How to Get a Free Air Purifier: Ultimate Guide

How to get a free air purifier? Is this even possible?

The answer is… yes! But with the proper avenue and conditions, of course.

As national asthma rates continue to rise year to year, the popularity of air purifiers also increases.

They saw another spike in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when many more people were conscious of the contamination within our air.

Using an air purifier is a fantastic way to improve the air quality within your home.

They can significantly reduce the amounts of contaminants in your air which can help with symptoms of asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems.

However, air purifiers tend to be expensive, making them inaccessible for many families.

Fortunately, there are several ways to receive a free air purifier, depending on where you live and why you need it.

Some of the most common ways that families receive free or low-cost air purifiers are through their health insurance or state programs.

Read on to learn how to get a free air purifier and whether or not an air purifier is right for you and your family.

How to Get a Free Air Purifier from State Programs

Some states have programs that provide funding to families that suffer from respiratory illness. 

With this funding, you can improve ventilation in your home and possibly install air purifiers

For example, in the Bay Area of California, there is a program called the Clean Air Filtration Program.

This program serves homeless and low-income families suffering from respiratory problems. 

They will provide you with a free air purifying unit if approved for the program. 

This program aims to improve the health of low-income families that cannot access regular medical care.

Even if you do not qualify for a free air purifier in this program, you may still be able to receive some benefits. Through this program, you can purchase an air purifier for $100-150. 

Although this is still expensive, it is significantly cheaper than many air purifiers you will find on the market today.

How to Get a Free Air Purifier from Community Programs

Even if your state does not have an air purifier program, you may be able to find programs in your local community. 

Many community centers have welfare programs for families that come from low-income backgrounds.

Typically, these programs cover things like food and coats during the winter. 

However, you may be able to find programs that cover home improvements or healthcare devices such as air purifiers. 

The best way to find out if an air purifier is covered by any program in your community is to take a trip to your community center. 

They can tell you about all the programs in your area and which you may be eligible for.

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How to Get a Free Air Purifier from Charitable Organizations

Charitable organizations offer different assistance to families in need. You can try contacting several of them, like Goodwill or Salvation Army.

It’s worth checking if they have programs that give out free appliances like air purifiers to low-income families.

Other people also donate used items that still function properly. Other people’s trash could be other people’s gems!

How to Get a Free Air purifier from Companies and Manufacturers

There are companies and manufacturers of air purifiers that offer free subscription services.

Some also send free air purifiers to new customers who sign up for their service, while others give them as part of their loyalty program.

Check out this current promotion of Lake Air.

Promos like this are usually only up for a limited time. And sometimes, they’re also a promo to introduce new or related products.

But why not try your luck? And getting free air purifiers for a limited time is better than not getting any at all.

Other Ways to Get an Air Purifier

If you’re not eligible for a free air purifier from what we have covered above, you can still try getting one at a lower cost.

As Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

For your health insurance to cover something like an air purifier or a humidifier, it must be considered Durable Medical Equipment or DME. 

The most common devices considered DMEs are oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, walkers, kidney machines, and prostheses. 

You may notice that air purifying machines are not on that list.

Typically, insurance companies do not consider air purifiers as part of this category. Therefore, unless the company receives a letter from your doctor deeming the device medically necessary, they will not cover it. 

For your air purifier to be considered durable medical equipment, it must be prescribed by a doctor. 

You will need an official letter, known as a Letter of Medical Necessity, from your doctor stating that this device is necessary to improve your condition. 

Suppose you have asthma or another chronic respiratory condition. Getting a letter from your doctor prescribing an air purifier as part of treatment should be relatively easy as this changes the status of the air purifier from an HVAC system component to a medically necessary device.

With that letter, you can begin negotiations with your health insurance company. 

Bear in mind, though, that you will probably be unable to convince them to cover the entire cost. But still, the insurance should at least cover a percentage of the purifier.

Shop Used

Shopping used is one of the best ways to save money, no matter what you’re shopping for. 

You can check eBay or Facebook Marketplace for a used air purifier. Both platforms will allow you to search for used air purifiers in your area. 

