Recently, we wrote a blog post about a scam company that individuals, banks and even Google had gotten confused with US Air Purifiers LLC due to an unfortunate name similarity. That experience got us to thinking about scams in the air purifier industry. While most of the people working in this industry are honestly trying to provide their customers with cleaner, healthier air, there are always some bad apples in any bunch. Today, we’d like to discuss air purifier scams and what you can do to avoid them.
What Do Air Purifier Scams Look Like?
Air purifier scams can take several different forms. The most common is marketing claims made about machines that don’t live up to the standards suggested. For example, a seller might claim that a unit without a carbon filter removes particles and gases from the air, despite the fact that a HEPA filter has little to no impact on gaseous contaminants.
In other cases, you might see air cleaning systems that either don’t work or, in the worst cases, actively reduce indoor air quality. Ozone generators are a prime example of this type of air purifier scam. Despite claims made for its ability to improve air quality, ozone is actually quite harmful to human health when inhaled.
Finally, you may find scams involving replacement filters for air purifiers. Third-party sellers with off-brand filters may charge lower prices, but in many cases the filters don’t perform to the standards they should. Shoddy filters should be avoided at all costs, since they will significantly reduce the effectiveness of even the best air purifiers.
How Can You Avoid Air Purifier Scams?
As with most scams, the key to avoiding air purifier scams is to do your research before making a purchasing decision. The best place to start is to carefully review the specifications of the air purifier you’re looking at. In most cases, checking the specifications will help you avoid scams and misstatements on the marketing side of things. In particular, you should look at the type of filters being used and the air flow rate in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
You should also buy your air purifier from a trusted dealer. When buying from unnamed third parties online, you’re more likely to get faulty or ineffective products. Buying a brand-name air purifier through a qualified dealer is by far your best protection against being ripped off. Here at US Air Purifiers, we carry many of the best brands in the industry, including Austin Air, Amaircare, Airpura, Field Controls and others. You should also buy your replacement filters from an authorized dealer to ensure you get the right filters for your machine.
Finally, remember the best and oldest piece of advice about scams: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you see an air purifier listed at a price drastically below models with similar features and specs, there’s probably a good reason. This doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars on an air purifier, but don’t expect to pay half price and get the same level of quality, either.
Have questions about which air purifier is right for you? We’re here to help! Feel free to contact us with your questions, and we’ll be happy to provide you with answers and personalized product recommendations based on your needs. You can also browse our complete selection of home air purifiers to see which models best fit your needs and budget.