Do I Really Need an Air Purifier?

Thanks to the massive Canadian wildfire and media coverage of its effects on the East Coast, you may be thinking a lot about air quality—and air purifiers—lately. 

Lower Manhattan via @EarthCam as we approach 2:00pm. Speechless. pic.twitter.com/EyoRBfHcsZ

— New York Metro Weather (@nymetrowx) June 7, 2023

So, how much do you need one? Let's dive in.

Do You Really Need an Air Purifier in Your Home?

Right off the bat, we're just gonna say that "need" is a strong word. Do you need water? Yes. Do you need an air purifier? Not exactly, but you certainly do need air—so shouldn't the air you breathe into your lungs be some of the best-quality air around? We think yes. And we'll explain why.

What is an Air Purifier?

Air purifiers are devices made up of a filter or multiple filters and a fan that sucks in and circulates air. They refresh stale air by pushing it through the filter, catching pollutants and particles, and then releasing the clean air back into the room. Filters are usually made of paper, fiber or fiberglass, or mesh and require regular replacement to stay efficient.

Do Air Purifiers Really Work?

Before we go anywhere, we should answer the all-important question of whether or not air purifiers work. The short answer is: yes. Air purifiers use filters and fans to remove particles from the air and circulate cleaner air back into the room. However, some are more effective than others, and unless you’re using a purifier with a HEPA filter, you may not notice any changes to your allergies or asthma.

Additionally, it’s essential to set expectations for air purifiers. They work well when it comes to removing particles like dust, smoke, pollen, and other pollutants from the air, but some can struggle to remove gases. So if you want to use an air purifier to get rid of that paint smell in your new living room, you may be better off just opening a window and spraying some Febreze. That being said, we do have a suggestion for odor elimination (keep on reading for our top air purifier picks).

Why Would You Use an Air Purifier?

While the marketing of these products sometimes suggests everybody should have an air purifier on whenever they’re inside unless they want to risk becoming sick, it’s really not that dramatic. There are, however, several benefits of air purifiers, especially for people with specific ailments or health issues.

Asthma or allergy relief

About 8% of people have asthma, which means they have inflamed bronchial tubes, making them more susceptible to pollutants like pet dander, pollen, or dust mites. Frequent cleaning can help eliminate some of these pollutants, but many remain suspended in the air, and others get embedded in your carpets, furniture, and floors, which can become a real nuisance for asthmatics.

Because most household air purifiers contain HEPA filters, they can capture a higher percentage of these pollutants, making it easier to breathe on a day-to-day basis. Some air purifiers also come with replaceable pre-filters to trap larger particles, alleviating breathing difficulty for people sensitive to pollutants.

Eliminating harmful chemicals

Exposure to vehicle exhaust byproducts like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide PM can increase the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s. That means if you live near a highway or in a city with a high volume of motor traffic, you may be at greater risk of exposure to these chemicals. Just closing the windows and doors won’t keep them out for good, but an air purifier can help remove them from the air.

Some cleaning agents can also release chemicals into the air like ammonia, chlorine, and phthalates. Small amounts of these chemicals are harmless, but if you’re constantly cleaning, you might be undoing all of your good work unless you have an air purifier running.

Air purifiers with activated carbon cleanse chemical contaminants and recycle fresh air back into the room.

Neutralizing unpleasant odors

Sometimes, life gets stinky! Whether you live near a gas station, you’re having landscaping work done, you have a pet, or any number of other situations, there’s a myriad of odors that can make your home a little stinky. Air purifiers with HEPA filters and activated carbon filters trap foul gasses and particles to reduce the strength of smells in your home.

Improving sleep

Indoor allergens like bacteria, fungi, and dust mites can trigger allergies and make it harder for you to get to sleep. Research shows that cleaner air actually helps you sleep better, and the little bit of white noise you can get from some of them while running certainly can't hurt. HEPA air purifiers are the best to use since they filter out the most allergens from your room.

Someone is sick

Have you ever noticed how if one person in a household gets the flu, it seems like everybody gets it within a week? That’s because you’re all breathing the same air. Air purifiers with HEPA filters can help mitigate the spread of airborne diseases by filtering bacteria and viruses out of the air and releasing clean air.

You don’t have to wait until flu season or until somebody gets sick to get an air purifier; it’s a good idea to have one ready anytime.

You live in an old house

Before you buy a house, you’ll very likely hire a professional to inspect the building and property. Among other things, what they’re looking for are any harmful chemicals like radon or asbestos. These carcinogenic compounds occur naturally over time in radon’s case or, in asbestos’ case, were commonly used in building materials in the 20th century. According to a 2013 EPA assessment, radon may kill as many as 21,000 people in the U.S. each year, so it’s important to take it seriously.

