How to choose an air purifier?

Living in an environment where the air is polluted is often a source of various illnesses and infections. Whether in hospitals, personal or professional homes, air pollution causes real health problems. That's why an air purifier is an indispensable tool for indoor and outdoor air filtration. It is used to capture polluted air and release purified air into the environment in which it is used. How to choose an air purifier?

What is an air purifier and what are the different types?

An air purifier is a device built around an air filtration system. It is made up of a number of filters whose roles are in turn to :

• Capture particles larger than a micron
• Capture chemical pollutants: gases and odors in the environment
• Capture particles larger than 0.3 micrometers in diameter

There are several types of air purifier on the market. The choice depends on your needs. These different devices can be used to treat pollution in homes and industries. There are: filtration air purifiers, ionization air purifiers, photocatalysis air purifiers, plasma air purifiers, adsorption air purifiers, combustion air purifiers and UVC air purifiers.

What are the criteria for choosing an air purifier?

When it comes to choosing your air purifier, there are several criteria to consider. Here are a few things to consider:

Make your choice based on price

Air purifiers come in a wide range of prices. In fact, you can find single-filter air purifiers at 100 euros, and also find air purifiers at over 1500 euros, for those intended for professional use. The price of an air purifier depends on several factors. These include: power, size, type of use (domestic, industrial, professional), built-in features, flow rate, etc.

Once all these parameters are taken into account, you can find an air purifier that meets your needs and requirements. What's more, you can use a comparator to find a good-quality device at a competitive price. By requesting a quotation from a professional, you'll find a device that suits your budget at a reduced price.

Consider device features

To choose the right air purifier, it's also important to consider the device's various functions. Manufacturers optimize the operation of their devices by focusing on different aspects of the competition. That's why, before making a purchase, the consumer should take the time to read the device's detailed specification sheet.

In fact, these devices come with many basic functions such as air purification, allergen particle removal and odor suppression. Some purifiers have multiple layers and levels of air filtration. Some models feature different settings, such as timer and silent mode. Other models, on the other hand, are multi-functional, meaning they not only purify the air, but also air-condition, cool and ventilate. So, when choosing an air purifier, the consumer needs to take into account the different functionalities of the appliance.

Select air purifier according to flow rate

The flow rate of an air purifier is its filtration capacity, often measured in m3 per hour by the Clean Air Delivery Rate. It also refers to the quantity or volume of air filtered by the device per hour. The higher the rate, the more efficient the unit. The unit's flow rate also determines its ability to rapidly treat small or large surfaces. When choosing your unit, take into account its air purification flow rate. To treat homes or professional offices, units with flow rates of between 2,000 and 3,400 m³/h are recommended. For industrial and large-scale applications, purifiers with higher flow rates are recommended.

What are the purifier's consumables?

Choosing an air purifier can be complicated when you're not familiar with all the consumables it contains. In fact, air purifiers come with different filtration systems. No matter what type of air purifier you choose, a good knowledge of filters will help you make the right choice.

The most important filters to know are :

• The pre-filter: known as the coarse filter, its role is to capture particles with a diameter of 3 microns.
• Particle filter: this type of filter captures micro-organisms such as allergens, bacteria, dust mites, viruses, etc.
• HEPA filters - E10 to E12: capture over 95% of microparticles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or more

These include HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, HPP filters, etc.