What Are the Benefits of an Air Purifier?

I can’t lie. 

It took me quite some time to get my hands on my first air purifier. 

After all, like most people, I was skeptical about investing my hard-earned money into a unit that was designed to purify the air.

Waiting and wondering whether or not I should buy an air purifier was probably the biggest mistake I’ve made, especially since I suffer from seasonal allergies. 

Which often end up ruining not one or two days of my life each year but weeks during the time seasonal allergies peak.

It’s been several years since then, and honestly, I can’t quite imagine my life without an air purifier.

I no longer suffer from allergies when inside my home.

It’s great. 

But that’s not the only benefit of getting an air purifier

There are many that I will cover in this article.

But before I do that, I want to quickly run you through what an air purifier is, how it works, and the different types of air purifiers you can find on the market. 

That way, you can understand better why you will get the benefits I will mention right after.

What Is an Air Purifier and How Does It Work?

While air purifiers may seem like complex appliances with many different components working together simultaneously, air purifiers are actually pretty simple. 

Inside an air purifier, you will find a motor, a fan, and a filtration system. 

But, some air purifiers are a bit more complex than others as they feature a multi-stage filtration system. 

However, that alone doesn’t make them that much more complex.

The motor of the air purifier powers the fan, which sucks in unfiltered air, pushes it through the filtration system and releases it back into the room. 

At the same time, 99.9% of thin solid particles remain trapped inside the unit. 

This allows the air purifier to capture tons of particles like dust, pet dander, VOCs, strong odors, and more.

The result is very clean air that’s free from particles. 

You may not notice it, but the air we breathe has tons of particles, which is why many people, including myself, suffer from seasonal allergies. 

And once you have the air purifier on and breathe clean air, you’ll notice an immediate difference.

Some air purifiers don’t utilize filters. For example, tons of UV light air purifiers are designed for air ducts and HVAC systems. 

Since HVAC systems already have filters to capture dust and other solid particles, they don’t need additional purifiers to catch them. 

Instead, they utilize UV light to neutralize and eliminate germs that may enter the air through the air ducts.

Certain air purifiers also use ionizers to cleanse the air. 

These air purifiers release ions into the air, which react with the particles and cause them to fall to the ground. 

These aren’t the best air purifiers as you still have to sweep or vacuum the particles on the ground. 

On top of that, when ions react with particles, the reaction creates ozone, which can be dangerous if you inhale a significant amount.

So, suppose you want to keep yourself as healthy as possible. In that case, I recommend using UV or filtration-based air purifiers. 

These are the most effective options for purifying the air, and you can choose from many models available.

Common Types of Air Purifiers

There are quite a few types of air purifiers on the market. HEPA air purifiers, carbon-filter-based purifiers, and models combine different filtration technologies to clean the air. 

However, most of these air purifiers fall into two categories: in-duct and portable.

And in this section, I’ll explain each category with its benefits. 

That way, you can quickly figure out which air purifier is best for your needs.

In-Duct Air Purifier

In-duct air purifiers aren’t as popular as the other option, but they could be what you need if you want to clean the air in a large home. 

To use these air purifiers, you must have an HVAC unit. 

This is because these air purifiers are professionally installed in the air ducts, where they do their magic.

This means the air that exits the ducts through the HVAC system has been purified and is safe to inhale.

These air purifiers usually work with UV light. 

These lights disinfect and eliminate germs in the same way as sunlight. 

Since they are in the ducts, they can handle much larger spaces than portable air purifiers, which you’re supposed to move to whichever room you decide to stay in.

They could be a more convenient option for people with large houses. 

However, these air purifiers are typically more expensive than portable options and require a functional HVAC system to work. 

Additionally, investing in an in-duct air purifier might be impractical and unnecessary if you live in a relatively small space.

Portable Air Purifiers

Portable air purifiers are by far the more popular option for most people. These are the air purifiers you most likely think about when reading about these types of appliances on the internet. 

Typically, these air purifiers use a filtration system to capture the air and work through a fan that pushes the air through the filters.

These air purifiers are designed for smaller spaces. Most of them are only designed for single rooms. 

So, if you want to purify the air in a whole home, you have to move the air purifier around with you

But since they’re portable, they’re relatively easy to lift and transport to another room.

There are quite a few portable air purifiers on the market that rely on ionization technology to get the job done. 

For the reasons I mentioned earlier, it might be best for you to stay as far away from these air purifiers as possible.

With portable air purifiers, you have way more options.

 Even combo air purifiers can heat up a room, cool it down, or even add and remove humidity, depending on your needs. 

Granted, these models won’t be able to cleanse the air in an entire house. Still, they are the more practical and effective option for many households. 

Key Benefits of an Air Purifier

There are tons of benefits to getting an air purifier. Again, you may not notice it just yet, but there’s a high chance that the air you’re breathing is packed with harmful particles like dust and pollen. 

When these end up in your lungs, they could cause respiratory problems over time and affect how you feel inside your home.

When I first got an air purifier, the difference was immense. 

Turning it on exposed me to something I had never felt before. 

My whole life, I was breathing in dusty and particle-filled air, so using an air purifier in my home was a real game-changer.

