Do Air Purifiers Reduce Dust?
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Do air purifiers reduce dust? YES. Air purifiers are popping up in homes across the globe as people find themselves suffering from more allergens and pollution in the air than ever before. There are countless variations of air purification systems out there, but one thing stands true for all of them: air purifiers reduce dust, or get rid of dust from your home.
Air purifiers are very good at reducing and removing dust from the environment around them. They achieve this by locking away dust in their filters, cleansing your home’s air in the process. The best air purifiers out there will utilize HEPA filters to achieve this.
Air purifiers can do a whole lot for every home, and this fact especially holds true when you factor in all of the various types of air cleaning systems out there. Some machines can target things in the air as small as gasses (which show themselves in the form of odors), while some are made to address pathogens and others still to address allergens. But, across the board, all air purifiers pull dust out of your home’s air.
Dust Is Annoying
We all hate dust, this is just a fact. Whether we hate breathing it or just hate it collecting on literally every surface out there, we can all agree that dust is annoying. For people with allergies and asthma, it can be extra annoying.
What if we told you there was a fix to your dust issue?
Air purifiers are super effective at ripping the dust removal right out of your home’s air, and locking it away in their filters. Across the board, and across all brands, air purifiers are proven to be very effective at dust mitigation and removal, which is one of the many reasons why people are flocking to them.
Not only can air purifiers remove dust from the air, though, but they can also do so much more. Air purifiers can address just about every single air quality issue out there.
Q: Do you have hay fever, allergies, or asthma?
A: An air purifier has you covered! Purchase an air purifier with a HEPA filter and you will quickly notice the difference when you are at home!
Q: Are you on a tight budget and want an air purifier to combat your home’s dust?
A: Water-based air purifiers are remarkable little machines that can clean the air in your home for a fraction of the cost of a traditional air purifier!
Q: Do you have any lingering odors in your home?
A: Whether it’s from a smoker, cooking odors, kitty litter and other pet odors, or just a strange “old house” smell, an air purifier with a carbon filter can make all the difference for you.
Q: Are you, or a family member sick?
A: Air purifiers can help here too, but, if you are battling congestion, a humidifier may be an even better bet for you!
The list of potential applications for buying an air purifier goes on and on from here, but this is just a sample of ideas to get the ball rolling. Air purifiers really are all this, and so much more! Many people will find that the many greatly outweigh the costs of these remarkable machines, and if you find yourself balking at the high price for some of the machines out there, know that there are machines at most every price point!
HOW DO AIR PURIFIERS COLLECT DUST?
It may seem doubtful that a machine that sits in the corner of your room can do much of anything for you. After all, how can a little unmoving tower clean up the other side of your living room?
This is precisely why air purifiers come with little fans built into their designs. Anyone who has been in an excessively hot building has noted the difference that even one fan made, as it circulated the air across the entire room. An air purifier’s fan circulates the air in the whole room where you put it (provided it is designed for a large enough room), filtering all of the air as it cycles through the unit.
Now, an air purifier is a lot more than just a fan to move the air in your home. It is a complicated machine, that has quite a few parts that all work to clean your home’s air. Arguably the most important part, however, is the air purifier’s filter.
Most air purifiers on the lower end of the price spectrum will have just one filter. Oftentimes, this single filter will still help in your pursuit of cleaner air, but it likely won’t be as effective as the more expensive units out there. For those of you looking for a cheap unit that will only clear the indoor dust out of the air, then we recommend purchasing a water-based air purifier, which we discuss in more depth here.
For those of you who are willing to spend a little bit more for better air quality that you can both see and feel, this next bit is for you. Whether you have medical conditions or asthma and allergies, or just want really clean air, then an air purifier with a HEPA filter is going to be your best bet. These filters can even filter out some odors, which adds an extra layer of air cleaning that you can enjoy.
HEPA filters have to meet stringent rules set in place by governments in the USA and Europe which ensure that these filters can clear out more than 99% of the dust particles that float in the air to run through them. These rules even ensure that HEPA filters have to filter out particles that are as small as .3 microns, which is quite a lot smaller than even a human hair is thick!
To learn more about HEPA filters, visit our post that delves into the importance of air purifier filters. This post will inform you about the different types of filters you will come across, in addition to sharing a bit about the different levels fo HEPA filters.
When you purchase air purifiers on the higher end of the spectrum, you will also likely see an increase in the expected lifespan of the unit and even the actual filter, which you should replace filters, in your air purifier! This is because you are likely buying a machine that has been made with real quality, and sound engineering.
How can a filter last longer? You may ask. After all, a filter like a HEPA filter that is constantly capturing particles out of the air can’t last too long, right? While we are talking about air cleaner filters, don’t forget to change your HVAC filters on your furnace according to product manuals.
Therein lies the problem, and a solution that many top air purifier manufacturers address. In order to maximize your dollar, a lot of manufacturers build or include a pre-filter into your air purifier’s design, which can save you a lot of money in the long run. Pre-filters are designed to capture the largest particles out of the air, like dust and hair, in order to save your HEPA filter the trouble! These pre-filters trap dust and tiny particles to eliminate dust that improves your indoor air quality.
