The Best Air Purifiers for Breathing Problems

IQAir HealthPro Plus

• The IQAir HealthPro Plus is one of the best VOC-removing air purifiers available, and can remove particles that are 0.1 microns in diameter---one micron equaling one-millionth of a meter---and smaller. As the air purifier review website Air Purifier Power notes, the HealthPro Plus is perfect for people who need incredibly clean air for health conditions. The Plus in its name refers to its specialized V-5 filter, which it uses in addition to its standard high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This filter features a five-pound mix of activated carbon for absorbing odors, and potassium permanganate for absorbing chemicals. The latter ingredient is an oxidizer, which coverts the chemicals it captures into oxygen. In addition to its high-purifying power, the HealthPro Plus is easy-to-use, featuring an LCD display panel, a colored light system that indicates when a filter needs changing, a programmable timer and a four-key, touch control pad.

Austin Air Healthmate HM400

• According to the buying guide and technology review website Galt Tech, the Austin Air Healthmate HM400 is well-known for its ability to absorb allergy-inducing particles such as mold, dust, dust mites and pollen. The purifier is less expensive than the HealthPro Plus, but does not include electronic accessories like the display panel and timer. However, in terms of creating air that will provide health benefits to people with breathing problems, the Healthmate HM400 is just as powerful. As Air Purifier Power notes, it features a HEPA filter consisting of 15 pounds of activated carbon, and zeolite for removing over 3,000 different types of VOCs.

BlueAir 650E

• Unlike the above two air purifier models, the BlueAir 650E does not use HEPA filtration as its primary purifying agent. However, it can still match HEPA-grade performance levels using its electrostatically-charged polyethylene collector. According to Air Purifier Power, the 650E is able to trap 99.97 percent of the particles it encounters, including those that are only 0.1-microns wide. One of the stand-out features of the purifier, in addition to its electronic controls and dual digital display boards, is its Auto Mode, which will control the purifier based on the amount of particulates it detects in the surrounding air.