While they may be invisible to the naked eye, our homes are constantly bombarded with airborne pollutants that decrease air quality. And for those looking to combat outdoor pollution, pollen, dust, smoke, and even cleaning fumes, air purifiers are often marketed as the solution. But are air purifiers worth it?
The best air purifiers are designed with one thing in mind: to filter out nasty airborne particles and refresh your home with clean, safe and healthy air. But as with all appliances, it can be hard to know whether they’re simply a gimmick or a valuable addition to your home’s appliance roster.
That’s why I’ve asked air treatment experts to outline the circumstances in which an air purifier would be most worth the investment, as well as adding my two cents as someone who has lived both with and without an air purifier. With this information in tow, you should be able to decide whether it's a device worthy of a place in your home.
Are air purifiers worth buying?
I may be biased as Ideal Home’s Air Quality expert, but air purifiers are well worth it. Compared to other appliances out there, they’re relatively affordable, and they’re not just an investment for your home - they’re also an investment for your health. This is especially true if you struggle with allergies or breathing difficulties. Like me (and especially my husband).
Since adding an air purifier to my home, my husband's severe hay fever symptoms have become more manageable, my own breathing difficulties at night (which are admittedly very mild in comparison) are barely noticeable, and my home feels so much fresher - and cleaner! Experts agree they're a worthwhile investment, too.
'Air purifiers are one of the best ways to alleviate allergies in your home. It's not just a must-have home addition for hay fever sufferers; it can also reduce the symptoms of people allergic to mould and dust,' begins Hamid Salimi, residential product manager at Daikin UK.
Yes, if you suffer from hay fever, investing in an air purifier can help with allergies and provide comfort in your own home. Additionally, if you often struggle with asthma, these devices are especially helpful for alleviating those symptoms – especially if you get the right air purifier for your situation.
'Air purifiers can be really helpful for those who suffer from asthma, as they absorb small particles in the air, passing it through a filter before releasing the clean air in the room,' explains Pauline Nutier, senior category manager of home at Maxi-Cosi.
But that’s not the only benefit of an air purifier in the home. While air purifiers don't necessarily stop the formation of dust in their tracks, Pauline notes that 'HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are used to aid the filtration process, removing 99.97% of dust, pollen and airborne particles.' And this is an important feature and number to consider when buying an air purifier, as those who want effective filtration should buy one with this HEPA filter fitted as standard.
You’ll find that these filters are available in slightly pricier models (after all, you can buy cheap air purifiers for as little as £25, but these won’t have HEPA filters). But it’s important to note that these will remain effective only if you regularly clean and replace these filters.
Hamid also explains that certain types of air purifiers can also help remove odours, which is especially effective for households with pets and enthusiastic cooks. These are typically air purifiers with active carbon filters, as they are traditionally extremely effective at removing smells. In fact, that’s one of the reasons we do the ‘cooking test’ as part of how we test air purifiers - as we always like to assess their ability to remove odours from the air.
All in all, these features make air purifiers a welcome addition to any home and will improve your indoor air quality - which has a number of knock-on effects throughout the rest of your life.
'Cleaner air leads to better respiratory health, fewer allergy symptoms, and improved sleep quality for sensitive individuals,' continues Joshua Warren, air purifier expert at AO.com. Therefore, if you're looking to sleep better, it could be worth investing in an air purifier for the bedroom to better aid your slumber and offer comfort at night.
Shop our top-rated air purifiers
Crowned the 'best overall' air purifier we've tested, we've yet to find one to beat this one. It has a HEPA filter that filters out 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.1 microns in size (which is better than most, as they only promise to filter down to 0.3 microns), and is suitable for spaces up to 48m².
If you want to tackle odours while also battling dips in your air quality, this Shark air purifier comes equipped with an Anti-Odour Cartridge that releases a beautiful scent while it's cleaning your air. It's also incredibly reactive, and you only need to change the filter every 5 years.
This may be a compact air purifier for Dyson, but it's extremely effective at filtering nasties from large spaces. Suitable for areas up to 100 m², it looks sleek and stylish and has proved itself to be a worthy contender during testing. It'll also make a statement in your home.
FAQs
Do air purifiers actually make a difference?
'If you're a long-term sufferer of allergies or perhaps seeking the benefits of cleaner air, then an air purifier is a great investment,' explains Joshua Warren at AO.com. 'An air purifier can significantly improve air quality by removing dust, pet dander yet can also give you a boost to your overall health.'
'Look out for models with HEPA filters which are highly efficient at trapping allergens and help ease comfort at home.'
Is there a downside to air purifiers?
Generally speaking, there are very little downsides to air purifiers. Of course, one of the main things to consider with any appliance is the upfront cost as well as the cost of running an air purifier on a day to day basis. However, with all the benefits an air purifier provides, for many people, these are financial investments worth making.
Another thing to note, however, is that if your air purifier is an older model (and an ionizer, in particular), it might also generate ozone while it's in operation, which could be a reason why your air purifier smells and might actually be making your asthma worse.
But, so long as you're investing in models with the right kind of filter for the issue you're trying to tackle in your home, you'll be right as rain.
As with any home appliance, whether or not you think it's worth the investment will ultimately come down to personal needs. However, if your main priority is to alleviate symptoms of allergies and asthma and feel more comfortable inside your home, there's no denying that an air purifier is certainly worth the investment.
