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5 reasons you might need an air purifier
From dust and particulate matter to pet fur and fumes from cleaning sprays, the quality of the air inside your home is constantly under siege. But an efficient and effective air purifier could help.
Read on to find out whether an air purifier might be right for your home, plus see our pick of popular models with an all-important HEPA filter.
Compare the best air purifiers that excelled in our tough tests
1. You have hay fever
An air purifier works by sucking in air, trapping floating particles and circulating the clean air back out. These particles include grass pollen – one of the most common allergens – so a good air purifier may help alleviate hay fever symptoms and other allergies while you're indoors.
These tips can also help with pollen allergies:
- Wraparound sunglasses or a hat with a peak or large brim will help keep pollen out of your eyes and face.
- On high pollen days, shower, wash your hair and change your clothes when you arrive home.
- Keep windows closed. This is most important in the early mornings when pollen is being released, and in the evening when the air cools.
- Avoid mowing lawns or raking leaves yourself, if possible.
- Avoid drying clothes and bed linen outside when pollen counts are high.
2. You're plagued by dust
An effective air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter should remove a significant amount of dust particles from the air, helping to trap them before you breathe them in.
Regularly dusting, vacuuming and ventilating your rooms will also help to combat the scourge of dust mites. You'll also want to avoid wearing shoes indoors, wash bedding regularly and take non-washable items outside to shake clean.
Consider running a humidifier at the same time for maximum dust-busting results. Increasing the moisture in the air makes airborne dust particles heavier, forcing them to settle on surfaces where they can be wiped away.
Discover the best vacuum cleaners, best cordless vacuum cleaners and best humidifiers
3. You live near a busy road
If you live near a busy road with lots of traffic, an air purifier could improve your indoor air quality.
Alongside harmful particulate matter, petrol and diesel engines release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Exposure to high levels of VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea. VOCs are also found in products like cleaning sprays and paint.
To help tackle this type of pollution, choose an air purifier with a carbon filter (sometimes called an activated carbon filter or a charcoal filter) and a HEPA filter. Also look for a model that scores well for trapping small and medium-sized particles, as this should also filter out harmful particles of the size commonly emitted from vehicle exhausts.
4. You've got issues with mould
An air purifier can eliminate mould spores, so if you’re facing a mould problem, it could help prevent it from spreading.
But it won’t tackle the underlying problems that cause mould in your home, such as excess humidity and condensation, so you’ll need to deal with those separately.
A dehumidifier can help to keep your home's humidity levels in check and prevent mould developing – check out the best dehumidifiers from our tests.
Find out how to get rid of mould and how to stop it from coming back
5. You have pets
Pet dander is a common allergen and asthma trigger. Dogs and cats naturally shed old hair – some twice a year, some all the time. Pollen can also attach itself to your pet's fur and be carried indoors, which isn't ideal if you have hay fever, so keep your pet off your bed if you can.
An effective air purifier with a HEPA filter can remove pet dander from the air, improve air quality and give you some peace of mind. Look for a model with an actual HEPA filter and not just a HEPA-like or HEPA-type filter.
Popular air purifiers
Here are some popular air purifiers we've tested, at different price points. All have a HEPA filter.
Blueair Mini Max
This cylindrical air purifier is designed for small rooms. It's very compact and lightweight, at just 1.16kg (less than half the weight of most other air purifiers).
It has three speed settings and night mode, for when you want to dim the lights on the display overnight.
Read our full Blueair Mini Max review to find out how it measures up against more expensive air purifiers.
AEG Pure 5000 APO50371DG
The Pure 5000 APO50371DG is a smart air purifier that can be controlled remotely via an app.
It has three fan speeds, night and auto modes, and a child lock.
Read our AEG Pure 5000 APO50371DG review to see how it did in our lab tests.
Levoit Core 400S Smart
The Levoit Core 400S Smart can be controlled via the VeSync app. It can also be voice-controlled with compatible voice services, such as Amazon Alexa.
It has auto and sleep modes, a timer and four fan speeds. Levoit claims it can purify large rooms up to 166 square metres.
Read our full Levoit Core 400S Smart review to find out whether this model is good at removing small particles from the air.
Best Buy air purifiers
It always helps to buy the most effective air purifier you can afford. Which? members can browse all our Best Buy air purifiers, which start from around £250.
We've also tested and recommended Great Value air purifiers that cost less than £100.
Members can find out the estimated annual running cost for each air purifier to help inform their buying decision.
Not a Which? member yet? You can still access plenty of air treatment advice for free, including 5 ways to get the most out of your dehumidifier. Why not browse our Which? subscription options, or even gift an annual subscription?
