Guide to Purchasing an Air Purifier in 2022

Air purifiers keep the air indoors fresh. Of course, so does opening a window. However, there’s more to the matter than that. Additionally, rather than simply circulating the air indoors as fans do, air purifiers actively filter out particles like dust and pet dander.

Elsewhere, air purifiers filter pollen and other allergens from fresh air entering from outside via windows and doors. With that, air purifiers serve various purposes. They’re also a great way to keep the air indoors fresh when the weather outside prevents opening windows for any length of time. And when air from outdoors is allowed in, they tackle many of the potentially problem-causing pollutants that sneak in at the same time.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air indoors can contain concentrations of some pollutants up to five times higher than outdoors. Air purifiers tackle this problem better than almost any other widely available at-home solution.

So, the benefits are clear. But when it comes to choosing a suitable air purifier, selecting between the many different makes and models now available can be anything but. To help make the process a little easier, what follows is a straightforward five-minute guide to purchasing an air purifier in 2022.

For this guide, we’ll look at so-called room air purifiers. That’s as opposed to whole-house systems tied into a property’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning provisions. Here’s everything you need to know about home air purifiers.

Air purifiers with mechanical filters are by far the most common type. These force air through one or more fine filters, removing tiny particles and other pollutants too small to see with the naked eye. The filtered air is then recirculated back into a room.

Many such air purifiers boast filters with HEPA certification, guaranteed to collect over 99.9 percent of airborne particles and pollutants, including dust and mold spores, as they linger in the atmosphere. These particles and pollutants can be as small as 0.3 micrometers in diameter. Examples of pollutants include the microscopic pigments used in interior decorating paint and the smoke from cigarettes and cigars.

What air purifiers with mechanical filters cannot do, though, is filter out odors and gasses. Users must replace filters periodically at an average cost of around $80. Under most conditions, a new filter will be required after anywhere from six to 12 months of usage.

While air purifiers with mechanical filters can’t trap odors and glasses, other models can. These most commonly use activated carbon filters instead. However, odor-catching models’ more delicate carbon filters cannot trap particles such as pollen, dust, and pet dander.

With these often deemed a higher priority for those shopping for air purifiers, it’s for this reason that those with mechanical filters are more popular. They’re also more widespread as a result. That said, many air purifiers with mechanical filters now also incorporate a secondary activated carbon filter. Those that do benefit in both regards, albeit at an increased cost.

Still, some may prefer an odor-catching-only model for one reason or another. For those that do, it’s important to remember that with their more delicate activated carbon filters representing the only means of purifying the air, they need frequent replacing.

On average, the device needs a new filter every 12 weeks. Slightly cheaper than mechanical filters at around $50 apiece, their frequent need to be replaced means that they’re much costlier to rely upon in the longer term, though.

Air purifiers with mechanical filters and odor-catching models are by far the two most common forms of air purifiers. However, other options are available, including electronic, ozone, and ultraviolet models. Unfortunately, while they may be effective, ozone air purifiers have potentially detrimental effects on people’s health.

Electronic models, meanwhile, use a magnetic-like process to attract particles in the air to a special plate inside the purifier. But these, too, also create ozone as a byproduct. Accordingly, neither can be recommended because of the possible health implications.

Ultraviolet air purifiers are another option. It’s proposed that ultraviolet light can eliminate certain airborne pollutants, killing viruses, bacteria, and fungus in the process. However, their efficacy in this regard remains largely unproven in units designed for home use.

They’re also much less effective than air purifiers with mechanical filters in regards to tackling dust, smoke, pollen, and more – all things that are often a priority for buyers. Some air purifiers with mechanical filters may include a degree of secondary ultraviolet filtering. While it might be of some benefit, it shouldn’t necessarily be a selling point.

Most air purifiers, including best-selling models with mechanical filters, come with a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer. However, it’s a good idea to bolster this with an extended appliance warranty.

Upsie offers small appliance warranties for air purifiers from brands including Blueair, Dyson, Honeywell, and Kenmore. Plus, Upsie’s warranties cost up to 70 percent less than warranties sold by manufacturers and retailers.

Other perks of choosing Upsie include a choice of repair and replacement options in the event of manufacturing defects, mechanical faults, and other failures. Furthermore, Upsie customers also benefit from unlimited claims, a $0 deductible on appliance warranty packages, and complete peace of mind for up to three years.