As with most products in the market, air purifiers aren’t a “one size fits all” kind of appliance. They come in different shapes and sizes and remove different types of pollutants. So, you must know which ones would suit your living situation the best.
Technology company Dyson is an expert in this field. And it has readily shared its know-how in this quick guide.
These are three crucial factors to pay attention to:
Intelligent sensing
A reactive air purifier is good to have around. These machines come with onboard air quality sensors built-in to automatically clean the air based on the pollutants they detect.
Keep an eye out for one that can monitor and inform you of your home’s air quality. Some will have digital displays that show indoor quality in real-time, and some have companion apps. And others can show you the types and concentration levels of particles. These air purifiers can help you understand air quality trends in your home.
Dyson has the Purifier Cool Formaldehyde that can detect and destroy everything from ultrafine dust and allergens to potentially dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde.
Efficient filtration
Air purifiers have different filtration methods you need to know. These are the four examples Dyson listed:
- Ultraviolet light uses electromagnetic radiation to destroy bacteria, viruses, and mold. However, this method does not remove dust, allergens, or particles in the air.
- Activated carbon filters react chemically with pollutants to clear smoke, odors, and gases from the air, but these filters alone do not filter out harmful fine particles.
- Air ionizers work by sending out a stream of charged ions to attract dust and allergens. However, they can produce ozone as a by-product. Ozone is reported as a respiratory irritant and a component of smog.
- HEPA purifiers work by trapping pollutants and fine particles of different sizes. These include pollen, bacteria, mold, dust mite debris, and pet dander. However, they do not remove VOCs such as formaldehyde, benzene, or Nitrogen Dioxide. It is also worth noting that not all HEPA filters are created equal. Some can capture ultrafine particles, while others do not.
Air purifiers that combine these filters can help you deal with your air quality issues. For example, some combine filters like HEPA filters with activated carbon to target both particulate matter and VOCs.
Projection & circulation
Projection and circulation are important to consider, too. On top of sensing and capturing pollutants, some purifiers help circulate purified air into a room. So, these can clean your indoor air and cool your space with cleaner air. It’s best to put these air purifiers in the far corner or the far end of a room.
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