Once you decide that
you would like to enjoy the benefits of an air purifier,
the first thing you must decide is if you want a room
air purifier or a whole
home air purifier.
The main difference between
the two is that room air purifiers are stand-alone units
that create their own airflow versus whole home units
that are connected to the current ventilation system of
the house or office.That is the basic,
structural difference, the important difference is in
the effectiveness of each type. Room air purifiers
tend to be more efficient, easier to maintain, and more
convenient.
More Efficient
Room air purifiers tend to be more efficient for a
number of reasons. For starters, most of these
units feature multiple air cleaning technologies.
By this we mean they might use HEPA filters,
electrostatic precipitators, and an activated carbon
filter all in one unit.
Further, good room air purifiers create sufficient
air flow to exchange the air in a room 4-6 times per
hour. Most central air purification systems will
only turn the air over twice.
Easier to Maintain
Most people will agree that changing a filter in a
stand alone room air purifier on the ground is easier
than getting up into the ventilation system of a home.
It also tends to be easier to inspect the filters and
devices on a portable air purifier versus the whole home
unit.
More convenient
Another benefit of room air purifiers is convenience.
Portable air cleaners can be moved from room to room as
conditions warrant. They can also be placed into
different parts of room to discover which location will
be the most effective (as far as creating strong
airflow).
Overall, most people prefer to go with a room air
purifier when purchasing an air cleaner. The only
thing that keeps some people from using this type of
unit is the cost. If you want to clean the air of
an entire home, a whole home air purifier may be less
expensive than buying a separate air purifier for each
room. A portable air cleaner will only clean the
air in one room or open area at a time.
For our ranking and choices of the top 10 best air
purifiers available, check out our
air purifier review
page.
