufacturers Association for air purifiers that have been shown to emit little or no ozone.