HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air purifier, is a filtering device that traps about 99.97% of particles from the air.
It’s a high-performing air purifying device capable of filtering particles with a micro size of 0.3. So, if you’re prone to allergies from pollen and pet dander, then a HEPA air purifier is probably a good investment.
Read through this article to learn how to choose the best HEPA air purifier for your home.
What Do HEPA Air Purifiers Work?
Although there’s no regulation or federal certification regarding HEPA filters, they are a must-have device in today’s era.
HEPA purifiers suck in microparticles like bacteria, pollen, viruses, etc., from the air. The filters of HEPA purifiers are made of sleek glass fibers. These thin fibers are arranged and folded into pleats-like details to act as a filter.
When air passes through these filters, the pollutants get trapped in the glass fibers, only allowing the purified air to pass. HEPA filters were usually used in nuclear plants; however, many smart devices are also leveraging this technology to purify the air in the home.
Fun fact: Your hair strain ranges somewhere between 17-180 microns. And the smallest particle visible to the human eye should be 25 microns in size. However, HEPA air purifiers can filter particles as minuscule as 0.3 microns.
Moreover, HEPA filters are versatile and can be used for devices like cleaning equipment, home fan, cooling and heating units, etc.
How To Choose The Best HEPA Air Purifier
Given the versatile range of HEPA filters available, the lack of EPA recommendations on this subject makes selecting the best HEPA air purifier for your home all the more difficult.
However, fear not! Below are a few tips and tricks that are certain to come in handy while choosing a HEPA purifier.
Size
Consumers often ignore the size of the portable filter despite it being a significant factor in its efficiency. To ensure that the filter entirely purifies your room’s air, its CADR score should be equal to ⅔ area of the room.
CADR score refers to the clean air delivery rate of your air filter. It measures how many air particles can be filtered in a minute from a single air volume.
To put it simply, the larger the CADR, the better the purification capability the device will have. Consequently, it’ll also be able to purify large rooms seamlessly.
Check For Ozone Generation
Many purifiers release ozone gas during the air filtering process. While the gas, per se, acts as an air sanitizer, it’s also a pollutant and can be detrimental to the lungs. Ozone air purifiers are generally used for spaces that have been left inhabited for a long time.
Moreover, ozone-generating purifiers aren’t approved by any government agency in the United States. Hence, make sure at the time of purchasing that the air purifying device doesn’t release any ozone gas during the air filtration process.
Industrial Rating
Although EPA hasn’t set any rules for air filters, industrial leaders have set certain standards for HEPA air filtration. A HEPA air purifier should qualify any one of the below-stated criteria.
- CADR Rating
- Manufactures guarantee that the device filters particles less than 1 micron
- Verified HEPA Filter
Summing Up
Searching for a good HEPA air purifier can be a very challenging task. However, looking for the CADR rating, ozone generation capacity, and industrial rating of the filter can be a good starting point.
Moreover, you can also try looking at the filter’s lifespan, energy usage, and noise level of the device to make a better decision.
Alison Lurie is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.