If you’re still on the fence, here are a few key benefits of owning one that may convince you to get an air purifier finally:

Purifies 99.97% of the Air

The first benefit of having an air purifier is also the most obvious one: air purifiers can purify all the air inside your room. 

Nowadays, the air we breathe is full of particles and pollutants that end up in our lungs and cause trouble. 

Most people spend their time indoors. 

And according to the EPA, indoor air is about 2-5 times dirtier than outdoor air.

You don’t want to breathe in these particles and pollutants regularly. 

It might feel like these particles aren’t causing any harm in the short term, but they can affect you in the long run. 

And suppose you’re prone to allergies like me. 

In that case, an air purifier can be highly beneficial in helping you have a better time while at home.

Some air purifiers have anti-germ properties, particularly ones with UV light. 

So, you will breathe not only cleaner air but also healthier air. 

Ultimately, who doesn’t want to breathe in better and safer air for their body?

Reduces Allergic Reactions

One of the most significant benefits I received from my air purifier was a substantial reduction in allergies

I’m allergic to a lot of things. During the spring, the particles floating around the air like dust and pollen cause me a lot of trouble. 

On top of that, I own a couple of cats, and to my dismay, I have allergies to cats that cause me to sneeze when I spend too much time cuddling with them.

With an air purifier, you won’t have to worry about allergies as much. This is because modern air purifiers are equipped to remove tons of allergens from the air. 

The HEPA filter you find in most air purifiers nowadays can capture up to 99.97% of all small solid particles.

It catches particles like dust and pollen that might end up in your lungs and respiratory system, which is the main reason for seasonal allergies.

On top of that, an air purifier can also capture pet hair and dander floating around the air. 

Those with animal allergies usually aren’t allergic to the animal itself. 

Instead, they’re allergic to the dander on their fur, and when they shed, this fur floats around the air and ends up in their lungs.

When I have my air purifier on, I barely worry about allergies, even if my cat sits on top of me. 

Not only does this make me feel more comfortable in my own home. 

But it also allows me more time with my pets, which is always important.

Filters Harmful Chemicals

Suppose you have an air purifier with a carbon filter. In that case, it can absorb VOCs or volatile organic compounds. 

These are chemicals you can find in modern paints and other materials we use to build homes and structures. 

Prolonged exposure to VOCs can be dangerous for humans, and it’s essential to take the necessary steps to reduce the amount of VOCs we inhale when at home.

These compounds are hard to eliminate. 

This is why air purifiers are such great investments for a person’s health. A carbon-filter air purifier can absorb tons of harmful chemicals, which can significantly improve indoor air quality.

Cleaner House

Since air purifiers capture the dust and pollen in the air, it prevents the particles from getting on the ground. 

The dust that builds up in the corners of our house and on different surfaces comes down from the air. 

This is why if you leave a room or space unattended for a while, it begins to gather dust in different areas.

With an air purifier, you won’t have to sweep or vacuum up dust that often. 

This offers many benefits and is one of the reasons people are starting to invest in air purifiers for their homes.

Removes Foul Odors

With carbon filter air purifiers, you cannot only prevent yourself from breathing VOCs but also don’t need to deal with any foul odors

This came in handy because I have multiple cats with their own litterboxes. While I clean the litterboxes daily, the smell can still linger in different areas of the house, which can be annoying.

On top of that, I like cooking.

And sometimes, the scent lingers for days when I cook a dish with strong odors like curry. 

But with an air purifier, you won’t have to worry about these odors as much since carbon filters are designed to absorb particles in the air that cause these odors.

Can Help Your HVAC System Last Longer (In-Duct)

If you have an in-duct air purifier, it can actually make your HVAC system last longer. 

When dirt builds up in your HVAC unit over the years, it can cause it to lose some of its functionality. But if you have an air purifier inside, these particles are less likely to build up. 

That way, you can keep your HVAC system running for a long time without needing repair or replacement.

Are There Any Downsides to Using an Air Purifier?

Air purifiers are generally safe for home use. 

In fact, they can even make your indoor air safer to inhale, which is something we should all strive for. 

However, remember that certain air purifiers can do more harm than good. 

I mean air purifiers with ionizers

This air purifier generates ozone, which is bad for your respiratory system, gives you headaches, and causes many other unpleasant symptoms.

On top of that, some air purifiers have ozone generators. 

The reason for that is because ozone has a chlorine-like smell which can be perceived as “clean” and “fresh.”

As much as possible, I recommend avoiding air purifiers like these. 

There are quite a few on the market today, making it hard to find the right one. 

But this is why it’s crucial to pay close attention to your air purifier’s specs and make sure they don’t have ionizers or ozone generators.

Conclusion

Air purifiers can be very confusing if you’ve never had or owned one before. 

They are special appliances designed for one job: cleaning the air. 

However, breathing in clean air at home has many benefits, such as reducing allergies, removing foul odors, and even making your house cleaner.

So, while they might seem pricey and very niche, understand that they are beneficial and handy devices. 

And with the suitable model, you can make your home feel much more comfortable and make the indoor air you breathe particle and pollutant free. 

I personally can’t go without an air purifier, and I’m confident that once you have yours, after a while, you won’t be able to go without one either.