Breathing fresh, clean air has never been more important to our health. Air purifiers are the best way to reduce coughing, eye irritation, sneezing, headaches and other symptoms caused by tiny pollutants floating in indoor air - and next-generation machines allow you to keep air quality at optimal levels.
Today's best smart air purifiers have smart features like voice assistant compatibility, apps that allow you to monitor particle levels, and the ability to schedule cleanings days in advance, just to name a few high-tech upgrades.
Before we address what "smart" really means in the world of air purification devices, it's important to understand the features and benefits of standard air purifiers. These appliances use filters to remove airborne toxins from the air, especially those known to cause health problems. They draw in air, filter out harmful pollutants, and then draw out clean, particle-free air.
Air purifiers use two different systems: a continuous air filtration system that does not detect or monitor air quality, and a more efficient automatic filtration method that uses sensors to detect particles and adjusts its operation accordingly.
Smart air purifiers, on the other hand, provide you with the power of data to track and control the air quality of your space. They are typically WiFi-enabled (sometimes sold as Bluetooth-enabled) and come with a smartphone app that helps you monitor real-time and historical trends (such as when your air quality is at its best or worst), detect toxin types, and send you alerts when filters need to be changed or when air quality levels fall below a safe threshold. Some people must also choose to set up a timed schedule for energy efficiency.
Before purchasing an air purifier, you need to consider several factors.
1. Room size: Not all air purifiers are one-size-fits-all. Before buying an air purifier, be sure to measure the size of your home or office. Small rooms are usually 300 square feet and under, medium rooms are between 300 and 700 square feet, and large spaces are usually up to 1,900 square feet. If you want to clean the air in a room larger than this, consider a whole house air purifier.
2. Pollutant Removal: Here are some of the substances that smart air purifiers are designed to remove.
◬ Allergens: Pollen, dust, mites and other pollutants that are harmful to people with asthma or allergies
◬ Pet hair: animal hair, fur and dander
◬ Smoke: smoke, such as cigarette smoke, fireplace soot, and other pollutants
◬ Odors: odors from smoke, pets, cooking, etc.
◬ Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Gases and chemicals released from paints, varnishes, disinfectants, degreasers, adhesives, air fresheners, cosmetics and other household products and aerosol sprays. Some of these pollutants can cause problems, including headaches, allergies, nausea, dizziness, eye irritation, fatigue and other health effects.
3. Filters: These are the most common types of filters found in smart air purifiers.
✱ Carbon filters: Usually used in conjunction with other filters to effectively remove odors, VOCs and gases
✱ Pre-filters: Used in tandem with other filters, pre-filters can capture larger particles and make your air filter operate more efficiently
✱ HEPA filters: Typically made of materials such as cotton, glass fiber or foam, HEPA filters can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns or smaller
Noise level: If you are easily disturbed by background noise, you need to pay attention to the decibel level of the air filter at the lowest fan setting.
5. Portability: Some air purifiers come with casters or handles for portability. These features will come in handy if you plan to move the air purifier from room to room.
Maintenance: Just like a central air conditioning system, an air purifier requires regular maintenance. You need to consider the necessary cost of replacing filters throughout the life of the air purifier.
