Compare Leading Brands

No matter how clean you keep your home you just cannot hope to eliminate all the particles in the air with normal cleaning processes this is where air purifiers come in. Air purifiers and air filters get rid of harmful elements and pollutants that are in our homes and which can cause allergies. Air filters take the particles out of the environment and replace it with clean air. Mechanical, electronic and hybrid air filters deal with dust particles and other irritants – gas and fumes are filtered out with a gas air filter.

The Blueaire is a combination electrostatic air and HEPA filter air purifying system. The Blueaire is known as one of the quietest systems on the market and manufacturers claim that it deals with smoke as well as particles in the air – when you use the Stop-smoke-air filter which is an optional extra. These use a HEPA filter with larger pores which allows for a quieter and easier flow of air. Carbon is used to filter negative ions out of the flow and it is claimed that this can create an actual decrease in ozone.

IQAir is not as quiet as the Blueaire but has slightly better technology which enables the system to clean all of the air that passes through it, where other brands may only clean 75% plus of the air. Again, the system uses HEPA technology – using a fan and a series of sealed filters to help prevent flow leakage. These units are certified as effective against allergies, they also deal with cigarette smoke but make more noise than the Blueaire.

Austin Air purifiers use HEPA, activated carbon and Potassium Iodide. They rely on long life filters, some larger units are on casters and can be moved from one area of your home to another. The filter with this purifier is intended to last for five years rather than be replaced at regular intervals. Reviews for this product are generally positive but there is some concern about long life filters – filters can become clogged and can therefore blow contaminants back into the atmosphere and this could be a weakness with these units.

Trion uses electronic carbon mat technology they are reputedly very good at removing harmful particles from the air but do not perform well with smoke and odors. These are generally smaller, portable units and unlike the other units here may not suit larger rooms. The Trion filter is washable but whether that affects the filter’s efficiency is not defined. There are many more air filters on the market, all making different claims. HEPA technology certainly appears to be the favorite among big brands although there is some conflict over whether and how often filters need changing.