Kenmore Hepa Filter 616 124 7100

Kenmore Hepa Filter 616 124 7100

Do Air Purifiers Really Work?

Experts weighs in on whether or not cleansers can actually filter out germs, dust, smoke, mold, and more.

How do air cleansers work?

Air purifiers normally include a filter, or multiple filters, and a fan that absorbs and circulates air.

As air relocations through the filter, pollutants and particles are recorded and the clean air is pushed back out into the living space. Usually, filters are made of paper, fiber (frequently fiberglass), or mesh, and need routine replacement to preserve effectiveness.


Most filters on the marketplace are designed to record particles like dust and pollen, but don’t capture gases like VOCs (unpredictable natural compounds) or radon. That would require an adsorbent, like triggered carbon. The Environmental Defense Company (EPA) alerts that the functionality of air cleansers is restricted in terms of filtering out gases, and that you should frequently replace filters for optimum performance, usually about every 3 or so months.

Numerous air purifiers are good at filtering pollutant particles out of the air (dust, smoke, pollen, etc.), but they are not necessarily very good at removing gaseous toxins like VOCs or radon from the air that may collect from adhesives, paints, or cleansing items. Irritants that are embedded into furniture or flooring are likewise not caught by them.

In addition, the efficiency of air purifiers in real-world situations most likely won’t mimic those of regulated conditions in a laboratory (what those “99% efficiency” claims are describing!). The location, installation, circulation rate, and the length of time it is operating for will all differ, as will the conditions in the area. In addition, there are other things occurring in your house that may effect the effectiveness like ventilation (open or closed windows), and new particles are constantly emerging, so the air might not as filtered as the claims may have you believe.

If you are concerned about mold, we ‘d suggest purchasing a dehumidifier or humidifier to assist maintain the appropriate moisture levels in your home and ward off mold growth problems. Air cleansers do not avoid mold growth, so it is essential to eliminate the source of wetness that is permitting it to grow.

Can air purifiers filter the outside air that enters your house?

In some cases, non-organic air toxins like the VOCs we mentioned formerly can stem from outside your home. “There are all sorts of circumstances in structure fires where big doses of smoke inhalation may cause cyanide toxicity. That would largely need to be someone who was standing straight in or near the fire: Those individuals are brought to emergency spaces right away,” Dr. Roten explains. “Normally, outdoors pollution or smoke or short-term bad air isn’t a consistent issue for onlookers.” But the best type of purifier can attend to any ecological air qualities in your place. Using close-by wildfires as an example, Dr. Roten includes that a HEPA filter-equipped purifier is your best option: “Anything that has a true HEPA filter in it is most likely appropriate sufficient to filter out a lot of all the large particles that would be worrying,” he says. “Most of the smoky smell will also be addressed as well.”

What should I try to find in an air cleanser?


For correct effectiveness, you need a model developed to operate in the space size. Choose a model that is developed for a location larger than the one you are equipping it for if you wish to run it at a lower, quieter setting.

AHAM (Association of House Appliance Manufacturers) Verified mark AHAM’s standards are style to guarantee the safety, performance and efficiency of lots of home care home appliances, including air cleansers. The requirements are created to offer a common understanding between makers and consumers to assist make the acquiring process easier. While voluntary, most reputable air purifiers have undergone this accreditation program, which often supplies a CADR ranking and size guidelines.

Real HEPA. True HEPA filters work at removing ultra fine particles (think: dust, dander, pollen, mold and other typical allergens in the home). The industry standard for such is that the system must have the ability to get rid of a minimum of 99.97% of particulates measuring 0.3 micron diameter in a laboratory setting. Keep in mind, it is necessary to keep in mind that in reality settings, the actual efficacy of these gadgets would be far less as brand-new pollutants are constantly emerging. Note that there is no industry requirement for the terms “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-type,” and are mostly used as marketing ploys to get customers to acquire the product.


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