When I got my first air purifier for allergies, I was more than excited to put it to the test. I got it during the springtime, and as a person with severe allergies, having a device that could eliminate harmful allergens from the air was more than welcome.
However, I didn’t notice much difference when I turned my air purifier on, if I were to be completely honest.
This bummed me out, as I was super excited to finally have a spring season where I’m not sneezing all the time in my own home.
At first, I thought I had to let the air purifier run for some time. But when an hour passed and there was still no difference.
And right before I was about to take it back to the store to return the model I bought, I learned what my mistake was.
Like many beginners, I placed my air purifier in the corner of the room right on the floor, thinking it would work.
However, I quickly learned from a quick Google search that not only did I have to find the right spot in the room for my air purifier, but I also had to make sure it was facing a certain direction.
So, which way should your air purifier face if you want it to work?
Well, that’s what we’re getting into in this article. The thing about air purifier placement is that it’s tough to figure out the best place for your specific air purifier. But with access to the right information, you can quickly place your air purifier for the best possible results.
Today, I’ll be discussing why air purifier placement matters, where you should face the air purifier, and a couple of other crucial tips on setting up an air purifier that you need to know before trying yours out for the first time.
Does Air Purifier Placement Matter?
The short answer is yes, the air purifier placement matters if you want it to work to the best of its abilities.
Even if you have the best air purifier on the market with top-of-the-line filters, none will matter if the air purifier isn’t placed in the right spot.
To understand why air purifier placement matters, we need to discuss how air purifiers work.
It might come as a surprise to you, but air purifiers are very simple machines.
Air purifiers are just fans and filters when you strip them down to the basics.
So, when you turn on the fan, it sucks in unpurified air and pushes it through the filter, specifically designed to trap pollutants and particles before the clean air is released back into your room.
While this is a simple system, it’s incredibly effective. However, keep in mind that your air purifier won’t be able to catch all the pollutants and particles if the air wasn’t passing through it in the first place.
When you set up an air purifier, you need to ensure that it’s in a place with good airflow.
This ensures that as much unpurified air passes through the air purifier as possible in the shortest amount of time.
If it’s your first time using an air purifier, figuring out where to palace it for maximum effectiveness is pretty tough.
But don’t worry; there’s a complete guide to setting up an air purifier for the first time later in this article to help you out.
Which Way Should My Air Purifier Face?
The thing about figuring out where to place an air purifier and where it should face is that the answer varies depending on your needs and even the type of air purifier you have.
However, in most scenarios, you would want the air purifier facing a breathing area in the room.
Again, let’s go back to how air purifiers work. Unpurified air enters through the back, passes through the filter, and exits through the front.
So, if you have the air purifier face a window or the exit of the room, then the clean air will escape the room, and all you’re left with is the unfiltered air that has all the dust and pollutants.
Additionally, you must ensure that your air purifier faces a generally open space, even in a small room.
This is because if anything obstructs the air purifier’s airflow, it won’t work either.
Again, everyone’s homes and goals are different.
So, how you set up your air purifier may vary from how others set up their purification machines. That’s why it’s important to practice trial and error when doing this and only stop when you land on the best placement for your air purifier.
I didn’t set it upright when I got my first air purifier.
Not only was it in the corner of a room, but the air purifier wasn’t facing the right direction. So in hindsight, there’s no wonder that my air purifier wasn’t working as well as I wanted it to.
Luckily, I quickly figured out that the placement was the problem, not the air purifier.
And when I took steps to place the air purifier in the right position, it started working just as I had expected it to.
All of a sudden, my allergies weren’t as bad.
This is because pointing the air purifier in the right direction and setting it up in the proper space allowed it to capture way more particles than in its previous set-up.
Your Guide to Setting Up and Placing an Air Purifier
Okay, so now that you know why it’s important to properly set up an air purifier, you may be wondering how to do it.
Now, if it’s your first time getting an air purifier, you may be wondering which place in the room would be the best for the air purifier.
The answer to this will largely depend on the size of the room, the type of air purifier, and even the room’s design.
So, it might take a couple of tries before you get the air purifier working properly.
But to make it easier, here are some crucial tips to keep in mind when setting up an air purifier.
Think About Airflow
The airflow is the first thing you need to consider when setting up an air purifier.
This is because air purifiers require good airflow to function properly.
Without good airflow, the fan won’t be able to suck in as much unfiltered air, and you might be left inhaling all the particles and allergens that made you want to buy an air purifier in the first place.
With that said, every room has different designs, so it can be hard to figure out where the best airflow is.
However, one of the general tips I can give is that you want to avoid the corners of the room.
While it might seem like a good place to put the air purifier at first, it limits the airflow and the machine’s capabilities.
In general, it’s best to put the air purifier next to the air source, such as a window or door.
But if the room is closed, your best option is usually to place it in the center of the room. While that might not be the most visually pleasing set-up, it’s arguably one of the most effective.
When my air purifier wasn’t working for me, the only problem was the airflow.
Placing it in the corner of the room stopped any air from circulating and passing through the air purifier, which is why I found myself coughing and sneezing even with the air purifier turned on.
Keep It Elevated
Another tip I can give you is to elevate the air purifier. This is especially true if you have one of the smaller models on the market. Airflow is much weaker the closer you get to the ground.
I bought a fairly small air purifier for my room, and when it was on the floor, it couldn’t absorb all the pollutants it was designed to do.
The ideal place for an air purifier is at least three feet off the ground. So, if you have a small table or surface to place it on, I highly recommend using it. This is a very small detail, but it can make a huge difference in the long run.
So, when setting up an air purifier, make sure not just to put it on the floor.
Unless you have a fairly tall air purifier, the machine will work better on an elevated surface, which is one of my most useful tips when setting up an air purifier.
Remove Obstructions
While it might seem obvious to clear things out for the air purifier, it was something that I didn’t consider.
When I set up my air purifier in the corner, there was a small chair right in front.
The air purifier was already missing out on many airflows because of its corner position, and the chair obstruction only worsened things.
So, when you’re setting up your air purifier, make sure to remove anything that might be blocking its airflow.
Even the smallest obstructions can keep the air purifier from functioning properly, which is important to remember when using an air purifier for the first time.
Seal the Room
When the air purifier is on, close all the doors and windows.
Now, if you’re a person that likes “fresh” air entering the room, there’s nothing wrong with cracking a window open.
However, keep in mind that any open window or door welcomes new particles into the room, which the air purifier has to work to eliminate.
With closed doors and windows, the air purifier can cleanse the air much more efficiently.
And if you must have a door or window open, I suggest placing the air purifier near these openings so it can capture the particles the second they enter the room.
Use It to “Guard” a Room
This may sound funny, but another great option is to use the air purifier as a barrier to the air before entering the room.
This is in line with the previous tip where I suggested that you place the air purifier near the room’s openings.
Again, this will allow the machine to capture any particles and pollutants entering the room.
That way, they are much more likely to be captured by the air purifier before entering your lungs.
Ideally, you’d want to keep all the doors and windows closed.
But since it can be hard to seal a room if you aren’t comfortable with that set-up, the least you can do is place the air purifier at the entrances and exits to protect you from particles trying to enter your home.
Which Way Should an Air Purifier Face: Conclusion
If you want to make the most out of your air purifier, you need to pay close attention to the placement of the machine.
Ideally, you want the air purifier to face the breathable zone in the room.
That way, the air that it purifies is introduced instantly, allowing you to breathe in more purified air.