Ideally, you can remove all harmful materials from your home by hiring somebody. Still, trace amounts may remain even after professional removal—especially if you live in a house built around the 1940s to the 1960s. If you want an extra degree of protection, air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters can trap radon and asbestos particles to protect you from harmful effects.

What Air Purifier Would Work Best for You?

There are so many models on the market it can be hard to figure out what makes the most sense for you. When shopping for an air purifier, there are a few things to consider. Do you want clean air in one room at a time or in a large area? What are you worried about breathing in? Do you want your air purifier to move with you? Maybe all you need is something little to clear the air in your home office, or maybe things aren’t fine and dandy with all that pet dander in the air. There’s a lot to consider, but that’s the fun part!

Whatever the case, one of these air purifiers may help you breathe easier. 

Best overall air purifier and best air purifier for large rooms

Check all of the air purifier boxes with the Wetie PM2.5. This purifier uses a 3-in-1 H13 HEPA filter to remove 99.97% of airborne particles and a multi-stage filtration system to go above and beyond. The pre-filter captures large particles like hair and pet dander. The activated carbon filter absorbs pet odors, smoke, and chemical smells. Then the H13 True HEPA filter picks up all the fine dust, smoke particles, and pollen left over. The intelligent air monitoring keeps an eye on the air quality of your room and lets you know when it’s time for a cleaning using an LED display. This smart air filter cleans 360 degrees around and can efficiently cover up to 1,184 square feet while operating under 55dB. 

Get the Wetie PM2.5 Air Purifier for $150.

Best value air purifier

Air purifiers can easily run you hundreds of dollars. That’s why CleanLight Air is such a great buy at just $95. Despite the budget-friendly price, it doesn’t skimp on features. The CleanLight uses an advanced H13 HEPA filter to remove up to 99% of harmful particles in the air, like smoke, pet dander, dust, and air pollutants. It even has a built-in UV light to eliminate 99.9% of germs and bacteria, such as pollen and dust mites. And it can freshen up to a 160-square-foot area. 

Get the CleanLight Air UV Air Purifier for $95. 

Best smart air purifier

What sets the Sensibo Pure smart air purifier apart from other models is Pure Boost. This intelligent sensing technology actively monitors the air and kicks on when it notices the air quality has dropped. That way, you don’t have to wait until you start sneezing to turn on the air purifier; you can trust Sensibo Pure to do it for you. Using HEPA and carbon filters, it can tackle particles as small as 0.1μm to protect you against viruses, bacteria, dust, and more. Plus, with the Sensibo app, you can continuously monitor the air quality in any room.

Get the Sensibo Pure for $149.

Best air purifier for parents

If you have kids, you may be more interested in their air quality than yours. With an advanced particulate matter sensor, it searches for contaminants in the air and starts cleaning automatically. This air purifier uses a triple-layer EPA filter to capture common pollutants, an active carbon filter to pick up offensive odors, and there’s even a common flu virus filter. This petite air purifier can probably fit on a nightstand, and you can even use it to play soothing lullabies. Bebcare is a trusted brand with multiple awards and products known for their safe-to-use-around-infants technology.

Get the Bebcare Air Portable Baby Air Purifier for $230.

Best air purifier to eliminate odor

Very few air purifiers can say they’re inspired by NASA, which is why VentiFresh Plus stands out from the pack. This innovative device uses photocatalyst technology to eliminate odors and reduce germs in the air. It’s just about the size of a lemon but works like a charm to decompose odor through natural photosynthesis, creating clean air. Whether a room smells from cat litter, shoes, food, or nearly anything else, the VentiFresh Plus can, well, freshen it up fast. That’s why it was funded nearly 400% on Indiegogo and has earned rave reviews from Engadget, E27, and Techseen.

Get the VentiFresh Plus for $59 or bundle to save up to 39%.

Best air purifier for small rooms

Perfect for remote workers who like to move around the house during the day, the Wetie WAF01 is a personal smart air purifier that delivers efficient air filtration anywhere you are. The WAF01 features a dual-speed fan that pulls in smoke, odors, fine dust, pet fur, and more into a three-in-one H13 HEPA filter for rooms up to 180 square feet. Remove 99% of particles over 0.3 microns in the air. The medical-grade filter also eliminates harmful particles, allergens, bacteria, and pollution. Plus, since it’s so small, it’s great for traveling. 

Get the Wetie WAF01 Small Room Air Purifier for $40.

Prices subject to change.