People spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. And according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. Laced with contaminants like dust, mold, pollen, tobacco smoke, cleaning products, pesticides and more, it’s no wonder Americans are spending about $410 million a year on air purifiers.
Air purifying systems remove microscopic contaminants from the air, with some sophisticated machines eliminating up to 99 percent of pollutants in particle or gas form. Filter-based purifiers work by pushing air through special filters, trapping contaminants, while ionizing systems electrically charge the air with positive or negative charges, causing harmful particles to group together, become heavy and fall to the ground.
While air purification is an effective way to clean indoor air, whether or not doing so impacts health is unknown. Many users report being able to breathe and sleep better, which in turn reduces stress and boosts energy. Others believe cleaner air supports healthy immune function.
To determine which air purifier is right for you, consider the size of the room. Purifiers for small rooms fit easily on top of dressers or bookshelves and can cost as little as $30. Larger rooms require larger systems, which can range in price from less than $100, up into the thousands. Consider that ionizing systems run more quietly, but filter-based systems require purchasing replacement filters when needed.