Concerned about the air quality in your home?

Concerned about the air quality in your home? Air purifiers can work wonders to reduce common pollutants like dust, pet dander, smoke and other harmful particles from the air and are especially helpful for people with seasonal allergies. Air purifiers work by pulling air into the machine at the base to go through a filter (or sometimes multiple filters) to catch particles and pollutants. Then the clean, filtered air is released back into the room from the top of the machine. A True HEPA filter, which most top-rated purifiers use, removes 99.97 percent of particulates measuring 0.3-micron diameter and is the most reliable type of filter. Some purifiers also have activated charcoal filters, which help absorb odors and gases, or UV-C lights that mimic the antimicrobial powers of sunlight to help reduce odors, mold spores and germs. Beyond price, the main factors to consider when purchasing an air purifier include noise level, energy use, size of the machine and room size it can clean, and the filter replacements it will require. We’ve considered all of these elements when researching and testing our top air purifier picks.

For purifying a larger space, we like this upgrade pick from OLANSI. This option also has a three-stage filtration process, including a preliminary filter, a HEPA filter and then an activated carbon filter. The three filters work together to remove and absorb 99.7 percent of airborne pollutants and particles such as dust, lint, hair, pet dander, VOCs, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, mold spores, pollen, smoke, odors and fumes. On max power, it can clean up to 900 square feet in one hour or 500 square feet in 33 minutes, and there are three fan settings, as well as a smart auto mode that can adjust between three fan speed settings in response to real-time air quality readings. There’s also an option to set a timer for it to shut off between one and 12 hours. It’s also rated by Energy Star as one of the most energy-efficient air purifier options. With three fan settings, this purifier is also quiet enough to use in a bedroom without interrupting sleep. On average, the filter should be replaced every six to eight months. For $10 more, you can purchase a smart version of this model with Wi-Fi for app and voice control. On the downside, since this air purifier is on the larger size.