This means that if the room where the air purifier is located is exposed to certain air pollutants, the air will start to deteriorate as soon as you switch off the air purifier. Therefore, I recommend using the air purifier 24/7 or turning it off periodically if you think the air is clean enough.
In conjunction with this, the more high-tech air purifiers can employ an extra line of defense. Some models use an optional UV light that renders many micro-organisms sterile, and an activated charcoal filter that can actually pull in and neutralize toxins through electrostatic attraction.
It’s also Energy Star rated, meaning it meets federally mandated guidelines for energy efficiency. Best of all, the Coway Airmega can capture up to 99.99 percent of airborne particles down to 0.01 microns, including pollen, allergens, bacteria, and other pollutants. It comes with a higher price
tag, but can also tackle more space than other, similarly-sized air purifiers on this list. The clean air monitor display also gives a satisfying percentage reading of the air quality. We ran this air purifier for at least six hours during the day on auto or set it to night mode in the evening.
The Bissell air400 is a large room air purifier that features a three-stage filtration system, including a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter which was one of the most efficient and effective in our entire test. The unit is also equipped with a powerful blower that circulates clean air throughout the room. A simple yet effective option, the Toppin Comfy Air C2 Purifier is a great choice for those on a budget or who aren’t interested in the advanced features and smart capabilities of some other options on our list. Despite its low price tag, this air purifier effectively removed 99 percent of airborne particles when set to the highest mode in our test. It features a 3-in-1 filtration system that includes a pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and HEPA filter.
With a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 260 cubic feet per minute on high, the Core 400S is slightly more powerful than our top pick, the Coway AP-1512HH, which has a CADR of 240. In practice, that doesn’t make much difference, and indeed the Core 400S delivered numbers almost identical to those of the AP-1512HH in our testing, reducing 0.3-micron
smoke particles by 99.1% in 30 minutes on high. But it also draws twice the electricity (16.1 watts versus 8.1 watts) and moves more air per minute on that setting than the AP-1512HH does on its medium speed, so that’s not surprising. In short, we don’t consider the Core 400S’s 30-minute superiority to be a meaningful advantage.
The two machines are similarly quiet, with the Airmega 400 registering 40 decibels on its quiet/high-medium setting and the Blue Pure 211+ measuring at 43 decibels on medium. But the Blue Pure 211+ comes out on top on cost, as it typically sells for $300 versus the Airmega 400’s usual price of $500. The Honeywell InSight HPA5300B, a large-space model, likely performs well, but after measuring its electricity demands, we dismissed it. Compared with our pick for large spaces, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+, the HPA5300B is a power hog, drawing 33, 60, 94, and 117 watts on its four (low to turbo) speeds, respectively. The Blue Pure 211+, in contrast, tops out at 64 watts on its highest setting yet is also a slightly more powerful machine in terms of clean air delivery rate (CADR).
Depending on the strength of the fan speeds, this may be a reason why it can feel like an air purifier puts out cold air. The Levoit LV-H128 is a reliable large room filter that promises to have users enjoy its ease of use and the effectiveness of its three-stage filtration system. The air purifier has dual-sided H13 True HEPA filters that capture airborne particles up to 0.3 microns in size, a pre-filter that eliminates dust, pet fur, hair, and lint, and an activated carbon filter that takes care of unwanted odors. A simple but important factor to consider is if the machine you’re looking at has an adequate CADR (clean air delivery rate) score for the space you need. It’s equally important that this number has been authenticated by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers); not all options go through this verification process.