Many Air Purifiers

The EPA has shown that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major factor in many of the health issues we face today. So, it seems like the logical course of action would be to go out and get an air purifier, right? That should be pretty easy; just go out, get a purifier, set it up in your home, and voila. You have clean, pure air that’ll make everyone in your home a lot safer and healthier. Well, maybe not…

Not all air purifiers are created equal. While many purifiers won’t directly harm you, they also may not actually be doing their job, either. According to the EPA, many air purifiers on the market lack the necessary number of filters to be effective, or may even simply not have enough of one kind of filter to remove all the toxins in your air.

The EPA recommends purchasing an air purifier with multiple layers of filters, including both a HEPA filter and at least 2.5 inches of activated carbon. It’s also recommended that you steer clear of purifiers that claim to clean the air using ozone. Studies have found that airborne ozone might not actually clean the air as well as believed, and may even cause coughs, shortness of breath, and worsen symptoms of asthma.