There are several different kinds of pre-filters out there. Some are cheaper to operate in the long run, and some are cheaper in the near-term. Either way, they are basically a necessity in air purifiers that address more severe dust issues. Check out our post on the importance of pre-filters for your air purifier to learn more about them!
If you are concerned or bothered with annoying or lingering odors, an air purifier with an activated carbon filter can be the fix you needed. These filters are oftentimes a standalone filter (within your air purifier) that can suck up all of the odors in your home. Some air purifier companies combine the carbon filter and pre-filter, which can be nice, but means that these filters will have to be replaced, which can be an unnecessary financial burden.
ARE IONIC AIR PURIFIERS BETTER THAN HEPA FILTER PURIFIERS?
No, ionic air purifiers are in several ways very inferior to air purifiers that utilize a HEPA filter. HEPA filters capture and remove dust particles from the air, locking them away inside of themselves. Air ionizers, on the other hand, remove a lot of particles from the air, but this oftentimes means that these particles will then wind up on every surface in your home.
If you have an issue with dust, whether it is dust allergies or allergens dust, an air ionizer can help you, and many of these units are cheaper than air purifiers that have a true HEPA filter also. That being said, these ionic air purifiers oftentimes have an annoying little secret
Ionic air purifiers oftentimes make a larger amount of dust collect on the various surfaces of your home. If you don’t mind dusting, this can be easily shrugged off, but if you are buying one of these units to combat all of the dust in your home, then they will end up betraying you. No, ionic air purifiers don’t make more dust. They just knock it out of the air, which means it will collect on the ground, and elsewhere.
Some air purifiers that utilize ionizers will have a collection grid, which will save you from the mess. Collection grids/collection plates utilize ions (namely static electricity) to collect microscopic particles. We recommend purchasing units with these capabilities, but we find these capabilities to be better pre-filters, and not a replacement to a true HEPA filter.
In the end, we really have to say that a HEPA air purifier filter truly is the top of the line. No other filtration technology really compares to the thorough cleaning capability of a HEPA technology filter. Some other technologies are a lot cheaper, which can be appealing, but you aren’t going to get as clean of air with a cheap air purifier.
Check out our post on air purifiers with built-in ionizers to learn more about these systems. Ionizers can be great for a lot of people, but we strongly recommend against using them around babies. Ionizers should especially not be used in a newborn’s nursery, as they are known to make ozone, which is worse for small children. Check out our article on safe air purifiers for babies to find out what air purifier you should have in your child’s room to learn more!
HOW DO I USE AN AIR PURIFIER?
Air purifiers are very simple to use! The easiest air purifiers to use are generally the cheapest ones that don’t have anything besides a fan and a filter (some only have an air ionizer). Generally, the higher up the “food chain” of air purifiers, the more complex they get. With the increase in complexities comes an increase in the difficulty of use.
Cheaper air purifiers may just require you to plug them in or turn them on. Personal air purifiers require you to charge them before you use them. More expensive air purifiers will allow you to turn the various subsystems on and off at will, change the fan speeds, and so much more.
All of that being said, just about every air purifier out there will come with instructions on how to use them, which can be a lifesaver. Some may even have customer support agents you can call if you just can’t seem to get something working for you.
But, the best place to start for all air purifiers is to just plug it in and turn it on. You can experiment with all of the extras as you go, and find your “sweet spot” that makes you the most happy.
If you’d like to pick up an air purifier that’ll help in your fight against dust, you can check out my list of my top picks! Air Purifier Essentials Top Picks: Best HEPA Air Purifiers on the Market
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Can You Run an Air Purifier Before Changing the Filter?
Many air purifiers require the occasional filter change, and these changing schedules can vary greatly between each machine. Some air purifiers can go a couple of months on one filter, while others can go years. Check your specific model’s recommended changing period to know for sure! There is no one size fits all solution here.
Do Air Conditioners Clean Up Indoor Air Pollution?
No, in fact, air conditioners can actually worsen your home’s air quality by pulling in pollution from outside of your home. Some air conditioning units may be able to clean your home’s air inside, but they won’t be able to do it as well as an air purifier.
Are Air Purifiers Useful?
Yes, air purifiers are very useful, and their various applications cover a vast array of needs. They can help people who have asthma, allergy sufferer, compromised immune systems, sick babies, smokers in the house, and so much more!
Is it Safe to Run an Air Purifier 24/7?
Yes, in fact, most air purifiers are supposed to be run around the clock! They are safe to sleep around, and experience life around. However, ozone generators should not be used with people in the same room, as they can be hazardous to your health.
How Do I Select the Best Air Purifier System?
The best air purifier for your specific needs will likely be different than someone else. The best air purifier for you will have to address what you need out of the machine! Keep in mind what it does for you (manage dust, allergens, removing odors), and how much you can afford! The air in your house needs to be filtered through a respiratory system or filtration system that can be found in purifiers for dust removal. We all want our air cleaner inside our house. Invest in a unit that can also help with pet dander, pet hair and removing odors for pet owners.
