Air pollution is a pervasive health concern affecting modern life, arising from outdoor sources like traffic fumes, wildfire smoke, and dust storms, as well as indoor sources like gas stoves and fireplace smoke.

To help protect yourself and your loved ones from poor indoor air quality, it’s a good idea to invest in a high-performance air purifier. However, it’s crucial to avoid investing in an air purifier that does not address your specific air quality concerns or, worse, is ineffective or even potentially harmful.

What are the key things to avoid when purchasing an air purifier? There are several critical factors to consider, from filter quality down to whether an air purifier will do more harm than good. Avoiding these seven common mistakes is a crucial first step in selecting the right air cleaning technology for your indoor environment.

1. Avoid Products that Use Misleading Ratings and Claims

Many air purifiers use Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) to measure their performance. CADR ratings reflect the volume of air in cubic feet per minute (CFM) that is cleaned of particles of specific sizes: smoke, pollen, and dust. Each type is measured and assigned its own CADR score, with a higher score indicating better performance.

Understanding CADR’s Limitations:

While CADR provides some insights, it has significant limitations. CADR measures only the speed at which an air purifier cleans the air, not its long-term performance or ability to remove ultrafine particles, which are the most dangerous. A high CADR score may indicate quick air cleaning, but it doesn't mean the purifier is effective over time or can protect you from harmful ultrafine particles.

Consider CCM:

Consider the Cumulate Clean Mass (CCM), which assesses the air purifier's long-term efficiency in filtering particulate matter and gases like formaldehyde. CCM provides a clearer picture of sustained performance over extended periods.

2. Avoid Poorly-Defined Room Size and Coverage Metrics

A word of caution on relying too heavily on room size ratings – room size ratings are often based on CADR, which can be misleading or incorrect. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), you can calculate the room size an air purifier can handle by multiplying its CADR rating by 1.55, assuming an 8-foot ceiling height. For example, a 100 CADR air purifier is theoretically suitable for a room size of 155 square feet. However, this calculation doesn’t consider the air purifier’s real-world performance over time.

Additionally, it’s crucial to understand the difference between air change and air movement. Air change refers to the number of times an air purifier can replace the air in a room with clean air within an hour, known as Air Change per Hour (ACH). Air movement, on the other hand, simply refers to how air circulates within a space, including natural ventilation and fan activity.

Some air purifiers manufacturers focus only on air movement without defining their real-world air cleaning capabilities. Therefore, it’s vital to look for air purifiers that clearly define both.

What to look for: Overestimating coverage can lead to inefficiencies in large or open spaces. IQAir air purifiers provide accurate room size recommendations based on real-world testing to ensure optimal performance for various spaces.

3. Avoid Sub-Optimal Filter Types

When choosing an air purifier, it’s essential to understand the different types of filters and their long-term costs. HEPA and HyperHEPA filters (known as “mechanical” filters) are quite different from synthetic or ionizing filters in terms of efficiency and longevity.

Understanding HEPA Standards:

HEPA filters’ efficiency can decrease over time, commonly losing up to 50% of their efficiency in just 90 days. Manufacturers often use terms like "True HEPA," "HEPA-type," "HEPA-like," and "HEPA-style" to project high performance. These terms can be misleading as they are not regulated, and many so-called HEPA filters are never tested. Additionally, some filters use synthetic fibers or ionization, which can pose health risks and quickly lose efficiency.

Distinguishing between "True HEPA" and "HEPA-like" filters is crucial to ensuring your air purifier’s effectiveness. Note that even true standard HEPA filters can lose up to 50% efficiency over time, so it's essential to verify the actual efficiency standards of the filters you are considering.

HyperHEPA Filtration:

IQAir’s patented HyperHEPA filtration technology addresses these reliability issues by filtering particles down to 0.003 microns, ten times smaller than most viruses and 100 times smaller than standard HEPA filters. HyperHEPA filters are independently tested and certified, ensuring superior and sustained performance over the long term.

A Note on off-brand replacement filters:

Installing off-brand or fake replacement filters in your IQAir air purifier can significantly reduce its performance, cutting filtration effectiveness by up to 50%. This makes your air purifier work harder, increasing energy costs and shortening the system's lifespan.

What to look for: HyperHEPA filters are so effective, they can filter ultrafine particles down to 0.003 microns. HyperHEPA technology is independently tested and certified, ensuring reliable and superior filtration performance. IQAir’s high-quality HyperHEPA filters will need to be replaced less frequently, which saves you money over time.

4. Avoid Ionizers, Ozone Generators, or Ineffective UV Purifiers

It’s essential to avoid air purifiers that introduces more pollution as a byproduct. Ionizers and ozone generators pose health risks, including potential respiratory issues and environmental hazards – after all, ozone is a pollutant.

UV air purifiers are often ineffective due to the impracticality of extended UV light exposure in home settings, and worse, they can also produce harmful ozone. UV purifiers often do not even eliminate particulate matter, the most common and dangerous air pollutant.

What to look for: Only invest in air purification systems using mechanical filtration that are ozone-free, do not use ionization, and don’t require ineffective UV light to ensure safe air purification without harmful byproducts.

5. Avoid overly noisy or energy consuming air purifiers

Quiet operation is essential for continuous use in various settings like bedrooms and offices. Consider the noise levels of different air purifiers and look for those designed for quiet operation.

Be mindful of energy efficiency to avoid high electricity bills. Compare the energy consumption of various air purifiers and choose those that offer powerful air cleaning without significantly increasing energy consumption.

What to look for: Energy-efficient air purifiers are designed for quiet operation, making them ideal for bedrooms and offices while minimizing costs.

6. Avoid Overlooking Smart Features

Smart features, such as remote control and automation, can enhance convenience and efficiency. Missing those features can leave you without many conveniences and benefits.

What to look for: Look for smart air purifiers to ensure effortless, remote management and perhaps equipped with real-time air quality monitoring.

7. Avoid Air Purifiers without Verifiable Certifications and Performance Claims

Independent certifications like AHAM and Energy Star verify performance claims through third-party testing. Look for air purifiers that have these certifications to ensure their effectiveness and reliability.

What to look for: Make sure you choose products that are independently tested and certified, providing trustworthy and verified performance metrics. Checking for these certifications and receiving certification for your indoor space helps confirm that the air purification system meets high standards of performance and safety.

The takeaway

Avoid buyer’s remorse by focusing on critical factors such as misleading ratings, room size suitability, filter types and replacement costs, potential health risks of certain technologies, noise levels, energy consumption, smart features, and independent certifications.

After conducting thorough research to make an informed decision, explore effective, high-performance air purifiers and solutions tailored specifically to your air quality needs. By making informed choices, you can ensure better indoor air quality and a healthier living environment. If you are still confused, IQAir’s handy Help Me Choose tool can assist you in finding the perfect air purifier.