8 Air Purifiers for Better Air Quality, According to Allergists
Updated: Oct. 10, 2022
Filter and clean the air you breathe from indoor allergens inside your home with these air purifiers recommended by allergists.
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Clean air in your home
In some homes, the presence of indoor air pollutants may actually be two to five times higher than outside air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “You may think that outdoor air is more likely to be polluted than air inside your home, but indoor air is often even more polluted than air outside,” says Payel Gupta, MD, associate clinical professor, specializing in pediatrics and allergy and immunology at Mount Sinai Hospital and SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City. This is why it can be beneficial to purchase an air purifier. “Air purifiers can help remove allergens such as pollen, animal dander, mold spores, and other airborne particles from indoor air,” says Dr. Gupta, making the air in your living environment healthier.
Do air purifiers really work?
Air purifiers are especially beneficial for those with allergies or asthma. “As an allergist and asthma specialist, I have advocated purifiers for their usage, as part of an environmental modification initiative, to complement asthma and/or allergy management, for many of my patients,” says Clifford W. Bassett, MD, author of The New Allergy Solution, founder and medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York.
Certain living situations can benefit from air purifiers as well. “This may be particularly important for city dwellers as well as those who reside near busy highways, or a wood-burning stove, where greater levels of particulate air pollutants are a concern,” explains Dr. Bassett.
Individuals living in places with water damage, leaks, known mold exposure, or humidity can also benefit from having a purifier to help clean the air they’re breathing on a daily basis, explains Purvi Parikh, MD, board-certified allergist and immunologist with the Allergy & Asthma Network. “While having a purifier in the bedroom is most important, as we sleep there for hours, any room with water damage, leaks, or one where you spend a lot of time in would be a good place for your purifier to live,” says Dr. Parikh. (Here are all the times you should definitely be using an air purifier.)
What’s the healthiest air purifier?
When purchasing an air purifier, there are a few things you should look for. “Many on market air purifiers often feature a pre-filter, to help to remove larger particles, a HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filter, which can also remove smaller particles in the air and/or some airborne allergens in your home,” says Dr. Bassett. “Other models may feature additional and newer options such as special filters composed of carbon, to help remove odors, toxins, and chemicals from the air.” Some purifiers also have smart features that allow you to control the device via your smartphone or with the sound of your voice.
“Other certifications to consider when choosing a purifier for your home include Energy Star, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and Allergy Standards Laboratory’s Allergy & Asthma Certified Products,” says Dr. Bassett. “An ideal model should be commensurate with the size and dimension of the room where it is placed. Look at the manufacturer’s estimated costs of running an air purifier, including frequency of replacement filter changes, as well as its noise level.”
A word about air purification and coronavirus
The biggest question of all at the moment when it comes to air purification—can air purifiers filter out the aerosol droplets that might pass Covid-19? Dr. Gupta explains that there is currently no scientific evidence that air purifiers help when it comes to the coronavirus. “We don’t have evidence to say that and majority is spread person to person through droplets and contact in close quarters, so even with HEPA filter purifiers, still there is significant risk,” agrees Dr. Parikh. (Find out if UV air purifiers might be more effective.)
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider getting a purifier for your home, as the American Lung Association reports that more than half of the U.S. population lives with or are exposed to unhealthy air. Because there are so many options on the market, we took our allergists’ expert opinions to round up some of the best air purifiers for better quality air. Try any of the below if you’re considering purchasing an air purifier.
Dyson Pure Cool Link TP02 Wi-Fi Enabled Air Purifier
$468
Not only does this HEPA filter purifier clean your air daily, but it also doubles as a fan on hot days. It removes 99.97 percent of allergens from the air, and it’s Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certified. Use the accompanying Dyson app to get air quality reports and control your machine directly from your phone. The best part of this machine is that you don’t have to turn it on and off—it monitors the air quality on its own and automatically reacts if purifying needs to happen.
RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
$550
This Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certified machine has a HEPA filter customized for pet dander and odors. It purifies and deodorizes up to 700-square feet, so it will be able to reach every inch of the room you place it in. And it has a five-year warranty, too. The purifier has five levels of purification: a pre-filter, medium filter, HEPA filter, customized filter (where you can choose from germ defense, toxin absorber, pet allergy, or odor remover), and an activated carbon filter. The purifier can sensor activity and light level in a room, and lowers its mode automatically when there is less action taking place. Its motor is Energy Star certified, too.
LG PuriCare 360-Degree Air Purifier with SmartThinQ Wi-Fi and Voice Control
$1,300
Simply tell this HEPA filter purifier to turn on and it will listen. It’s Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatible, or you can download the accompanying app and control it when you’re away from home as well. As the machine captures 99.97 percent of the particles floating around, you’ll be able to tell how clean your air is based on a colorful LED light indicator system on the machine itself. It’s extremely quiet, too, so you won’t even notice that it’s hard at work.
SAMSUNG Cube Smart Air Purifier with 3 Stage True HEPA Filter System
$509
Three layers of HEPA filtration will ensure your air is clean (or as clean as possible) when you use this machine in your room. The cube displays the time, as well as a light indicator of how clean the air is. Control it with your voice using Bixby, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. It’s extremely quiet and doesn’t create a draft as it delivers clean air back into your living environment. One of the best features? The filter lasts a full year, even with 24/7 usage.
Elechomes KJ200-A3B Pro Series Air Purifier for Home Large Room with True HEPA Filter
$160
This smart air purifier encompasses four-layered filters, with a pre-filter (to help remove larger particles, according to Dr. Bassett), an antibacterial cloth, and an activated carbon filter to help remove odors, and a HEPA filter, for the highest quality air purification you could ask for. Download the app on your phone to control the filter with ease. (Learn how a messy house can make you sick.)
LEVOIT Air Purifier H13 for Extra-Large Room
$180
Remove 99.97 percent of dirty particles and germs from pets, mold, pollen, dust, smoke, and other allergy-causing pollutants with this purifier. The pre-filter, carbon filter, and HEPA filter also help to eliminate odor. It can clean an entire 900 square-foot room in one hour flat. It also automatically adjusts between three speeds depending on the air quality.
Molekule Air Large Room Air Purifier
$800
If you have a large room that could use some filtration, try this purifier. This purifier can even remove formaldehyde from the air, which is rare and tough to remove in indoor air. The sleek machine can cover an entire 600 square foot room. Use the machine’s app to control it from your phone. It combines photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) nanotechnology—a purification technology that decreases the circulation of indoor allergens. It also works to kill germs and viruses and eliminate odors. (Here’s what to clean and disinfect during coronavirus.)
Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Air Purifier
$221
Get a four-and-a-half (out of five) star rated machine (by over 4,400 users) for just $250 when you purchase this HEPA air purifier. The machine targets up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles like pet dander, pollen, dust, mold, and smoke; and it captures germs and odors, too. Replace the filter when the light indicates it’s time to do so, in order for the machine to function at its best. (Learn more about what pollutes the air inside your home.)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: "Indoor Air Quality"
- Payel Gupta, MD, FACAAI, co-founder and chief medical officer at Get Cleared, associate clinical professor at Mt. Sinai Hospital and SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City
- Clifford W. Bassett, MD FAAAAI, FACAAI, author of The New Allergy Solution, founder and medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York in New York City
- Purvi Parikh, MD, board-certified allergist and immunologist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill, in New York City
- American Lung Association: "Nearly Half of U.S. Breathing Unhealthy Air; Record-breaking Air Pollution in Nine Western Cities"
Originally Published: August 12, 2020
