How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Air purifiers have taken Thailand by storm, where combating PM2.5 is a top priority.

But how do air purifiers work, allowing us to breathe clean air at home despite outside smog? Did you know that various types of air purifiers exist, each operating in a slightly different way?

Read on to get a clear understanding of air purifiers and their role in combating air pollution.

What Are Air Purifiers Made From?

To understand how air purifiers work we should open one first to see what’s inside.

To the left is the Sqair air purifier. On the right, you see it broken down into its separate components.

It’s pretty simple: it has a fan and a HEPA filter.

Now, let’s check out the IQAir air purifier. It’s pricey at $2,000, about 20 times more than the Sqair.

Surprise! It’s the same inside. The IQAir also has fans and filters. This is true for all air purifiers, no matter the brand.

What Does an Air Purifier Do?

Alright, now that we know what’s in air purifiers, let’s see how they work.

In short: It’s really simple.

The fan sucks in dirty air and pushes it through the HEPA filter. This filter traps pollutants. Then, clean air comes out.

It’s a pretty straightforward-forward process. According to NASA, HEPA air purifier filters trap up to 100% of airborne pollutants.

This includes all kinds of contaminants such as:

Just so you know, pricey air purifiers aren’t always the best. A lot of cheaper models work better than the expensive ones.

When choosing an air purifier, don’t just focus on the price.

Check the datasheet first and look for the CADR rating (Clean Air Delivery Rate). The CADR is every air purifier’s most important number and tells you how powerful the device is.

After doing a bit of research, you might be surprised to find that many expensive brands don’t do as well as cheaper ones.

What Other Types of Air Purifiers Exist and How Do They Work?

HEPA air purifiers as described above are the most popular units available. Their effectiveness has been proven for years and the scientific evidence is pretty conclusive.

But there are also other ways of purifying the air. What are these?

Air Purifiers With Carbon Filters

HEPA filters catch solid stuff like dust, while activated carbon filters grab gases (TVOCs) and smell from the air.

Activated carbon filters have tiny charcoal bits that soak up chemicals from the air.

For full protection from air pollution, it’s best to use both HEPA and activated carbon filters. A lot of air purifiers already have both kinds.

Air Purifiers With Ionizers

In the last decade, lots of companies started adding ionizers to their air purifiers.

Ionizers release negative ions that stick to dust and other pollutants, which usually have a positive charge. This makes the dust settle on surfaces like desks or floors.

Unlike HEPA filters, ionizers don’t trap dust. They just move it to other places.

There are two big problems with ionizers:

1. They can make things dirty, as the dust just sticks to stuff around the room.
2. Some ionizers cause ozone, which isn’t good for our lungs. A University of Texas study found that ionizers can even create PM2.5.

With this in mind, we wouldn’t suggest air purifiers using ionizers. HEPA air cleaners alone are usually enough.

Air Purifiers With UV Lights

During the COVID-19 pandemic, air purifiers with UV lights got popular.

These purifiers use UV lights to fight viruses. But they might not work as well as you think.

UV lights can inactivate germs like bacteria and viruses, but the ones in air purifiers are often too weak to do much.

This is because a really strong UV can hurt us, like when you get a sunburn.

Also, some UV air purifiers make Ozone, just like ionizers. That’s why the EPA doesn’t recommend them.