There has been a lot of discussion about indoor air quality recently, and with good reason. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that the concentration of pollutants is often 2-5 times higher inside our homes and workplaces than it is outside. One of the reasons for this is that most buildings are more air-tight than ever before. This is good for the cost of our heating and cooling bills, but not so good for indoor air quality. Ventilating with clean, outdoor air can help offset this problem, but another option to consider is purchasing air purifiers for your home or business.

It is important to realize that most air purifiers are designed to work in one room, though many are easily portable and could be moved from room to room if you chose. There are also whole-house air purifiers on the market that work in conjunction with your HVAC system. As you are choosing between air purifiers, consider these variables carefully:

Square Footage: Ranging from small tabletop options to large units that can be used in rooms of 700 square feet or more, it is important to think about where you want to use your unit before purchasing one.
Rate of Air Change: How many times per hour will the unit circulate the air in the room? For allergy or asthma sufferers, it is recommended to choose units that do this at least four times per hour.
Efficiency: Since air purifiers usually run 24/7, it is important to purchase a unit that is energy efficient.
Fan-Speed Options: Running the fan at a higher speed can be noisy, so you might want to do this at night while turning down the fan speed during the day.
Cost of Filter Changes: Filters need to be changed at variable intervals but look at the cost of filter changes as you consider which air purifiers to purchase.

Air purifiers can help you breathe easier, removing smoke, cooking residue, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and more from your indoor environment.