Even though almost all HVAC systems include filters, there are times when you desperately need to target fresh air into one particular room.

My one particular room was my husband’s home office…his man cave ever since the pandemic…the one room where he spends hours and hours surrounded by his two dogs and two cats.

Every time I walked in that room, I suddenly felt as if I was going to have an asthma attack.

So finding the perfect air purifier for his office suddenly became a top priority.

As I searched for that perfect air purifier, I came up with this list of questions that you might find helpful also…

When shopping for groceries, there are some foods that you know that you can skimp on and buy the cheaper or store brand…and other foods that are simply not the same if you really like a specific brand…like Duke’s mayo.

Appliances also come at all price points, but not all air purifiers work just as well.

There’s a reason that certain brands of air purifiers have been around for years and years…Stick to those brands that have been around for a while.

Cost:

How many of us hurried out and bought SodaStreams when they first were on the market.

And how many of us eventually donated them to Goodwill or re-gifted them  after finding that the cost of carbon cartridges needed to make drinks bubbly really added up quick.

Filters can cost anywhere from $25 to over $200. And filters also need to be changed regularly, depending on the filter that you get.  

So be warned…when shopping for an air purifier, also factor in the cost of filters.

Energy Efficiency: Air purifiers must run constantly to be effective. So you can expect your electricity bill to be higher. Look for an Energy Star-certified air purifier by checking for a blue-and-white sticker on the unit . These purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than standard models. 

Noise: Some air purifiers specify their noise levels, shown in decibels. The goal is to choose a device that’s relatively quiet even at higher speeds. But take these numbers with a grain of salt. This noise level is assumed to be at the unit’s lowest fan speed…

Options: Extras can add convenience to an air purifier, but they’re not necessarily worth the added expense. Before buying a pricey smart unit with app support and all sort of modes, take some time to decide if you will truly need all those extra features.

Portability: These air purifiers are light enough to sit on a desk or shelf in your home office during the day…and then can be easily taken to the TV room in the evenings…and then taken into the bedroom while you sleep.

But if you’re having to drag it all over the house, are you actually going to do this every day?

And are you gonna be able to transport a large enough air purifier to condition the size of each room?

Room: Think of an air purifiers as a single space “heater.” Just as you would not expect a space heat to heat the entire house, you cannot expect an air purifier to clean the air in your entire house.

Ultimately, you should have an air purifier in each room of your house. But if you only want to buy one (or one at a time), put it in the room where you spend the most time.

Energy Efficiency: Air purifiers must run constantly to be effective. So you can expect your electricity bill to be higher. Look for an Energy Star-certified air purifier by checking for a blue-and-white sticker on the unit . These purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than standard models. 

Noise: Some air purifiers specify their noise levels, shown in decibels. The goal is to choose a device that’s relatively quiet even at higher speeds. But take these numbers with a grain of salt. This noise level is assumed to be at the unit’s lowest fan speed…

Options: Extras can add convenience to an air purifier, but they’re not necessarily worth the added expense. Before buying a pricey smart unit with app support and all sort of modes, take some time to decide if you will truly need all those extra features.

Portability: These air purifiers are light enough to sit on a desk or shelf in your home office during the day…and then can be easily taken to the TV room in the evenings…and then taken into the bedroom while you sleep.

But if you’re having to drag it all over the house, are you actually going to do this every day?

And are you gonna be able to transport a large enough air purifier to condition the size of each room?

Room: Think of an air purifiers as a single space “heater.” Just as you would not expect a space heat to heat the entire house, you cannot expect an air purifier to clean the air in your entire house.

Ultimately, you should have an air purifier in each room of your house. But if you only want to buy one (or one at a time), put it in the room where you spend the most time.