Is a HEPA air purifier worth it?

Is a HEPA air purifier worth it?

Yes, a HEPA air purifier is worth the investment if you want to significantly reduce dust and dirt, improve your indoor air quality, and prevent allergy and asthma symptoms. Even if you clean your house thoroughly, there are several ways for airborne particles to enter via daily activities and accumulate over time.

True HEPA air purifiers can remove ultrafine particles, including dust, dander, pollen, mold, and other common allergens in the home. The industry standard requires that the unit remove at least 99.97% of particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns. As a result, HEPA filters can be extremely beneficial to allergy and asthma sufferers.

Although the cost of a HEPA air purifier is rather high compared to non-HEPA air purifiers, it all depends on what you’re attempting to achieve or relieve. If you’re only looking to freshen up your air, the cost might not be worth it.

If you do decide that an air purifier with a HEPA filter is best for you, keep in mind that simply seeing the name “HEPA” on the box does not guarantee that the filter is functional. Ensure that it fulfills the U.S. HEPA standard, i.e., being able to capture 99.97% of particles sized 0.3 microns.

Terms like “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-style” are worthless since they do not indicate whether or not the filters match the HEPA filter standard. Some manufacturers who produce filters that fulfill the specification have begun to refer to them as “True HEPA filter”.

List of the best air purifiers

What is a HEPA air purifier?

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air (filtering or filtration). HEPA filters use a dense, random arrangement of fibers to catch airborne particles from the air. They extract particles using the physics of particles traveling through air flow. The way HEPA filters work is straightforward but incredibly efficient, and HEPA filters have now become the industry standard in the air purifiers on the market.

Since the introduction of the first HEPA air purifier, it has been an efficient helper in lowering indoor pollution as well as chronic asthma symptoms. A true HEPA air purifier is capable of trapping particles as small as 0.3 microns. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has mandated that all filters labeled “HEPA” must filter at least 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns. This is powerful enough to remove the majority of particulates from the air.

We strongly advise you to conduct additional research on this article: What is a HEPA filter?

How does a HEPA air purifier work?

A HEPA air purifier works by forcing the air through a tiny mesh using HEPA filters. This mesh then catches potentially dangerous allergens and irritating particles such as smoke, dust, dirt, pollen, and pet dander. The HEPA filter captures dirt and dust particles in three ways. Some particles collide with filter fibers and are absorbed as a result of the impact. When some certain dust particles move too close to a fiber and get stuck by interception, they are collected when traveling through the flowing airstream. Meanwhile, diffusion traps certain dirt particles at lower airstream speeds. Diffusion occurs when particles collide and are pulled into the HEPA filter’s fibers.

What are the pros and cons of a HEPA air purifier?

What are the benefits of a HEPA air purifier?

• Ensure less dust and airborne particles in your home: Installing HEPA filters in the home can quickly lower the number of many common airborne particles, including pet dander, pollen, smoke, and dust. As mentioned above, air purifiers with HEPA filters have been proven to be able to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. Human eyes cannot even notice these small particles. The smallest visible particles are at least 50 to 60 microns in size.
• Improve indoor air quality: With many types of particles removed, HEPA air purifiers provide much cleaner air for you and your family.
• Reduce allergy and asthma symptoms: Fortunately, the particles that trigger allergy symptoms, such as dust, dander, and pollen, are big enough to be captured by a HEPA filter. Hence, HEPA air purifiers can help lessen allergy and asthma symptoms.
• Produce no byproducts: Other air purifiers, such as ozone, ionizers, and PECO, emit a harmful byproduct into the atmosphere. In contrast to them, HEPA air purifiers simply filter the air without adding any byproducts.

What are the disadvantages of a HEPA air purifier?

• Can’t remove all particles: Unfortunately, HEPA filters will not remove particles smaller than 0.3 microns from the air, including viruses, certain bacteria, and volatile chemical compounds (VOCs). VOCs are household substances such as hairspray and ammonia that are too tiny to be removed by a HEPA filter.
• Need regular filter replacement: Most HEPA filters are not washable and must be replaced on a regular basis since they catch the majority of particles in the air. As a result, they clog faster than more porous filters. HEPA filters should be changed at least twice as frequently as non-HEPA filters. HEPA filters, on the other hand, often last two to three years. Therefore, maintenance costs are rather expensive compared to other types of air purifiers.
• Consume more power: HEPA filters have a high density. It requires a strong fan to move air through it, which consumes more electricity.