In a world experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, an air purifier is a vital part of a comprehensive defence strategy. Everyone is still at risk of being infected by viruses and affected by pollution indoors.
However, selecting a good purifier can be challenging. You must consider the size and features you want in a unit. Moreover, it would be best to examine how effective it will be at actually cleaning the air.
This article will help you know your options to make the best choice for your home or workplace in Australia.
Is Buying an Air Purifier Worth It?
Pollution is not only an outdoor problem. That same air with vehicle exhaust, airborne dust, pollen and smoke can enter your home. This is why the quality of your indoor air is highly critical because you spend a large part of your life inside your home, breathing indoor air.
Other sources of pollution can be already indoors, including household dust, cigarette smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants can accumulate over time and irritate your breathing, eyes and skin.
Even if you address most of these problems with vacuuming, mopping and airing your home, an air purifier remains an essential appliance that can be useful in many situations.
How Do I Choose an Air Purifier?
The following are some features you should look for to make sure you get the best out of your air purifier.
HEPA Filters
HEPA filters continue to be the gold standard in filtering technology for most air purifiers. They remove the following particles from the air:
- Mould spores
- Pollen
- Dust
- Pet dander
- Fine hairs
- Smoke particles
- Bacteria and viruses
- Dust mites.
However, be warned that not all HEPA filters are created equal and of the same quality. So don’t be misled by marketing hype. You may come across many fancy and technical terms for filters that make them sound convincing. If you encounter one, check if they can actually deliver quality performance. To make sure your unit has the highest efficiency, look for the following terms:
- H13
- HEPA
- H14 HEPA
- Medical-grade HEPA
These terms refer to high-efficiency and high-quality filters that can remove at least 99.97% of particulates with a size of 0.3 microns. The 0.3-micron metric is a benchmark for HEPA-based air purifiers worldwide.
Clear Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
CADR is an industry-standard measure of the air volume an air purifier can effectively clean. This metric is expressed in cubic meters per hour or cubic feet per second. A higher number indicates better performance.
Some manufacturers state the CADR rating of each type of pollutant. If there’s none, the following are the steps for CADR testing:
- The purifier unit is installed in a small square room of about 3.4 m wide and 2.4 m high.
- The unit is set to its highest speed setting.
- A 30-minute test is done separately for each of these pollutants: dust, tobacco, smoke, and pollen.
CADR is a helpful way to compare performance among models. However, it is not a surefire indication of how well an air purifier will perform in your home.
Coverage Area
Another critical information is the size of the room where you want to install the air purifier.
If you install the unit in adjoining rooms, measure the combined area. A majority of manufacturers state the rated coverage area in square meters the unit can handle. Check product specifications for a unit that matches the size of your room.
It is recommended that the air purifier you purchase can handle one-third more area than the room’s actual size.
Noise Levels
Noise levels are crucial, especially if you plan to install the air purifier in a bedroom or nursery.
Most air purifiers switched on to their highest setting are distractingly audible. For this reason, you need to look at the dB figure on the product specifications.
Energy Consumption and Running Costs
Check the specification sheet of the unit for the power rating in watts. This number represents how much energy the device consumes. This figure can be compared to other household appliances to give you an idea of how much electricity your air purifier consumes at a time range.
Most air purifiers consume less energy compared to regular pedestal fans.
A good-quality air purifier will not encounter problems despite being run 24/7. When used this way, your unit only needs to run at the lowest speed unless there are high pollutant levels.
While having an air purifier is beneficial, remember that it’s just one piece to your home cleaning and maintenance. It does not eliminate the need for regular cleaning chores. An air purifier isn’t a dust extractor or a vacuum cleaner.
Most dust and grime that accumulate on floors, walls and furniture are visible. They may be too large and too heavy for an air purifier to trap and filter out, making conventional cleaning necessary. When carrying out dusting and vacuuming, consider having your air purifier running at high speed to capture disturbed particulates that have become airborne.
RENSAIR: The World’s Best Air Purifier
Are you looking for a HEPA air purifier in Australia?
Cleanstar is now a proud distributor of RENSAIR HEPA air purifiers, the most trusted air purifiers in the world. They clean the air in every space. They are easy and quick to set up, portable and have quiet operation. RENSAIR HEPA air purifiers also have an intelligent sensor that automatically adjusts to surrounding air particles.
Contact us for more details.