Air Purifiers: Top of Mind in Pandemic

According to a recent article in Consumer Reports (CR), home air purifiers can filter indoor allergens and pollutants that can build up in a home at a much higher rate than outdoors. Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of contracting COVID-19 is higher indoors than in outdoor spaces.

Jeffrey Siegel, an indoor air quality expert and professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto who has researched portable air purifiers, says in the article that while there isn’t direct evidence that coronavirus transmission can be reduced through filtration, there is reason to think air purifiers may help in some situations based on what we know about similar viruses, like SARS.

CR also notes that consumers and retailers should avoid air purifiers with ionizers that produce ozone. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ozone, even in low levels, can cause lung and throat problems and worsen asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. Some air purifiers do put out extremely low levels of ozone that are considered safe. For a complete breakdown of good and bad air purifiers, check out this CR article.        

After extensive testing, CR recommends the following brands:

Blueair Classic: This family of air purifiers with HEPASilent™ technology kills up to 99 percent of germs using electrostatic and mechanical filtration. The whisper-silent motor is energy efficient and the built-in WiFi allows for remote monitoring. The air purifier is available in small, medium and large, treating up to 1199-square-feet.  

Hunter Tower Air Purifier: The HEPA filtration removes up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles including smoke, dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, mold spores, and dust mite debris.  The EcoSilver^® pre-filter prevents the growth of microorganisms on the filter and uses coconut carbon to neutralize VOCs. The Tower is available in in medium and tall in three finishes, white, black or graphite.   

Honeywell Air Purifier: The Honeywell 50250 is a top selling product with long-lasting HEPA filter that fights germs and captures up to 99.97 percent of allergens. The HEPA filter can be cleaned for long-lasting use. 

Whether users want to eliminate cooking and cleaning pollutants, pet and dust allergens, or kill germs in a specific room, air purifiers can help. For more 2020 air purifier recommendations, check out this article from Good Housekeeping.