What Hurts the Performance of a Small Air Cleaner?

Filter Maintenance

• Many air cleaners use a high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filter. These filters capture the finest dust and other particles in the air. However, after a year or so of running the air cleaner, many manufacturers suggest that users completely replace the filter. Depending on the brand and supply of the filter, the replacement expense may be too great, sometimes costing as much as the original air cleaner. Some manufacturers state that users can periodically vacuum the HEPA filter to make sure it at least purifies the air at optimal performance in between replacements. Read your instruction manual to learn how to properly care for the filter.

Grill Blockage

• Most air cleaners cover the critical and fragile filter with a hard and sturdy grill. The air flows through this grill, through the filter and other air purifying components, back out into the room. Suction may pull light but large objects toward the grill where a blockage is created. For example, if you have pets or birds that shed hair, fur or feathers, that matter can get sucked into the grill. This reduces the air cleaner's overall ability to purify the air in the room. Periodically inspect the grill to make sure objects are not stuck in between the openings. Also, some cleaners employ a "pre-filter" before air reaches the regular filter. Many manufacturers recommend wiping down the grill with a damp and soapy rag to clear away dust buildup on the grill that doesn't reach the filter.

Heavy-Duty Usage

• The quality of the air can differ greatly from room to room in a home, affecting the performance of the cleaner. For example, urban apartment dwellings commonly have a countertop partition that separates the kitchen from the living room. Steam and smoke from cooking flows throughout the apartment and this oil-based smoke produces soot that reduces the air cleaner's performance. Some households respond by cranking the air cleaner up to the highest setting to handle especially dirty air, but this also worsens performance. Consider obtaining a larger capacity room air cleaner or a whole-house air purifying system.

Measurable Performance

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets performance guidelines for air cleaners. This measurement is called the Clean Air Delivery Rate. CADR calculations provide users with information about the volume and quality of purified air that is processed through the cleaner. The measurement is broken down into three categories: Dust CADR, Tobacco CADR and Pollen CADR. The values range from numbers in the tens to the hundreds. Higher values mean faster filtering rates. To receive the Energy Star rating, an air cleaner's dust CADR must be at least 50. Check your air cleaner's instruction manual for its CADR. Alternatively, you can find a complete list of room air cleaners with the computed CADR on the Energy Star.gov website.