As I've found out, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, an air purifier is an absolute essential for the spring and summer months.
But, HVAC experts advise, the placement of your purifier is far more important than you may think, and the height at which you place it can make a drastic difference in its performance.
Here's everything you need to know about the best place to put an air purifier throughout the sunnier seasons.
Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, shares, 'As a general rule of thumb, you should place the air purifier five or six feet above the floor to ensure the correct airflow all around the purifier for optimum performance. Putting it on the floor would restrict the airflow and reduce performance.'
In my bedroom, where I use my best air purifier most often − the IKEA UPPÅTVIND Air Purifier − I place it on a chair at night, away from the walls. Now, I know that placing it on an even higher shelf will allow it to work even better.
Jordan Benjamin, owner and president of Done Rite Services, agrees. 'Dust, allergens, and other contaminants tend to circulate most around head level, so placing your air purifier around five to six feet above the floor allows it to pull air from an active air region and do its job in the most efficient way possible,' he advises. 'If you place an air purifier on the floor, you’re forcing the unit to deal with restricted air flow due to furniture, carpets, et cetera.'
As for where you should place an air purifier in a bedroom, in a kitchen, or anywhere else, Ian adds that there isn't a 'one size fits all' answer.
'But,' he emphasizes, 'they should be in an area with no obstructions and no sufficient flow of air, as well as always at least six inches away from any furniture or walls.'
And, Jordan adds, while many people use their air purifier around areas that tend to produce strong odors, like in or near a kitchen, bathroom, or cat litter box, it's important to remember that air purifiers are designed to do more than simply reduce odor.
'Their main purpose is to clean the air and improve indoor air quality, so don’t limit their placement to smelly areas,' he says. 'Whatever room you spend a lot of time in is a great candidate for an air purifier.'
What to Shop
Below, you can shop from a selection of our tried, tested, and recommended air purifiers for use all around the home.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Our Home Tech Editor, Dan Fauzi, rated this Shark air purifier the best on test, and says, 'It's the kind of air purifier that'll genuinely make a big difference at home while being affordable in both initial and recurring costs.'
This is the air purifier I've been testing at home, and I'm seriously impressed with it despite its affordable price point and smaller size. It can be used upright or flat on a shelf, and features a handle for convenient portability.
This air purifier is available in both black and white, and filters 99.97 percent of dust, dander, and pollen. As it uses whisper-quiet technology, it's also suitable to leave on overnight.
This clever table turns your air purifier into a style statement. It can handily be set to auto mode, to automatically detect particles in the air and adjust the fan speed. Hiding your smart tech in plain sight can reduce the feeling of tech clutter.
This air purifier purifies 885 square feet per hour, with a real-time display indication of PM2.5 air quality. It also features four different fan speeds and three modes: Normal, Auto, and Sleep.
This tiny air purifier is perfect for popping on your desk, with a three-stage filtration that works to remove smoke, odors, and VOCs. It's also suitable for small bedrooms and nurseries.
Meet the Expert
If you're wondering how to choose the right air purifier for your home, our expert guide includes everything you need to know.
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