By Christine Frietchen on February 2, 2010 in
Air purifiers touted in advertisements are often hailed as miracle products, washing the air of viruses, bacteria, dust, pollen and cigarette smoke. But according to experts, air purifiers really aren't the best way to free your home from allergens in the first place. And because air purifiers can only filter air that passes through the machine, the most effective models turn out to be big and expensive. Furthermore, in an industry that seems filled with snake-oil product claims, the most heavily advertised models are usually the least effective. Our air purifers update covers models that work ... and a lot that don't.
For most homes, there are better ways to improve air quality
Many experts, including those at ConsumerReports.org, say most people don't need an air purifier at all. Although they can be effective against larger airborne particles such as pet dander, dust and smoke, all of those allergy triggers can be be more effectively eliminated by other means -- such as substituting blinds for drapes, swapping out deep-pile carpet for wood flooring or short-pile rugs, and by asking smokers to step outside.
Most reviewers agree that people with severe allergies, asthma and bronchitis -- who need to control indoor air quality as much as possible -- may benefit from air purifiers, but only as part of a complete strategy that includes ventilation and daily vacuuming. There's just very little evidence that air purifiers are effective alone.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has produced an excellent online document titled, "Residential Air Cleaning Devices: A Summary of Available Information." The EPA doesn't take come down either for or against air purifiers, but states, "The use of air cleaners may help reduce levels of smaller airborne allergens or particles, but should not be expected to effectively reduce health symptoms."
The EPA recommends that air purifiers be used only as a last resort after you've tried eliminating allergens as much as possible at their source. According to ConsumerReports.org, "Americans spend more than $350 million each year on room and whole-house air purifiers -- also known as air cleaners -- mostly in the hope that they'll ease the symptoms of asthma and allergies. But there's little medical evidence that any air cleaner alone can do that effectively."
If you do decide you want an air purifier...
... the most effective models are expensive. In our air purifiers report, reviewers point to the $900 IQAir HealthPro Plus as the top-shelf choice. For half as much, the $450 Austin Air HealthMate is a good choice, but reviewers say it's noisy. As for heavily advertised models like the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze and the Oreck XL, they just don't work.