The Best Air Purifiers for Filtering Your Space
Courtesy of Merchants
Air purifiers sound great — no one wants to think they're breathing in unpure air — but you might still wonder if they truly live up to the hype. A single device that completely strips the air around you from bacteria, dust, and other icky particles may sound too good to be true.
"HEPA air purifiers are great for mold and animal allergies but do not help with pollen or dust mites, which are too small for filtration," says Purvi Parikh, M.D., allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network. (HEPA is a specific type of filter, but more on that later.) Once you start using an air purifier, you should notice an improvement in allergies and asthma symptoms, says Dr. Parikh. (Also read: Is It a Cold or Allergies?)
That said, air purifiers can be beneficial for anyone, not just those with allergies or asthma, since the devices can trap particles from environmental pollution and smoke. They may even help protect you against certain viruses and bacteria. That will depend on the size of the virus of bacteria particle and what size particles your purifier can capture, says Dr. Parikh. (More on that here: The 7 Best Air Purifiers for Viruses)
There's no shortage of air purifiers to choose from, and your best bet is to go with a device that has a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. "HEPA technology has the best data and evidence for efficacy for mold and animal allergies as well as viruses," says Dr. Parikh. HEPA filters stand out for their ability to capture and eliminate 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. (Micron is short for micrometer, which is equal to one millionth of a meter. So, yeah, pretty small.)
While it's ideal to have a purifier in every room of your home, if you're only investing in one, Dr. Parikh recommends placing it in your bedroom and sleeping with it on. If you could use some help finding the best air purifier option, here are a few of the best air purifiers with HEPA filters. (Related: The Best Air Purifiers for Allergies)
The Best Air Purifiers for Your Home
Best Overall: Dyson Pure Cool Purifying Fan
Best for Light Sleepers: Oransi Mod HEPA Air Purifier
Best Affordable Option: Medify A-25 air Purifier
Best for Specific Needs (pet, pollution, etc.): Levoit Air Purifier
Best Compact Option: Coway AP- 1412HH Air Purifier
Best for Nighttime: Toppin HEPA Air Purifier
Best for Larger Spaces: Honeywell HPA300 Extra Large Room Purifier
Best Easy-Wash Filter: Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
