Top Quality Air Purifiers and Healthy Home Solutions that You Can Trust

Choosing an air purifier is a process in which many different factors need to be taken into account. These factors include the type of filtration you need, the size of the space involved and the features you want your unit to have for added convenience and functionality. One of the most important of these is the size of the space a given unit can work effectively in. Today, we'll be covering how air purifier capacity is calculated and what you need to know to pick the right unit for your space.  

  Measuring Air Purifier Capacity

  All air purifiers have a capacity rating that is given in square feet. In case you need a refresher from high school math, this measurement is arrived at simply by multiplying the length of a space by its width (to make the process easy, check out this handy square footage calculator). A 15-foot by 20-foot room, for example, has an area of 300 square feet. To be effective, the capacity of your unit should be greater than or equal to the size of your space. In a 700-square foot apartment, for example, an 800-square foot capacity air purifier would provide good coverage, while one that is only rated for 450 square feet wouldn't give you comprehensive purification throughout the apartment. When in doubt, it's always a good idea to go a little too high as opposed to a little too low.  

  Figuring Air Purifier Capacity in Cubic Feet

  One thing that's very important to note is that the square footage used in residental air purifier capacity ratings is based on a space with 8-foot ceilings. If you're working with a space that has very high ceilings, you need to take that into account by calculating cubic footage, as opposed to square footage. Say, for example, you had a square room that was 20 feet long on all sides with 12-foot ceilings. As with square footage, we'll multiply the length and the width of the room together. Then, to arrive at a measure of cubic footage, we'll multiply the result by the height of room. In this case, that number ends up at 4,800 cubic feet.   To figure out whether an air purifier will provide adequate coverage in a space with higher ceilings, we can multiply its square footage rating by 8 (the assumed height of a normal ceiling in that rating) to arrive at the cubic footage it can cover. Say, for instance, we have an air purifier rated at 800 square feet, and we want to find out whether it would provide adequate coverage for the example room above. Multiplying the unit's square foot rating by the height of the ceilings assumed in it, we'd find that this air purifier can handle up to 6,400 cubic feet, making it more than ample for the 4,800-cubic foot space.   For most residential buyers, cubic footage won't be necessary to calculate, as most homes and apartments have ceilings that are roughly 8 feet high. If you need help figuring out the air purifier capacity you'll need in your space, feel free to contact us directly, and we'll be happy to help you select the perfect unit.

One of the most common questions that first-time air purifier buyers have is "Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?" Given that an air purifier has to run 24/7 to be as useful as possible, it's a completely understandable question. So, for this installment on our blog, we've decided to tackle this question and give you some idea of how much power an average residential air purifier will consume.  

  Measuring How Much Electricity Air Purifiers Use

  The first step in answering this question is to understand the consumption of electrical power. The power charge on your utility bill is typically a measure of kilowatt-hours consumed by all of the electrical devices in your home. For reference, a kilowatt-hour is another way of saying 1,000 watts of power used for one hour.  A 1,000-watt (or 1-kilowatt) device running for one hour, therefore, would add 1 kilowatt-hour to your bill.   Since this is how you are billed for electricity, it seems to us to be the best way of measuring air purifier power consumption and giving you an objective idea of how much electricity an air purifier uses. Before we go into the consumption of air purifiers, though, let's consider the power consumption of some other common home appliances for reference. Keep in mind that the following are rough averages and that your home appliances may vary:  

•   49-inch LED TV: 85W
•   Laptop computer: 50-100W
•   Desktop computer: 100-450w
•   Refrigerator: 100-200W
•   Dishwasher: 1,200-1,500W (1.2-1.5kW)
•   Air conditioner: 1,000-4,000W (1-4kW)

 

  So, Do Air Purifiers Use a Lot of Electricity?

  With a good way to measure energy consumption and a few other appliance ratings for reference out of the way, let's take a look at what you can expect an air purifier to use. Below, we've listed the power consumption of some of our top models:  

•   Amaircare 3000 VOC: 84W
•   Field Controls TRIO: 100W
•   Blueair Pro L (maximum on high setting): 170W
•   IQAir HealthPro Plus: up to 215W
•   Austin Air Healthmate: 135W

  As you can see, residential air purifiers can vary quite a bit in their power ratings, but mostly stay in a range roughly equivalent to that of a home refrigerator or desktop computer. Taking the Austin Air Healthmate as an example, keeping the 135W unit on continuously would require an output of .135kW per hour, totaling 3.24 kilowatt-hours per day or 97.2 per month.   Taking this one step further, let's try to estimate what this means for your electric bill. Electricity costs vary by state, but the best average we've been able to find is 13.11 cents per kilowatt-hour. By multiplying the 97.2 kilowatt-hours per month we got above by this cost, we find that this air purifier would add about $12.74 to the average power bill in a 30-day month. Keep in mind that these are rough estimates, but they should give you some idea of what to expect. If you want to check what other units could be expected to cost, follow this link to a handy electricity bill calculator that will help you estimate costs quickly.  

  Are There Air Purifiers That Don't Use as Much Electricity?

  So far, we've established that most air purifiers use up relatively little power per hour. On a monthly basis, you can expect to spend roughly the same amount on your air purifier as on an average refrigerator. However, many people still wonder if there are options for cutting down their costs. Fortunately, there are several Energy Star certified air purifiers that can keep your power bills low. The Rabbit Air Minus A2 (700 square foot version), for instance, uses only 7-47 watts, depending on settings.   If you've ever wondered "Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity," we hope this article has given you some answers. If you have questions about any of our air purifiers, feel free to contact us for answers and personalized product recommendations.

