Air Purifiers For Dust
An air purifier is a great solution to the nagging dust problem that can irritate those with allergies and cause other ailments. The best ones feature a clean air delivery rate (CADR) that matches the size of the room, as well as multiple filters and quiet operation.
This Energy Star-rated model filters rooms up to 540 square feet and includes a pre-filter for larger gunk, activated carbon for VOCs and odors and HEPA filter for dust. It also has a timer and sleep modes to keep things quiet at night.
Filters
The primary function of most air purifiers is to remove particles from the air that could irritate your lungs and trigger allergies. To do so, they push indoor air through filters made from fiberglass, paper, mesh, carbon or foam. Air cleaners with HEPA filters, which are specifically designed to trap small airborne particles like dust, typically have the highest CADR ratings.
These ratings are evaluated based on the amount of a pollutant a model can remove at its highest fan speed, along with owner satisfaction and reliability data. The most efficient models can remove up to 99.9% of allergens and particulates from the air in a room up to 105 square feet.
Other types of filters, including electrostatic or ionizing cleaners, can also trap airborne particles. However, they don’t eliminate them as well as HEPA filters, and they can produce harmful ozone, which may aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions.
If you’re allergic to pet dander as well as dust, consider an air purifier with a pet dander filter. Many of these filters can be used to capture the proteins in a air purifiers for dust dog or cat’s saliva and skin flakes, which are known to trigger allergy symptoms in some people. Coway’s Airmega AP-1512HH uses an optional bipolar ionizer to charge these particles and make them easier to trap, while also offering three timer settings and auto and sleep modes for ease of use.
Noise
Air purifiers are designed to trap particles in order to keep them from circulating in your home and potentially irritating your sensitive lungs. They can also help remove smoke, odors and other pollutants from the air in your home. Many of these devices use a mechanical filter to do so. Others utilize electrostatic or ionizing technology to transfer an electric charge to the particles, causing them to stick to metal plates or be pulled into the filter fibers. Unfortunately, these types of air cleaners may produce harmful ozone, which can also be a lung irritant.
In addition to using a mechanical filter, some models include a pre-filter and an Activated Carbon filter to eradicate odors and handle larger particles. The EPA recommends changing these filters every six to eight months. While these devices aren’t a failsafe against COVID-19, they can help reduce the likelihood that germs and other airborne contaminants will make their way into your home.
A few of these machines also offer a feature that is similar to white noise but much more soothing. This feature is called pink noise, and it works by reducing high pitch sounds while retaining low, relaxing ones. This can be a great option for people who have trouble falling asleep, as it can significantly improve the quality of sleep.
Power
Air purifiers for dust rely on power to suck out contaminants from the atmosphere. The higher the clean air delivery rate (CADR), the more efficiently a unit will perform. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the CADR rating is based on an area’s square footage and using a model designed for a larger space can be wasteful. To get the best performance from a unit, choose one that is specifically built for the size of room you plan to use it in.
Introducing an air purifier into your home is a great way to cut back on the amount of dust that accumulates around surfaces. But just because a purifier is in the house does not mean you can let up on regular cleaning chores. Seemingly innocuous films of dust suspended on carpets and floors can easily become airborne during a vacuuming session or when a breeze blows through the window, leading to an influx of particles into your lungs.
The simplest way to prevent this problem is by investing in a high-quality air purifier for dust that uses a HEPA filter and includes a fabric mesh pre-filter, Activated Carbon filters to eradicate VOCs, and bipolar Ionizers to charge particles making them easier to remove from the space. The Levoit Core range, for example, offers a model to suit all budgets and room sizes while boasting future-proof features and a sleek design.
Cost
Air purifiers for dust can be worth the investment, particularly if you suffer from asthma or allergies, live in an area prone to wildfire smoke and other pollutants, have pets with shed fur or skin flakes, or are sensitive to cigarette or chemical fumes. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of any air purifier is only as good as the quality of its filters and that you will likely have to replace them periodically.
The best air purifier for dust is one that features a HEPA filter. These are capable of trapping particles down to 0.3 microns, which air purifiers for dust is about the size of an ant. During use, the air is drawn in via a fan-like mechanism and then passed through the filter. The filtered air is then released back into the space through another fan.
Ideally, you’ll want an air purifier that targets not only dust but other harmful pollutants. For example, the Levoit Core 300S offers powerful filtration for rooms up to 1,560 square feet with a H13 True HEPA filter and Levoit’s VortexAir Technology. It also includes a fine mesh prefilter and high-efficiency activated carbon filters for eliminating unpleasant odors and VOCs.
The Airmega AP200H is a splurge, but it delivers powerhouse filtration for rooms up to 1,800 square feet with a HEPA filter, dual-stage filtration, and automatic mode selection. Moreover, the ionic silver and charcoal filters work together to capture a wide range of pollutants including bacteria, viruses, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
