Getting To The Bottom Of Air Purifier Ratings

Finding the best air purifier for your individual requirements might not be as easy as you think it will be. Air purifier technology allows you to enjoy clean air in the home and office, shielding you from environmental allergens and pollutants. They’re extremely helpful to those who suffer from serious allergies to dust, pollen, pets or smoke. However, there are some substantial differences between various products, so you really need to take a close look at their efficiency ratings. Before you start shopping, you should be aware of the rating systems for air purifiers and what they mean.

These rating systems are extremely useful for establishing just how good a particular product will be at cleaning the air. There are essentially two different systems used: the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) and the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV).

The most accurate and exacting system is the CADR. Its function is to test the effectiveness of a product at filtering out the damaging contaminants and allergens in the environment. The efficiency rating is shown as a percentage. A higher number indicates that the filter will effectively eliminate smoke, dust and pollen from your interior air. Which means, of course, that you should be looking for an air purifier that has a higher number.

There are actually three CADR numbers to look at, one each for dust, pollen and tobacco smoke. The numbers indicate the volume of filtered air that the product delivers. The higher the numbers, the faster the unit filters the air. As a rule, you want a number that corresponds to about two-thirds of the square footage of the room it will be placed in. For a 180 square foot room, for example, you would look for a rating of 120.

Another frequently seen rating is the MERV number, which reveals an air filter’s ability to draw out pollutants in the air. It’s not an official test of quality; it’s more a measure of a filter’s average efficiency by particle size at certain speeds. Products are rated on a scale of one to sixteen. The higher the MERV rating, the better the performance of the air purifier.

People who live with allergies need to find effective ways to eliminate the particles in the air that cause problems for them. A well rated air purifier system will make sure the job gets done properly.

There are a number of different technologies to choose from when it comes to cleaning the air in your home. Find out how to get the best home air purifier for your needs at the Home Air Purifier site.


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