The pandemic has helped bring down pollution levels all over the world, but there still remains a large portion of it floating around and potentially irritating us or even making us sick. Things like pet hair and dander, dust, mold and pollen can aggravate asthma and seasonal allergies, and all like to travel in the air.
Of course, we can’t all constantly wear masks or keep all the windows closed all the time, and that is where air purifiers step in to save the day. In fact, certain types of air purifiers – ones with True HEPA filters – can even help remove viral particles from the air.
In other words, the three main reasons you might want a new air purifier are:
- You suffer from asthma
- You want to mitigate allergies
- You want to take care of in-house odors
So let’s look at some of the better air filters to help you solve those problems.
Blueair Blue Pure 211+
The first air purifier on our list is the Blueair Blue Pure 211+, which is one of the better all-around options out there.
First of all, while the filters on the Pure 211+ aren’t true HEPA filters, they work almost as well in removing particles from the air, and they do that by using electrical charges. These electric charges make particles stick to fibers in the filter, which is a pretty smart alternative to traditional air-pressure filters.
Even better is that this air purifier can handle a pretty massive area of 540 square feet, which may seem like a lot, but if you have high ceilings there’s a lot of extra space you need to account for. Of course, this large-space purification system comes in at 16-pounds, so it can be a bit of a pain to move around.
Nonetheless, it’s actually one of the few purifiers that come in different and interesting colors, as opposed to the whites, blacks, and greys (or a combination thereof) you usually see. That being said, it is a bit loud at lower speeds, so this isn’t necessarily a decoration for a bedroom if that’s what you were thinking.
Finally, while it is a bit more expensive than both up-front and in yearly maintenance, it is on-par for large-space purifiers.
Coway AP-1512HH
While the Coway AP-1512HH isn’t going to win any naming awards, it’s a cheaper all-around alternative to the Pure 211+.
Of course, it doesn’t cover as large a space, clocking in at only 361 square feet, although it does have proper HEPA filters. It does have ion filtration, which is similar to the electric charges of the Pure 211+. That means it doesn’t produce any ozone, which is something we think is an important feature in any air purifier.
Unfortunately, it does only come in black or white and is ironically best suited for bedrooms, so a bit more function than form. Thankfully though, it does have a large variety of fan speeds, modes, and even the ability to go on standby if it doesn’t detect any air pollutants. It also has a sleek profile which isn’t something we can save for most air purifiers of this size (including the Pure 211+).
One thing that is a bit annoying is that their customer support can be iffy, but all the other positives and general low-maintenance of the Coway more than makes up for that.
Blueair HealthProtect 7470i
If you like the Pure 211+ then the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i is a more premium version by Blueair. Granted, it doesn’t cover as much space, only going to about 418 square feet, but it does have some of the best air purifications you’ll find around.
Even when it’s running on low, it gets a great rating when it comes to filtering particulates and smoke out of the air. When set to high, it can filter 99.97% of particulates, including viruses (although it is not tested against SARs-CoV-2), and it even has a Germshield feature that helps kill germs as they pass through the filter.
Of course, it’s important to note that when running on high this thing is going to be pretty loud, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to higher costs. In terms of electricity and maintenance, you’re probably not looking at more than $200 a year.
LEVOIT Core 300
Of course, not everybody needs a super-fancy air purifier, and may not even need one, so the LEVOIT Core 300 is a great budget option.
While you won’t get the fancy options such as ion exchange, you do get True HEPA filtration, and great performance for clearing allergens, smoke, and pet particulates. It also has a good coverage of 219 square feet for its price and runs relatively quietly, with standby mode being near silent.
It’s also important to note that it’s actually compact and kind of pretty, so it’s easy to place in an office or bedroom. It also doesn’t use UV filtration, so thankfully, it doesn’t create any ozone.
Source: https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/best-air-purifiers-for-your-home-16222381.php
