Best Home Air Filtration Systems
Reviews & Buying Guide 2021
Since most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, mostly in their homes, much of their exposures to airborne pollutants will happen in the home. —EPA
Portable air cleaners, also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, are designed to filter the air in a single room or area. Central furnace or HVAC filters are designed to filter air throughout a home. Portable air cleaners and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollutants, including viruses, that are airborne. When used along with other best practices recommended by CDC and others, filtration can be part of a plan to protect people indoors.
Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Portable air cleaners may be particularly helpful when additional ventilation with outdoor air is not possible without compromising indoor comfort (temperature or humidity), or when outdoor air pollution is high.
Caution: The use of air cleaners alone cannot ensure adequate indoor air quality, particularly where significant pollutant sources are present and ventilation is insufficient. Read EPA’s “Guide to air cleaners in the home” (PDF).
Austin Air HealthMate HM400 ($595)
If it’s VOCs that are your primary concern, or if you suffer from asthma or pulmonary disease, the Healthmate HEPA Air Filters are your top choice for serious contaminant removal, especially gaseous, VOC contaminants found in paints and cleaning supplies. These low-maintenance filters feature an ultra long-life HEPA filter you change only twice a decade, a top-grade carbon filter and a natural mineral zeolite filter. The Standard unit features an ultra-quiet motor with three speeds, 360° intake and 24-hour-a-day operation. Uses 115W of power on high. Solid, welded-steel case and durable powder coating eliminate out gassing.
Blueair Classic 680i Air Purifier ($890)
The Blueair Classic 680i air purifier brings clean energizing air to spacious bedrooms living rooms or any big rooms up to 698 sq ft. A built-in air quality sensor makes it easy to confirm your air is virtually free of asthma and allergy triggers and indoor air pollutants such as mold dust pet dander and pollen by scanning the air quality in real time and adjusting fan speed to your current air quality. The Classic 680i delivers unmatched performance thanks to HEPASilent technology which combines electrostatic and mechanical filtration technologies. This combination pioneered by Blueair delivers high clean-air delivery rate (CADR) with whisper-silent operation and high energy efficiency. The latest in filter innovation the DualProtection filters expertly target particles and gases including cooking smells pet odors and formaldehyde. Blueair purifiers are AHAM-certified for clean air delivery rate (CADR) and tested by the California EPA Air Resources Board for no ozone emissions.
Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier ($230)
The mighty air purifier is equipped with cutting edge features to keep your indoor air clean. Equipped with a HEPA efficiency RATING of 99.97percent , it uses a four-stage filtration system to effectively eliminate odors and pollutants. This mighty machine includes an air quality indicator through our particle sensing technology that will kick your air purifier into high gear when needed. And when 30 minutes when pollution is not detected for 30 minutes, the fan will automatically stop to save energy. Power Consumption – 4.9~77.8 W CFM 246. Secondhand Smoke – Ideal for smokers and those who live with smokers, the Coway Mighty efficiently reduces air contaminants and odors related to second-hand smoke.
Honeywell True HEPA, Germ Fighting, Allergen Reducer Air Purifier with Long-Lasting HEPA Filter, 50250 ($240)
The Honeywell True HEPA Air Purifier was designed for extra large spaces! The permanent HEPA Filter helps caputure airborne particles 0.3 microns or larger1, greatly reducing the amount of dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores in the air. The 50250-S features 3 cleaning settings and a filter life indicator. The 50250-S True HEPA Air Purifier has been AHAM Certified for use in rooms up to 390 square feet. Its certified CADR ratings are: 250 for smoke, 250 for dust, and 250 for pollen.
Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 SPA-625A Ultra Quiet Air Purifier ($400)
BioGS 2.0 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
Award winning design
Reintroduced in 2013 after the BioGS Classic was discontinued, the BioGS 2.0 design took consideration of all fundamental facets of our product, including the air purifier’s shape and form, interface, and functionality. We also ruminated on its impact on the environment, which led us towards a more holistic approach, cutting back on light and sound pollution generated by the air purifier to ensure that while it takes pollutants from the environment, it leaves nothing but clean air in return.
