For the past few weeks I have been having an ongoing discussion with a friend who lives in the heart of New York City. He has been contemplating getting an air purifier for his apartment. While I don’t live smack in the middle of a major metropolis, I too have been considering investing in an air purifier for our home. I have severe allergies and my daughter has recently been showing signs that she may have inherited my bad sinuses.
My doctor says that in the average home, every cubic foot of air contains about 3 million dust particles. The particles can come from a variety of sources including, fireplace, cigarette, and cooking smoke; skin and pet dander; mold and mildew; and pollen and plant spores. This “dust” can be a serious concern, particularly for allergy sufferers, asthmatics, and people with bronchial problems. For everyone, breathing air laden with bacteria and other contaminants is less than ideal. Dust is, after all, pollution, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air is two to five times as polluted as outdoor air. These are just some of the reasons why I am considering investing in an air cleaner.
In researching air purifiers I have found that size matters, especially when it comes to price. Smaller air cleaners (tabletop versions) cost from $60 to $180. Prices for room models (that serve single rooms or smaller areas) range from about $200 to $1,000, depending on the quality of the filtration. Meanwhile, whole-house filters, which require professional installation and attach onto a furnace, will set you back at least $1,500.
Once you have decided which size unit will best suit your living space, be sure to pay attention to how many CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air moves through the unit. Experts recommend for each 250 square feet of space, you’ll need about 100 CFM. Room models can handle up to about 400 CFM, while tabletop models can only handle about 175 CFM. Keep in mind an air cleaner’s effectiveness is measured by how thoroughly it captures particles and the amount of air it can process in a given period of time. It’s only as good as its ability to catch particles of all sizes and process enough air to make a difference. The finer the filter’s sieves, the smaller the particles it can block. On the flip side, the finer the sieves, the quicker the filter will clog with dust.
You’ll also want to consider where you will be keeping your unit. Though, regardless of which room you install your air cleaner, you’ll want to choose a model that isn’t too noisy or drafty in its output. In addition, be sure to check replacement filter prices and make sure the filters are easy to access.
In Part Two of Air Purifiers I will review the methods these units use to clean the air.