Asthmatics - Here's How To Evaluate Air Cleaners

What makes an excellent portable air cleaner? Two words: efficiency and ventilation. Efficiency relates to the percentage of airborne contaminants removed by the filter. For asthma sufferers, HEPA filters are most efficient, since they trap nearly all airborne contaminants. The second and equally critical feature is ventilating power—how much air the unit can filter within a certain period of time, usually expressed as cubic feet per minute. Ventilating power is important because you want to clean all the room's air within a reasonable time frame. Most units are rated for a specific cubic volume of air, so all you need to know is your room's volume. For instance, if you're purchasing an air cleaner for the bedroom, calculate the volume of your bedroom and match this against the unit's rating. If your bedroom is 1,000 cubic feet, you need a purifier that is rated for a minimum of 1,000 cubic feet. To calculate cubic volume, multiply the room's length times the width times the height.

 

Related to ventilation is operating speed. Quality air cleaners can run at different speeds. How fast you decide to ventilate a room depends on what you're doing. A high speed should be used after vacuuming or cooking, when you want to filter the air rapidly. Lower speeds are usually reserved for day-to-day, continual air purifying.

 

Ideally, you want a highly efficient unit that can ventilate the target volume of air several times an hour. Manufacturers use fancy names like "clean air delivery rate," "atmospheric dust spot test," and "military standard 2823" to rate ventilating power.

 

Size is also important when it comes to air cleaners. Table and desktop models are usually not as efficient or powerful as larger console models. If you don't want portable units clashing with your interior design, call your local Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) specialist to discuss induct air-purifying systems, which are designed to service your entire home.