GermGuardian AC5250PT 5-in-1 Pet Pure Air Purifier ($130)
GermGuardian air purifiers kill germs and viruses, filter odors, and trap allergens with a True HEPA filter and optional UV-C light to deliver crisp, refreshing air to your home. Additional anti-microbial PetPure treatment reduces unwanted odors and traps allergens to deliver refreshing air to your home. Powerful and customizable: Your at-home comfort can be customized with 5 speed settings, ultra-quiet mode on the lowest speed setting, programmable timer (up to 8 hours) an optional UV-C light on an easy-to-use top panel. Made for large rooms up to 180 sq. feet. AHAM Verified & Energy Star Certified: This air purifier was rated for its ability to filter tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen from rooms and be Energy Star Certified and CARB compliant. CADR Rating: Dust (123) Pollen (128) and Smoke (116). GermGuardian gives you reassurance and a US-based tech support team with a 5-year limited warranty in addition to your purchase.
Blueair Pure 411 Air Purifier ($120)
Breathe and sleep easier thanks to Blue Pure 411 air purifier. With a simple, user-friendly one-button control you can easily select from 3 different fan speeds all of which help to remove allergy causing pollutants and odors. The three-stage filtration process catches virtually every airborne particle: pollen, dust, pet dander, mold spores, smoke, allergens and bacteria. Get rid of everyday smells such as food and pet odors naturally without harsh chemicals that mask odors. On the lowest setting, the 411 is described as whisper-silent. With results through independent testing from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the Blue Pure 411 has a clean air delivery rate of 105 cubic feet/minute meaning it will clean the air in a 161 Square Feet Room 5 times an hour.
Lasko HEPA HF25620 Air Purifier (starting at $219)
The Lasko Pure Gold Air Purifier can clean the air in an average-sized living room in under 15 minutes. Purifies up to 160 square feet and removes smoke, odors, dust, fumes, allergens, and more. With a slim profile and space saving design, Lasko’s air purifiers are ideal for bedrooms and living areas. The filter reminder light and easy-access filter panel make maintenance a breeze.
GermGuardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier AC4200W ($68)
This powerful GermGuardian air purifier filters odors and traps allergens with a 360° True HEPA filter to deliver crisp, refreshing air to your home. Powerful and customizable: Your at-home comfort can be customized with 4 speed settings, timer and ultra-quiet sleep mode. Made for large rooms up to 105 sq. feet. AHAM Verified: AHAM verified products are rated for their ability to clean tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen from rooms. CADR Rating: Dust (76), Pollen (77) and Smoke (68). GermGuardian gives you reassurance and a US-based tech support team with a 3-year limited warranty in addition to your purchase. Plug the power cord into a 120V AC outlet.
Whole House Air Purifiers vs. Portable
A portable air purifier is small in size and generally sits on a table or in the corner of a room. These are energy-efficient options to provide air purification where you need it most, such as in an area with a high amount of cooking or pets. These are cost-effective and can be carried from one room to the next, taking it where you need it the most. These are a great option for smaller homes or homeowners concerned with efficiency.
Whole home air purifiers offer a built-in air purification solution. These are either filter-based purifiers that work at the intake point of your HVAC system, or they are duct-based purifiers installed directly in the air duct path of your duct system. Because they only work when your HVAC system is running, your system must be running all the time, making them highly inefficient for home if you do not use your system constantly. If your home is large and you regularly have your ducts cleaned, this may be a better option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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There’s More to Dust than Just Dirt
What’s in your home’s dust? The average home collects 40 pounds of dust every year; and it isn’t just small particles of dirt. Surface dust can include a wide range of airborne aerosols including mold spores, pollen, insect parts, skin cells, fibers, mineral dust and more. Knowing what’s in your dust will help you select the right air filtration system for your home.
Indoor Air Pollution and Health
According to the American Lung Association, people take an average of 21,600 breaths per day. With 80% of our time spent indoors, the quality of the air we breathe is very important to our health. A variety of harmful containments including carbon monoxide, radon, mildew, molds, secondhand smoke, allergens, and chemicals can mix together in our home creating polluted air that can lead to increased asthma rates and exacerbate respiratory conditions. In commercial settings the consequences can be even more severe.