The Many Different Types of Air Purifiers That Homeowners Have Today

The air purifier global market is exploding as more and more types of air purifiers are available to consumers. In 2021, the air purifier market was $12.26 billion. Expectations are that it will expand from years 2022 to 2030 at a CAGR of 8.1%.

Research proves the value of air purifiers when it comes to improving indoor air quality. A smart homeowner will use air purifiers to filter the air and remove harmful indoor particles like smoke, mold, hair, dirt, and allergens.

While they offer tremendous benefits, and with so many types of air purifiers, which one will give you the best air quality?

In this article, you will discover details on each of the various types of air purifiers on the market and what makes each unique. There is not a “one size fits all answer” to which are the best air purifiers. Instead, it is about choosing what is right for you.

Here are more details so that you can make the right decision as a smart homeowner.

HEPA Air Purifiers

HEPA is an acronym. It stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” The United States Department of Energy officially defines it as much.

HEPA air purifiers use an advanced air filter. It removes 99.7% of particles bigger than 0.2 microns, allowing for better indoor air quality. The HEPA air purifiers are extremely effective, filtering and removing mold, pollen, dust, and dander from the air.

Depending on the model you purchase, HEPA air purifiers cost between $30 and $300.

Consumers love HEPA air filters because of how effective they are in removing most pollutants and irritating particles from the air. However, if you choose a HEPA air purifier, it is important to note that the air filter needs a replacement after each month you use it.

Also, HEPA air filters do not trap microorganisms that are less than 0.2 microns. This includes viruses, bacteria, and germs.

Activated Carbon Air Purifiers

These are effective air purifiers for removing gasses, odors, fumes, and smoke from inside your home to improve indoor air quality. If you possess sensitivity to the smells that come from natural gas and smoke, then an activated carbon air purifier may work well for you. This direct air capture company helps to specifically capture CO₂ emissions.

Many activated carbon air purifiers have HEPA filters. The HEPA filters remove particles from the indoor air, too. Activated carbon air purifiers have a higher price than HEPA air purifiers at $100 or higher.

When looking for the best air purifiers to remove smells and unwanted odors from your indoors, the activated carbon air purifier is the only type that can do the job of eliminating smoke, chemicals, fumes, and gasses from indoor air.

Unless you purchase an activated carbon air purifier that includes a HEPA air filter, this model will not be effective for removing mold, pollen, dust, and dander from the indoor air.

Ultraviolet Air Purifiers

If you wish to remove harmful bacteria, viruses, and pathogens from the air in your home, this is the air purifier for you. Hospitals are the inspiration for UV air purifiers. This is because they use special ultraviolet bulbs that disinfect laboratories and patient rooms.

Ultraviolet light is a kind of electromagnetic radiation. It makes black-light posters glow and helps give people summer tans.

UV air purifiers for residential spaces are compact, small machines that filter the indoor air in your home. It goes through a chamber that is filled with UV light. Breaking down molecular bonds, UV light destroys pathogens in its DNA.

You could find an ultraviolet air purifier that costs as low as $50 and could be as much as $800. The cost varies widely depending on the model.

For consumers wanting to prevent illness, this is the air purifier for you as it kills 99.9% of mold spores, which normally pass through your air conditioner and furnace.

When purchasing this type of air purifier, you must replace the special light bulb it uses every year. How often it needs a replacement depends on which model you purchase and the frequency at which you run your air purifier.

Ionic Air Purifier

This kind operates without a motor, so it is incredibly quiet. It emits negative ions. When the ionic air purifier sends negative ions into the air, they bond together with airborne particles, such as dust, which are positively charged.

The result is that particles are so heavy that they fall from the air, eventually.

Some models of the ionic air purifier can trap positively charged particles with electrostatic precipitators. It catches these inside the air purifier on a metal plate.

They are relatively affordable, ranging in cost between $30 to $300. The cost depends on the model and size.

Most ionic purifiers are large and separate devices. They need placement throughout your home. Also, you will need to clean them regularly so that they remain at optimal functionality.

Ionic purifiers are a brilliant solution to remove everything from your indoor air except odor. They can remove allergens, dust, dander, smoke, bacteria, viruses, and fumes.

Electronic Air Cleaners

This solution works for your entire home in conjunction with the air conditioner and furnace. It uses static electricity to charge and trap particles in the air. They can remove up to 99.98% of allergens, dramatically improving indoor air quality.

Electronic air cleaners use positively charged ions and HEPA filters. Your heating and cooling system work together with a HEPA filter to make sure that the air that goes through the HVAC also passes through the HEPA filter. This can trap small particles, as little as 0.3 microns.

If there are impurities left over, the electronic air purifier generates ions that are positively charged and zaps them.

This type of air purifier requires professional installation. The filter will need replacements from time to time.

Also, the collector cells or ionizing wires will need cleaning each month you use them. Cleaning should be simple. You can wash the cells with a garden hose, in a tub, or in the dishwasher.

Central Air Cleaners

Like the electronic air purifier, the central air cleaner will purify all the air in your home. In fact, air purification like this for the whole house virtually eliminates bacteria, dust, smoke, and allergens by as much as 100 times. This is more effective than conventional furnace filter systems.

It connects to the central heating and cooling system, working silently in the ductwork. Central air cleaners remove as much as 99% of pollen, 98% of dust, and 94% of viruses in your home.

If you suffer from asthma, allergies, and viruses, this can make a tremendous impact on your health. Plus, it extends the life of your A/C and heater because it filters out particles that could interfere with the equipment.

Central air purifiers require professional installation but are extremely efficient.

Air-to-Air Exchangers

This type of air purifier ventilates your home by getting rid of air that is old and stale. Instead of foul air, an air-to-air exchanger brings in healthy, fresh air. Further, they can use “energy recovery ventilators,” which can regulate the temperature and humidity of the air in your home.

As an example, the air-to-air exchanger can trap the heat from your home’s air during the winter before ventilating it outside. The heat it traps will then warm and humidify the clean air which enters the home. This is how it can maintain an even temperature in your home.

Likewise, during the summer months, an air-to-air exchanger dehumidifies and cools clean air that is on the outside of the home before it brings the air into your home.

This type of air purifier is perfect for a home with poor circulation or stale air. It regulates the climate in your home and brings fresh air from the outdoors inside your home. This will also reduce the mold in the air.

Types of Air Purifiers for Homeownership

For the best air quality, it all depends on what your unique needs are. Are you looking to reduce dust and allergens or remove odors? Would you rather have something that purifies the air in your entire home and doesn’t require maintenance every month?

These are the types of questions that will help you navigate the various types of air purifiers and find the one that is best for you. No matter which you choose, you will live a healthier life, and that is something to celebrate!

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