Getting a good night's sleep is important for maintaining optimal health, mood and productivity. While many people go to extreme lengths to keep their rooms completely dark and silent, few think of the effects that impurities in the air could be having on their sleep. Nevertheless, research suggests that air pollution can increase the chances of poor sleep by up to 60 percent, while practically everyone has experienced the unpleasantness of trying to fall asleep in the midst of a seasonal allergic reaction. Thanks to these links between air and sleep quality, a bedroom air purifier may be just the thing you need to help you rest easier. Here's what you need to know about using air purifiers for better sleep and which units we recommend for bedroom use.  

  What Kinds of Contaminants Lead to Poor Sleep?

  To improve your chances of sleeping well, there are three things that need to be removed from your air. The first is pollution in the form of gases and particles. The second is any kind of allergen, dust or mold spore that could irritate your respiratory system. Lastly, unpleasant odors could keep you from getting a good night's sleep. To maximize your sleep quality, you'll need an air purifier capable of removing all of these impurities.  

  What Type of Air Purifier Do You Need?

  The kind of air purifier you'll need for your bedroom will depend on what kinds of contaminants you're exposed to. If dust and allergens are your only problem, a HEPA or filterless air purifier will do nicely. If you live in a heavily polluted area or deal with strong odors, though, a purifier with a carbon filter will be in order. When choosing air purifiers for better sleep at night, be sure to take into account what the problems with your home air actually are. If you need some help finding out, you can use a personal indoor air quality meter to gain insights into the state of the air in your bedroom.  

  Five of the Best Air Purifiers for Better Sleep

  There are many different air purifiers that are great for bedroom use, but choosing just one can be hard. To make the process easier, we've narrowed the list down to five of the units we think are best for helping you get a better night's sleep:  

•   Airfree Onix: Filterless air purifier that runs completely silently. Good for mold spores, dust and allergens.
•   EnviroKlenz: Powerful filtration for both particles and gases/odors. Quiet mode is perfect for use while sleeping.
•   Rabbit Minus A2: Ultra-quiet filtration for light gases and particles. Wall-mountable for use in small bedrooms.
•   Airpura G600: HEPA and high-grade carbon filtration. Great for heavier odors and air pollution. Includes 18-pound activated carbon filter.
•   IQAir GC Multigas: Combines powerful filtration for gases and odors with IQAir's HyperHEPA technology. Very quiet.

  Have questions about using air purifiers for better sleep or any one of the units we offer? Feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to help you with answers and personalized product recommendations.

The Blueair Classic series, consisting of the 205, 405 and 605 units, now comes with the option to add a Blueair DualProtection filter. This new DualProtection filter option replaces the SmokeStop filter, which was previously available on the Blueair Classic series.  

  Features and Advantages of Dual Protection Filters

  Blueair's DualProtection filters offer powerful multi-purpose filtration that helps to make the Blueair Classic series units more versatile. With a DualProtection filter, your Blueair Classic air purifier can remove not only particles but also gases and odors from the air in your home. As a result, you'll get a higher level of protection than you would from particulate filtration alone. Best of all, these filters are designed to filter out impurities without in any way reducing the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the units equipped with them.   At the heart of the DualProtection filter system is activated coconut carbon filter material, which can remove gaseous impurities in the air without requiring chemical additives. Using this system, the DualProtection filters can remove gaseous pollutants up to four times faster than other carbon-based filters.   The DualProtection filters are fitted specifically to their corresponding Classic series air purifiers. These filters should be changed every six months to keep them fresh and in top working condition. If you need help remembering when to change the filters in your air purifier, keep in mind that you can use our handy filter change reminder tool to get automated notifications when it's time for your next filter change.   Have questions about DualProtection filters, the Blueair Classic series or other products sold on usairpurifiers.com? Don't worry, we're here to help! Just contact us with your questions, and we'll be happy to give you answers and personalized product recommendations that will help you pick out the best air purifier for your unique personal needs.

Though many of us don't realize it, there are several gases present in most homes than can pose a danger to human health over time. These gases, known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs come from many sources, including the gas stove in your kitchen and even the very materials from which your home is made. Here are three of the most common household VOCs that you probably don't even know you're living with.  

  1. Formaldehyde

  Formaldehyde is used to treat many common building materials, including home insulation and most types of pressed wood. Although the formaldehyde in these products is largely trapped, it can gradually leak out into your home air over time.  

  2. Acetone

  Best known for its use as a nail polish remover, acetone is a harsh chemical that can cause upper respiratory irritation. You can be exposed to acetone from various beauty products, as well as several household cleaning chemicals.  

  3. Benzene

  Like formaldehyde, benzene crops up in several consumer products that most users aren't even aware contain it. Household adhesives, treated rubber products and even some paints contain benzene and can release it into your home air over time. Though most homes have relatively low levels of benzene, the gas has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including anemia and immune system suppression.  

  What Air Purifiers Are Best for Household VOCs?

  One of the best and easiest ways to protect yourself from any threat presented by these common household gases is to use an air purifier capable of removing VOCs from your home air. Some of the top units for handling home VOCs include:  

•   IQAir GC Multigas
•   Airpura G600
•   AllerAir AirMedic Pro 5 MG
•   Amaircare 3000 VOC

  If you're looking for more options for dealing with VOCs in your home, check out our complete selection of chemical and VOC air purifiers. If you have questions about which unit is right for you, please feel free to contact us directly, and we'll be happy to help with answers and personalized prodcut recommendations.