Air Purifiers Reviews – Choosing The Best Air Purifier For Allergy Sufferers

The air that we breathe daily in our homes may be polluted with mold, dust, pollen, animal hair and even large floating particles. In order to purchase the suitable air purifier for you and your home, it is important to learn the meaning of MERV. MERV or minimum efficiency reporting value of a unit is an important measure of the air purifier. If you understand the meaning of MERV, it will save you the time and hassle of having to replace a low MERV rated air purifier because it was not able to do the job according to your expectation.

Air purifiers are rated on a scale of 1 to 20 with 1 being the least efficient in catching particles while 20 represents a true HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. The most recommended air purifiers are those with HEPA filters as they are the most efficient in removing allergens in your home.

Also popular are the ionic purifiers which are effective but they generate ozone. The ozone produced can be damaging to the average human being. It may cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, aggravated asthma and higher chance of contracting respiratory infections. This is the main reason why families with existing health conditions, asthma or allergy problems should not purchase an ionic purifier.

Three Best Air Purifiers For Allergy Sufferers

1. AirFree Platinum 2000 Air Sterilizer and Purifier Air Filter

Pros

Protect yourself by having a germ free environment

• Effective : the unit is able to kill 99.99% of microorganisms which are less than 1 micron in size. It is able to work in a large area of up to 550 square feet.

• Proven results : the unit was tested in various locations such as in hotels, banks, libraries, labs and research centers and results in positive feedbacks on the unit.

• Quiet : the unit operates with minimal noise which is perfect when used at night.

• Cost effective and low maintenance : there is no filter in the unit and it does not require any maintenance. This is an economic advantage over the traditional air sterilizers.

• Automatic shutdown : the unit shuts off when its intake channel is blocked or if the unit is in a tilted position. It also shuts off on its own when it is too near a heater or too close to a wall.

Cons :

• Plastic smell : the unit produces a strong plastic smell when heated up. From the picture, the air purifier looks like it is made up metal but it is actually made of plastic.

• Weak convection current : the convection current was weak. It was so weak that dust was not lifted from the ground and into the air purifier.

   

2. Honeywell 50250 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier

Pros

Powerful to clean a large area of space

• Excellent for large spaces : can be used in large areas up to 390 square feet in size

• True HEPA filter : the use of True HEPA filter eliminates 99.97% of typical airborne contaminants as minute as 0.3 microns

• Glass-fiber HEPA material : the use of the glass-fiber HEPA material ensures the airborne particles, viruses and bacteria are removed from the air

• 360 degree air intake and discharge: the patented design of the 360 degree air intake and discharge guarantees efficiency, as it circulates the air and allows for placement in any part of the room

• Intelli Check filter monitor : the Intelli Check filter monitor reminds you when to replace the filter. Frequency of filter replacement depends on the amount of air processed, the type of contaminant and the pollutant introduction rate into the atmosphere

• High Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) : the volume of filtered air delivered by the unit is 250 pollen, 250 dust and 250 smoke

Cons :

• Noisy : the unit is quite noisy during operation

• Foul smell : some sort of foul smell came from the unit after several months of usage. Replacing or cleaning the permanent filter did not help solve the problem

3. Austin Air HealthMate

Pros

Get efficient air purifying action with Austin Air

• Able to work in large areas : this unit is able to work in large areas of up to 1500 square feet.

• Effective : the Austin Air HealthMate is able to remove 99.97% airborne particles which are 0.3 microns or larger.

• Complete spectrum 4-stage air cleaning : the unit is equipped with the complete spectrum for air cleaning, sub-micron particle removal, chemicals and noxious gases. With its 360-degree intake system, air is drawn into the unit from all side and passes into the 4-stage filter. As a result, more clean air can be delivered at a faster rate and more efficient when compared to other models. Stage 1 : large particle pre-filter, Stage 2 : medium particle pre-filter, Stage 3 : 15 lbs of activated carbon/zeolite blend and Stage 4 : 60feet of true medical grade HEPA.

Cons :

• Troublesome when out of warranty : after its five-year warranty, it is quite a hassle to get it fixed either due to insufficient parts or parts are obsolete.

Before you buy:

Before you jump into a conclusion of which air purifier to buy, do conduct a survey on which type of air purifier would best remove the allergens for you. The common air purifiers are :

-        UV Air Purifier : such air purifiers sterilize allergen with UV light as they pass through the light when sucked into the air purifier. One of the setbacks of such units is that the air moves too quickly and sterilization may not be thorough. UV light air purifiers are best complimented with another method of air purification.

-        Ionizing Air Purifier : air is purified by changing the charge of particles from positive to negative. Ozone level produced by such units is something you should be wary about.

-        Carbon Filters : allergens are captured in the tiny pores of the filter. However, it is not effective  with small particles and filters need to be changed regularly.

-        HEPA Filters : these are the most famous air purifiers with the capability to trap 99% of allergens as small as 0.03 microns.

HEPA filters may not always be the best because it also has to depend on the model and brand of air purifier which you have decided on. The best is to survey around for a reliable air purifier which will help you lessen the chances of an outbreak of an allergy reaction.