This makes it easy to choose an air purifier

The top priority when buying an air purifier is to find a design with a real HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. The US Department of Energy has HEPA standards, and each approved filter must stop 99.7% of all particles by at least 0.3 micron.

HEPA filters do not prevent viruses and VOCs (known as volatile organic compounds such as cigarette smoke and acetone) from circulating in the house. To prevent these air quality issues, you should check other filtration procedures for your air purifier. But they are still important. Filters allergens, mold and pet dander. Dr. McCaw also suggests looking for approved options for asthma and allergies. These choices are made through additional testing by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) and AAFA to ensure that allergens in the air are actually reduced.

When dealing with odors such as cigarette smoke and excessive kitchen odors, prioritize air purifiers with carbon filters built into the filtration system. These extra layers help minimize odors so that your space feels fresh. Some advanced structures have UV light to kill bacteria and ionic functions that help break down odors and particles. These additives are not essential for cleaner air, but can help with air quality issues.

Why do you need an air purifier?
When buying an air purifier, it's important to focus on why you really want it. This makes it easy to choose an air purifier.

As you can see in the first section of this air purifier guide, there are many internal particles designed to be removed by the air purifier. However, not all air purifiers are designed to remove contaminants. (The next section details this.)

Therefore, determining the type of problem you want to solve in your home will help you buy the right air purifier.

Before you start buying an air purifier and deciding which air purifier to buy, consider some of the issues you are facing.

The Levoit air purifier was on our radar because it is a bestseller. They are reasonably priced (usually less than $ 100) and have a CADR suitable for the region in which they serve. However, there was a difference between the type of air filter listed on the Levoit product page (actual HEPA) and the filter listed in the Energy Star database (HEPA type).

According to Levoit, consumers can replace the filter with another type. This means that you can discard the filter and buy the actual HEPA to ensure that the purifier can trap the particles in the air.

That said, I like the Levoit Core 400S because it's affordable (about $ 90) and can connect to a smartphone app, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa. Suitable for small rooms up to 183 square feet and operates above 24 decibels.