Air purifiers that use activated carbon filters are effective against fumes, gases, odors and secondhand smoke.

Points to Consider 

• Removes pet odors and unpleasant smells
• Purifying filter will need to be changed when full
• A great air purifier for smoke but not effective against dust particles, allergens or microorganisms

Tip: Different air purifier accessories provide various levels of air purification and protection.

Electrostatic air purifiers are effective against particulates, some odors, some gases and allergens.

Points to Consider 

• Collection plates require regular cleaning
• Requires electricity to operate
• Available in both portable and whole-house configurations
• Not effective against bacteria and viruses 

Air purifiers that use HEPA filters are effective against hair, dust, particulates, pollen, spores, mold and some bacteria.

Points to Consider 

• HEPA stands for “High Efficiency Particulate Accumulation”
• Known for removing 99.97 percent of all particles 0.3-microns or larger in size
• Replacement filters needed every 12- to 18-months
• Often considered the best air purifiers for allergies but may be more expensive to maintain
• Not effective against gases, odors or viruses

Ionic air purifiers are effective against particulates, some viruses, bacteria and smoke.

Points to Consider 

• Causes particles to clump together and fall to the ground
• Fallen particles may make floors and walls dirty
• Great at removing extremely small particles
• Doesn’t use a filter and has no fan, making operation quieter
• Not effective against fungi, germs or some viruses

UV air purifiers are effective against microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, mold and organic gases.

Points to Consider 

• UV-C light bulbs must be replaced annually
• Bulbs require cleaning periodically, as per manufacturer’s instructions
• The longer pollutants are exposed to light, the more effective it is
• Not effective against particulates, gases or odors

• Make sure the purifier is suitable for the size room you’re looking to protect and look for a high clean air delivery rate - the cubic feet of air a purifier cleans per minute. 
• Avoid placing a purifier in a room that’s too large for it to fully cover.
• Some devices, like UV purifiers, are installed directly into your HVAC system.
• You may need a purifier for each room you spend time in.
• Casters and handles make it easier to move portable units around.

• Improve the effectiveness of your air purifier and extend filter life by using pre-filters that trap large particles before air gets to the main filter.
• To ensure quality, look for purifiers that have been approved by the Underwriters Laboratory.
• Filters with larger surface areas are more effective than smaller ones.
• The clean air delivery rate (CADR) indicates how many cubic feet of air a purifier cleans per minute.
• The more air changes per hour a machine provides, the higher the quality of air it creates.

• Multispeed fan: Allows you to increase or decrease the speed to help provide the proper number of air changes per hour in different-sized rooms.
• Quiet operation: Operates quietly so you can sleep soundly without sacrificing air quality.
• Automatic timer: Set your purifier to turn on and off automatically.
• Filter change indicator light: Lets you know when it’s time to change the filter.
• Personal air purifiers: Battery-operated units that you can hang around your neck to provide personal high-quality breathing space.