A Detailed Guide On Buying The Best Air Purifier For Viruses

The recent worldwide pandemic has caused several households to pay more attention to health and wellbeing. While staying at home offers some measure of protection, it cannot guarantee your family’s safety. More than ninety percent of our time is spent indoors, especially during various lockdowns.

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has estimated that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outside air. In addition to viruses and bacteria, indoor air can contain harmful contaminants like allergens, dust, and chemical emissions. This means that despite our best intentions to stay safe, poor quality indoor air can worsen health conditions in the long term. Luckily, a solution for this problem can be implemented fairly easily.

Air purifiers are household products that work to remove contaminants, pollutants, and viruses from the air. The air purifier traps harmful particles in the air to provide safe and clean air to your household. Clean and fresh air has several health benefits, including relief from respiratory problems, reduced allergic reactions, better sleep, and improved immunity.

Air purifiers can protect you from harmful contaminants in the air and the most common viruses. Air purifiers are not fully guaranteed to keep you from getting covid-19, but they can significantly reduce your chances of falling ill while also improving your general health.

There are several types and models of air purifiers currently in the market. It can be hard to choose a specific model for your requirements. There are many different factors to consider, such as technologies, sizes, power usage, and efficiency.

Not all air purifiers can trap viruses. Some air purifiers are better equipped for dealing with viruses, while others focus more on allergens like dust, mold, and pet dander. We have done the research for you and have determined which air purifiers work best against viruses in 2022.

Do air purifiers work for viruses? 

Air purifiers work to trap tiny harmful particles found in the air. This includes microscopic viruses. The efficiency of an air purifier depends on the type of technology they use. The most common technologies used in air purifiers are as below.

HEPA filters are the most common type of filters used in air purifiers and currently set the standard for the industry. They are made of interwoven glass fibers that create a maze that traps particles. They can trap 99.7 percent of common contaminants like dust, mold, pollen, bacteria, and viruses. Some HEPA air purifiers combine HEPA filters with additional filters for better results.

Ionizers work very differently from other air purifiers. They trap contaminants by charging particles with ozone. The electrostatic charge then attracts the harmful particles found in the air and traps them in a collection plate. Good ionizers come fully sealed, so you don’t breathe in the harmful particles. Ozone is a highly toxic chemical, so there is concern that ozone leakage can cause more harm than good.

Ionizers can trap virus particles but do not kill them. The virus particles may still be active and can get released while cleaning collection plates. A well-made ionizer can effectively reduce viruses in your household but is not the best option for an air purifier that works for viruses.

Activated carbon filters have a large surface area consisting of millions of tiny pores. They are very good at trapping odor and gas but are not very effective at removing other contaminants like dust, mold, and pollen. These filters are often combined with others to increase the capability of an air purifier. On their own, these filters cannot effectively trap viruses.

PECO filters use photoelectrochemical oxidation to destroy microscopic pollutants. They can handle particles up to a thousand times smaller than what HEPA filters can trap. They use free radicals to destroy common contaminants like mold, dust, bacteria, and viruses.

The advantage of these air purifiers is that pollutants are destroyed and not simply trapped. They also do not release any ozone. A PECO air purifier can be an expensive investment but is currently the best way to get rid of viruses in your household.

Which is the best air purifier for viruses in 2022? 

After considerable research, we concluded that the best air purifier for viruses in 2022 is the Shark HE601 air purifier. It features six mini fans that work in unison to distribute airflow across the filter. The smaller fans work quietly and offer a rapid clean air delivery rate.

The Shark HE601 covers a much larger area and even as much as 1200 square feet. It uses an advanced nanoseal HEPA filter with an advanced odor lock, ideal for capturing micro-particles, including viruses. It also comes with smart settings that automatically track your air quality and adjust power settings accordingly. The information is displayed in real-time, allowing you to keep track of your air quality. Therefore, the Shark HE601 air purifier is easily the best in 2022 for virus control. 

Why should you trust us? 

Our research is scientific, and our tests are validated across different parameters. We have shortlisted seven air purifiers and listed them below after comparing them against others in the market. 

We attempt to give you an objective review of air purifiers to help you choose a unit per your needs. 

We keep up with market trends, and our research reflects that. You can trust us to offer the latest and most up-to-date information.  

7 Best Air Purifiers For Viruses (April 2024)

Things to consider before buying an air purifier for virus

Before you purchase an air purifier for eliminating viruses in your home, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

The first consideration is what technology your purifier uses to function. These days, several air purifier manufacturers combine different technologies in one device. You can ask yourself whether smoke and odor are as big a problem for you as viruses. Perhaps pet hair and dust are more common in your area.

Whatever your cleaning requirements may be, an air purifier can cater to them. Ensure you prioritize your cleaning expectations and then find a manufacturer that makes an air purifier that caters to your specific requirements.

For example, if smoke and odor are a problem, you should ensure your purifier has an activated carbon filter. If viruses are your top priority and you can afford a large investment, you should go for a PECO air purifier. 

While considering technologies favor practical aspects over extra features. For example, smartphone connectivity is convenient but not essential. It is better to get a quiet unit even at high fan speeds than one that is voice-activated. 