Shopping on eBay can also access verified projects inspected for defects.

If you buy a used air purifier from another source, you won’t necessarily know if there’s something wrong with the product before purchasing it.

You can also check out your local thrift stores to ask whether they have air purifiers.

You will unlikely find a brand-new air purifier in a thrift store, but you never know. Plus, you will not be able to find cheaper options elsewhere.

Make Homemade Air Purifiers

Although this will not be free, making your own air purifier can be a fantastic, low-cost way of improving the air quality in your home. 

Heads up, though: they will not be as effective as commercial air purifiers. But you can still make a relatively effective air purifier with simple supplies.

With only a box fan, air filter, and heavy-duty tape, you can fashion yourself a makeshift air purifier. 

Instruction

The first step to making your own air purifier is acquiring a high-powered box fan. 

These can be found for relatively low prices in most home improvement stores. 

You will want to ensure the box fan you pick has a cord from the bottom. That way, the filter can be attached correctly.

Next, you will need an air filter. 

If you are on a budget, a simple HVAC air filter will do, but the higher quality, the better. 

A cheap air filter will work, but remember that this is the part that will actually filter the particles out of the air. If there’s one part you want to spend more on, it’s this one.

You’ll want to place the air filter on the side of the fan that pulls air through, then secure it in places with heavy-duty tape. 

Make sure that the tape is tight enough to create a seal, as this is what you’ll be using to make sure the air is being pushed through the filter.

As air is sucked into the fan, it will first be pulled through the air filter, removing dust, pollen, and other particles. 

These homemade filters will be less effective than true air purifiers. However, they can still do quite a bit to improve the air quality inside your home.

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FAQs on Getting a Free Air Purifier

Is buying an air purifier worth it?

Buying an air purifier can be worth it if you suffer from respiratory problems or if your home has a high level of contaminants. 

Older homes can tend to have mold spores and dust in the air, both of which can be improved by using an air purifier. 

To ensure that purchasing an air purifier is worth it, you must know which contaminants are in your home’s air. 

That way, you purchase an air purifier suited to filtering out the type of contaminants your home has.

Do HVAC systems include an air purifier?

Many people believe that since HVAC systems include an air filter, they filter out all of the dangerous contaminants from the air. However, this is not the case.

HVAC systems contain an air filter, but this air filter is only designed to catch larger particles like dust

They are also not designed to sanitize or deodorize the air in the same way that an air purifier is. 

An HVAC filter may be enough if you don’t have sensitivities to contaminants in the air. 

However, if you have asthma or have sensitivities to things like mold, investing in an air purifier could make a noticeable difference in your symptoms.

What are air purifier alternatives?

The best alternative to an air purifier is proper ventilation. 

When you perform an analysis of the air in a home, you will notice that most contaminants collect in areas that do not have proper airflow and ventilation.

Ensuring air continuously flows through the room will help you prevent contaminants from building up in the air. 

Using a proper filter in your HVAC system will also help reduce the amount of dust and large particles floating through your air.

Do you need an air purifier in every room?

Whether or not you need an air purifier in every room will depend on the airflow between the rooms. 

If the airflow between the rooms is continuous, you can use one air purifier for two rooms. 

However, suppose there is a narrow doorway, and the airflow isn’t good. In that case, you will want an additional air purifier in every room to keep the air clean

How to Get a Free Air Purifier – Conclusion

Air purifiers are a fantastic way to improve the air quality in your home. After all, if your air purifier is fitted with a HEPA filter, it can collect more than 99% of the particles in the air. 

This means that if you suffer from allergies or other respiratory problems exacerbated by air contaminants, an air purifier could significantly improve your symptoms.

Unfortunately, air purifiers can be expensive, making them difficult for many families to access. 

They also require ongoing maintenance and filter replacement every few months. 

The good news is that some programs are available to help families access air purifiers at little to no cost. 

The best places to acquire an air purifier are through local and state programs. 

Some of these programs will provide air purifiers at no cost to families with respiratory illnesses. 

Alternatively, you can also look for used purifiers, build your own, or try and get insurance to cover your air purifier using a letter from your doctor.

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