The jury is out on the health benefits of using an air purifier (often called “air cleaner”) to remove particles and gasses from your home. A series of medical studies produced mixed results, according to Canada's National Collaborating Center for Environmental Health. For instance, people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory illnesses who used portable air cleaners outfitted with HEPA filters had fewer symptoms, such as wheezing and coughing, but used just as much medication as people who didn't use the cleaners. Purifiers tend to work best at removing smaller particles like smoke, because they are relatively lightweight. Large particles, like pollen and dust, are less likely to remain in the air long enough to be collected. In some cases, a purifier can even make the air dirtier by stirring up already-settled dust, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. “Studies have looked and often cannot even show that particulate matter is reduced, much less a health benefit, in the real world rather than in a lab setting,” says Elliot Horner, PhD, lead scientist for UL Environment, a division of UL.

Horner points out that product testing is usually done in a laboratory. “The issue is that in the real world, there is often poor mixing of air. This means that much particulate matter (PM) in a room — in pockets of stagnant air — never gets pulled into the air cleaner. Also, even if the cleaner pulls in all PM in the air right now, if the sources of PM are not addressed, then PM levels very quickly will be right back up to where they were.” “There is no silver bullet,” says Horner. He advises people to reduce the sources of any pollutants by keeping the home clean and well ventilated. “Nothing all that fancy, what your grandmother was doing.” For example, simply wipe or vacuum surfaces, since more allergens rest there than float in the air, according to the AAFA. Related: Is Your Vacuum Cleaner Bad for Your Health? If you’re still thinking about buying an air purifier, here are three things to consider. Purifier designs fall into five main categories:

Numerous authorities advise against using ozone generators, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mayo Clinic. While all air cleaners produce some ozone as a byproduct, ozone generators deliberately fill the air with it in order to mask odors without actually cleaning the air. Breathing ozone can cause lung damage and worsen existing respiratory illness, according to the EPA. Some models can produce 10 times more ozone than is considered safe, according to thenegative air duct cleaning Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. air conditioner coil cleaning supplies“People and ozone should not share space.” says Horner.best rated hepa air purifier Electronic purifiers also tend to produce more ozone than mechanical models, according to the

California Environmental Protection Agency. Before purchasing one, ask for the manufacturer's data on ozone levels. Related: Do You Really Need to Clean Your Air Ducts? Air purifiers are rated according to their ability to trap particles of various sizes. These rating systems have nothing to do with whether or not the unit will improve your health. In fact, there are no health-related rating standards for air cleaners because there isn't enough research to prove that cleaners improve your health, according to the AAFA. Keeping that in mind, two rating systems are most commonly used: MERV and CADR. MERV, short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, rates “whole house” purifiers that are typically installed as part of your building-wide heating and air conditioning system. chart shows how each MERV level performs against different types of particles. For smaller, portable purifiers — typically used to clean a single room — look for the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) label on the outside of the product's packaging.

Developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, it rates the unit's ability to remove tobacco smoke, pollen and dust. As long as you avoid models that produce excessive amounts of ozone, there is no evidence that air purifiers are harmful. But if you are considering one for health reasons, consult with your doctor first, advises the AAFA. Related: Can Houseplants Really Clean the Air? The best air purifiers for babies & kids. HEPA air purifiers are more important for your baby and children than anyone else. Kids and infants have smaller lungs. So they naturally breathe 50% more air per pound than adults. If that air is polluted with allergies like pollen, mold spores and dust mites, your children will feel the side effects twice as much as you. Therefore, air purifiers for children's rooms is a must in order to protect their indoor air quality. To ensure the air in your home stays safe for those we care about most, browse our various Air Purifiers for Children and babies.

Depending on the model, each air purifier will remove up between 98-99.99% of allergies, dust and mold from your living area. That's why Oransi air purifiers were ranked #1 in an independent study by Clemson University. Read on to see why children need HEPA air purifiers. Top 3 Air Purifiers Having a child with asthma has been very stressful for me and I bought this to help with her breathing. It's been really hard and this air cleaner has been great. It's helped more than just my daughter and am grateful that products like this are around that really help. I bought 3 air purifiers, 2 for myself and one for my daughter. They are very well made and work to perfection. I couldn't ask for better. Michele at customer service couldn't be more helpful. I'm completely satisfied with my purchases and the company. Thanks especially to Michele.Poor indoor air quality represents one of the top five public health risks, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Science.

With the average person spending about 90 percent of his time indoors, taking steps to improve the air quality in your home can provide significant health benefits. Ionizers and other electronic cleaning devices offer an effective solution for removing pollutants from the air, but must be chosen with care to avoid potential problems and health risks. Both fanless and fan-based ionizers offer relief from some pollutants. Fan-based units rely on an integral fan to spread ions into the air. The fan tends to produce a high level of noise in most units, and these systems consume more energy than fanless models. Fanless models distribute ions more slowly, and thus take longer to clear the air. Without a fan, they produce less noise and consume less energy than models with a built-in fan. Consumers can choose from whole-house or room-based ionizers. A whole-house unit works with the home's central heating and cooling system, sending charged ions through the HVAC ducts. Room-based units sit on the floor in a single room, similar to a space heater.

According to the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, central ionizers tend to operate more effectively than portable units, though room based models can be effective in some scenarios. According to the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, ionizers offer an effective solution for reducing asthma and allergy symptoms, but tend to be ineffective at removing gases and odors from the air. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ionizers perform less effectively than HEPA filters or whole house electrostatic air cleaners in terms of removing dust, tobacco smoke, pollen and fungal spores from the air. Some ionizers generate ozone and pose a threat to your health, according to the EPA. Ozone produced by ionizers may contribute to breathing problems in healthy individuals, and may cause more severe health problems over time. Protect your health by choosing an ionizer that does not generate ozone, and works using pure ionization principles.