The second consideration is to make sure that your air purifier can cover the area of your room. There are several ways to know if an air purifier will perform well in your room. You can determine this by looking up the air purifier’s CADR rating. CADR stands for clean air delivery rate. It is a standardized and lab-tested metric that is independently provided by American Home Appliance Manufacturers(AHAM).

You should ensure that your air purifier’s CADR rating is around two-thirds the size of your room. This ensures that your air purifier is not too small or too big for your room.

After you’ve picked out your air purifier, you should place it in your household so it can function effectively. Make sure it is out of reach of your children and pets. Air purifiers are most effective in closed spaces and within your breathing zone. Find the balance where the air purifier won’t get in your way but can still function efficiently.

Lastly, consider the maintenance and electricity costs your new air purifier needs to function. You’ll have to change your air filter between three to six months after buying your air purifier. Make sure that you have easy access to replacement parts.

Your air purifier will have to be on all the time to deliver the best results. As such, make sure you read up on the energy efficiency of your air purifier so you can avoid a nasty surprise when you get your utility bills.

5 tips on how to purify air to kill virus without an air purifier

Air purifiers are the most effective way to consistently deliver clean and good quality indoor air. However, they can be an expensive investment. Not having an air purifier doesn’t mean that there are no other air purification options available. Here are five tips to purify the air and kill viruses without an air purifier.

Tip 1 – Ventilation

Increase the ventilation in your household. A well-ventilated room can reduce moisture levels, a leading cause of mold and other factors that reduce indoor air quality. Opening your windows may allow some fresh air to enter and remove stale air from your home, but it may also bring in a little air pollution.

Instead, you can use strategically placed vents and exhaust fans to circulate air in your household and help carry pollutants outside. Make sure you keep your kitchen well ventilated, especially if you are using a gas stove for cooking as they produce nitrogen dioxide. Also, make sure your bathrooms are well ventilated to prevent dampness from causing mold and mildew.

Tip 2 – Use beeswax candles

Replace your regular candles with beeswax candles. Beeswax candles are natural air purifiers and do not emit harmful chemicals like petroleum-based paraffin candles. Beeswax can ionize the air and neutralize toxic components. They don’t emit scent or smoke and can be useful in reducing allergens for asthmatic patients.

Tip 3 – Use salt lamps

Salt lamps are great natural air purifiers. They pull water vapor out of the air and can reduce airborne pollutants in your household. Pink salt is a natural ionizer that pulls toxins from the air and neutralizes them. The added benefit of salt lamps is that they can add to the decor of your household and look attractive. The glow of salt lamps doesn’t disrupt sleep homes like electrical lamps do. Salt lamps are more effective when turned on but even work to purify the air when they are off.

Tip 4 – Activated charcoal

You can use activated charcoal as a natural air purifier. Activated carbon filters are a byproduct of this concept. It is odorless, highly absorbent, and helps remove toxins from the air.

Tip 5 – Add houseplants

Increase the number of houseplants in your household. Plants naturally convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. They don’t release any harmful byproducts and can work wonders to rejuvenate and clean the air in your house. A single plant for every 100 square feet of your house will result in improved air quality. Plants are affordable, aesthetic, and natural solutions to have good indoor air quality in your household.

Do HEPA filters block coronavirus?

HEPA filters are the industry standard for high-quality filters. They are made of interwoven glass fibers that create a maze to trap airborne particles. Since coronavirus is airborne, it stands to reason that HEPA filters can trap corona particles, though it depends on the size of particles.

The particles of coronavirus measure around 0.125 microns and good HEPA filters can trap particles as small as 0.01 microns. This means that a high-quality HEPA filter does have the potential to trap corona particles.

Some air purifier manufacturers and test results state that their filters can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. If this is the case, corona particles can pass through the filters. NASA studies have shown that HEPA filters can be 100% efficient at capturing ultrafine particles at 0.01 microns. It shows that HEPA filters perform better than the advertised standard of 0.3 microns. The CDC acknowledges that an air purifier, when used properly, can greatly reduce airborne contaminants like viruses.

This doesn’t mean that a HEPA filter is a foolproof method to avoid the coronavirus. If someone who is Covid positive visits your house, it is unlikely that an air purifier on the far side of the room can prevent you from contracting the virus.

HEPA filters can help reduce exposure from external sources and eliminate other common viruses in your household. It is best to follow CDC guidelines and maintain all safety protocols, including regularly washing your hands and practicing social distancing.

Our verdict:

Our verdict for the best air purifier for viruses in 2022 is the Shark HE601 Air Purifier.

It is a feature-packed powerhouse of an air purifier. It features six mini fans that work together to distribute airflow across the filter. It works quickly and efficiently to cover areas as large as 1200 square feet. Its high-quality filters capture more micro-particles than other competitive purifiers. This makes it efficient in covering more types of harmful particles, including bacteria and viruses.

The Shark HE601 monitors air quality in real-time and can adjust settings automatically to deliver the best cleaning results. You can take control and keep track of your indoor air quality with simplicity and ease. All of these features make this unit our top pick among the best air purifiers for viruses in 2022.