The best place to put an air purifier is somewhere in your breathing zone. The closer the unit is to your head, the shorter distance clean air has to travel before it reaches you. In the bedroom, this usually translates to putting the air purifier on a nightstand or small table close to the bed.
If you had to choose just one location, near your bed is the best, because that means you get the cleanest air to breathe when you sleep. If you can move your air purifier around, then try to keep it within a few feet of yourself.
Ensure your air purifier has enough clearance around it to function optimally. Avoid placing it behind furniture or in tight corners where airflow might be restricted. Ideally, there should be at least 3-5 feet of clear space around the unit to allow for unimpeded air intake and output.
If you can open a window in a room while the air purifier is working, it is not a bad idea to mix in a little fresh air, as well. Doors opened or closed, it does not really matter. The air purifier is going to clean the area it is immediately contained to, regardless.
Dr. Blair says it's best to run an air purifier all the time, if possible. ``Ideally, the filters run all the time,'' she says. ``But to conserve the filter, running them at night and in a closed room is a good option.''
Regardless of where you live, the good news is, air purifiers do not use a lot of electricity to operate.
Air purifiers can clean a room within 20-45 minutes, with the time depending on the room's size, the purifier's power, and the initial air quality. For best results, choose a purifier suited to your room's size and maintain it well.
Air purifiers work by forcing air through the filters to remove pollutants. Every time you turn off the purifier, pollutants begin to accumulate again, making it more difficult for the purifier to do its job. Leaving the air purifier on continuously will allow new contaminants to be removed as they are introduced.
Since air will flow wherever there is an opening, the air purifier will try to pull in air from outside if doors are not fully closed. This may seem counterintuitive, because often open doors and windows to let fresh air in.
Specialists recommend placing the device on the floor, because it is near the ground that there is a higher concentration of pollutants. Setting it on a shelf can significantly reduce the filtration efficiency.
What are the downsides of air purifiers? There aren't a lot of downsides to having an air purifier in your home aside from the financial investment. Many ionizers, especially older models, can generate ozone when they are operating, which is known to exacerbate asthma.
Air circulation: If your room has poor air circulation, or is a complex shape (such as an L shape or a long thin shape) then you may benefit from multiple smaller air purifiers to improve ventilation. Two air purifiers placed at different locations in your room may help improve air circulation.
Air purifiers work by circulating air, and they need space to do it. Air purifiers should be at least 6 inches away from walls, doors, or furniture. Running the device in tight spaces or with other items nearby reduces the amount of airflow the device can generate with its intake fan.
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, an air purifier can help reduce symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and itchy eyes caused by allergens and irritants. By removing these irritants from the air, air purifiers can help you breathe easier and sleep better at night.
First, check the system's airflow. A working air purifier features clear, consistent airflow. If the purifier is not blowing out air (easily determined by placing your hand in front of the system), there's likely a problem. If you are unable to hear anything, that's also a sign the purifier isn't working.
Ideally, position the purifier on a nightstand or dresser within your breathing zone, particularly near the bed, as this placement effectively cleans the air you breathe during sleep. Maintaining good indoor air quality is crucial, especially in the bedroom, due to the potential health risks posed by indoor pollutants.
In theory, you would get the best results by having an air purifier in every room of your home. However, the cost of doing this can make it impossible for most people. If you're wondering whether you need an air purifier for each room, start with an affordable two: one for your bedroom and one for the living area.
The short answer is yes, most air purifiers on the market are designed to remove large dust particles from the air. Many feature mechanical filtration, which is a method of capturing pollutants on filters.
Well, the answer isn't as easy. In a typical home, an effective air purifier starts to deliver clean air within 30 to 60 minutes. But this time changes, depending on several factors such as your room size, the indoor air quality and even the placement of the device.
Room air cleaners are portable, electric appliances that remove fine particles, such as dust and pollen, from indoor air. A standard room air cleaner, operating continuously, uses approximately 450 kWh per year in electricity. This is more than the energy used by some new refrigerators!
Mold is an obvious health risk in any home, but investing in an air purifier can help limit your exposure. The best among them will ideally offer HEPA-level filtration, with this level of filtration being able to trap up to 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter.
Regularly replacing filters and ensuring adequate airflow throughout the room will help reduce dust levels. Additionally, choosing an air purifier with higher CADR ratings for your space size may be necessary to effectively remove particles from the air.
When an efficient, effective, safe unit is selected, whole house air purifiers: Offer air purification without “boundaries” – they clean the air in your entire home. Eliminate the need for multiple air purifiers around the house. Provide air purification without taking up space in the living area of the house.
Small air purifiers can help reduce PM and VOCs as long as they are in a space that corresponds with their room size and CADR. Before purchasing a small air purifier, be sure to measure your room and read the air purifier's specific product details to make sure it will work efficiently in your space.