What Would I Consider When Shopping For An Air Purifier?

Air purifiers sell based on marketing, media, people’s emotions and sad to mention, people’s suffering and fear. Independent consideration is required and command a tick next to each decision, I encourage you to really assess these important points. I feel, no amount of marketing can justify what is happening with you and your situation, everyone and every environment is different!

At Top of Mind, the Air Purifier needs to complement your health needs and At the Same Time, effectively deliver to the space you are sleeping, living or working in.

These 2 Points are so Important!

You can watch a full video 1 and a half minutes on what to consider when shopping for an air purifier, or read below (or both).

Step Up

If you’re looking to step up your indoor air quality, these are the points to consider!

  • Your budget
  • Which contaminant do you want to address ~ particulates, volatile organic compounds, mould, virus and or bacteria
  • Filter efficiency ~ an air purifier is only as good as the filter inside
  • HEPA filter whether it is Medical Grade* or less, made of paper or synthetic** 
  • Size of the filter ~ bigger is better
  • A filter is only as good as the seal ~ filters which seal properly in place will not have small minute gaps around the filter perimeter to prevent air bypass
  • Your room size in cubic feet or metres
  • Number of air passes through air purifier per minute in cubic feet / metres
  • Clean air delivery rate or CADR, correctly measured in ultrafine particles the size of viruses
  • Noise level when operational on all speeds from low to high / turbo
  • Position of intake and output of air. I prefer these to be on opposite sides, and on top of the air purifier, for ultimate effectiveness
  • Make sure the airflow discharge of the system directs clean air from one side of the room to the other effectively
  • Output of air is not drafty

This next part is so valuable, not only in getting down to the nitty gritty but also saving you money. It’s usually overlooked, yet so essential!

Note and calculate prices and the money you will spend now and in future replacements.

And most important feature, how easy are the filters accessed in the Air Purifier unit itself when maintaining and replacing the

Information:

Mitey Fresh Air Purifier Check List

Access your easy to use air purifier checklist with important things to consider, space to write your calculations plus extra key information you need to remember when shopping.

Take Note:

  • HEPA Air Purifiers have some level of activated carbon-based material to absorb odours and chemicals. Carbon absorbs gasses that will not be caught by the HEPA element. However, the smaller the amount the quicker they fill up. Pre filter captures the largest particles.
  • Look at how big the filters are, a larger filter will be more effective, and in light of this, more valuable compared to a smaller filter.
  • Units will vary in price from inexpensive to more expensive depending on their research and development, country of manufacture, quality of the mechanics and housing, certification, quality and design of HEPA, amount of activated carbon, combination of HEPA* and carbon, design and off course brand marketing.
  • Some air purifiers are sold as part of multiple appliances for heating, cooling, dehumidifying. These purifiers are at risk of blowing unfiltered air due to the nature of how they operate with only a proportion of air going through the actual filter. 

PRODUCT:

Air Purifier

E20 PLUS includes an additional final stage 6kg carbon filter for applications requiring heavy duty chemical & odour removal. Excellent for removing pollution from main roads, smoke and mycotoxins produced by mould spores.

BONUS!

If you’re considering buying an air purifier with the intention of filtering viruses and bacteria, the first thing you need to look at is the filter efficiency, an air purifier is only going to be as good as the filter inside. 

Ultrafine particles and viruses will pass through many lower efficiency filters and masks, the higher the filter efficiency, the higher the removal rate.

Air purifiers made from steel casings are more durable and avoid off gassing or technically known toxic volatile organic compounds. 

100% airtight sealed mould ensures no air by passes around the filter ***
Majority of air purifier filters on the market are constructed from either cardboard, plastic or foam which are less than ideal materials for making an air tight, efficient filter. These materials contribute to off gassing too, entirely unhealthy for those suffering from chemical sensitivities.

Cylindrical shaped filters allow for greatest surface coverage, increases efficiency and filter life. Compared with typical panel type filters, which is a fraction of the size, their surface is reduced, filter effectiveness decreases and replacement cost increases, repeatedly.

Your air purifier is one of the most important ingredients of your home or office filtration system. At the end of the day, you want to make sure your air is clean. An air purifier does a great job at that, but only if you do your part as well. By purchasing a unit suited to you and your indoor environment, regularly cleaning and replacing your HEPA* and by performing a deep clean of the air purifier at least three or four times a year, you can keep your air purifier in great shape so it can do its job.

Towards healthier living Tony Parr 🙂 As Principal Consultant to Mitey Fresh since 1996, we have acquired knowledge of adverse health effects and recommend effective strategies to reduce occupants’ exposure by eliminating and controlling as many sources of pollutants in order to create healthy indoor living environments that are as exposure-free and natural as practically possible.

* HEPA Medical Grade Filter ~
When you are dealing with filtering ultra fine particulates, viruses and bacteria from the air, you’ll want an air purifier with a medical-grade HEPA filter. 
Medical-grade refers to top tier H13 or H14 efficiency rated filters which will filter minimum 99.97% particles @ 0.3 microns (PM 0.3) or larger. 
These filters are relied upon in infection control isolation rooms and operating theatres.
Made from a very fine pleated paper, they maintain minimum efficiency at 99.95% or 99.995% @ 0.3 microns for the life of the filter. 
The majority of air purifiers are not Medical-Grade filters (H13/H14 efficiency) and contain synthetic filters with lower E11 – E12 efficiencies. 
I would consider HEPA Medical Grade Filters to be commercial standard, the best, and if it is found in residential air purifiers like InovaAir, then these air purifiers are the best the market has. 

 

** Synthetic HEPA
Buyer Beware: Synthetic HEPA type filters using materials like polypropylene do not maintain the stated efficiency for the life of the filter, the paper is the ONLY material which maintains efficiency for the life of the filter.
Synthetic filters use an electrostatic charge on the filter material which assists efficiency but over time the charge is lost and so is the efficiency.

*** Steel Casings
All filters are made from steel casings and filters are leak tested with an ISO certified MET ONE laser particle counter.

Author

  • Carol Parr

    We’re glad you’re here. We’re Carol and Tony, founders of one of the longest running Healthy Home Blogs in the world, Mitey Fresh Australia. We’ve been on this journey for the last 25 years and are passionate about helping families sift through health hazards and triggers like allergens, mould, water damage, chemicals and EMFs, to get clarity about what’s toxic and what’s not so they can create a healthy and happy home for their family they love. Each month, people visit this blog seeking focus on the health and wellbeing of their loved ones, sustainable and effective practice tips and guides, to help create and manage healthier indoor spaces, improve the built environment that is pleasing to the senses and support healthy living and nature, every day. Starting this blog was to help change people’s lives, one family at a time, and we can’t wait to share how its allowed us to stand next to you and show you how interpreting these synergies between buildings and the environment they are built in will impact upon the health and well-being of those who occupy them. Find out more about Healthy Homes and what this blog can do for you!

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