Top 5 Air Purifiers

IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifier

• Unlike other models, this unit removes all particles 0.003 microns or larger in a room as large as 1,200 square feet. This high efficiency makes it the best choice in the air purifier industry for serious needs, according to the Bestcovery expert review website. Combination filters are used to capture tiny particles, including the gases and bacteria that most air purifiers are incapable of stopping. High efficiency is paired with an equally high price tag, especially for replacement filters, and a noisier operation than smaller units.

Austin Air Healthmate HM 400

• Many air purifiers claim to reduce particles that cause allergic reactions, but few have the right filters or air circulating fans to efficiently do so. The experts at Galt Home Buying Guides recommend the Austin Air Healthmate HM 400 for consumers that need allergens like dust mites, pollen and mold spores removed from the air. Effective in rooms or spaces up to 1,500 square feet, this model can provide more air processing power than many similarly sized units. Gases and odors may not be trapped by the filters in the Healthmate HM 400, but only the most powerful and expensive air purifiers are capable of removing those particles from the air.

Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-780A

• If operating noise and overall design is an issue, the Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-780A model is a great choice. Product review website Consumer Search says that this appliance features a sleek design that fits in well with modern interior decorating and uses special sensors to determine when the air has enough pollutants to make high speed operation necessary. This reduces the overall noise level, especially when used in a bedroom where loud fans can make falling asleep difficult. Five filters in this unit include two pre-filters, a HEPA filter, activated charcoal to trap odors and an optional bacteria or pet dander filter. The manufacturer says that this unit will work in rooms as large as 815 square feet, but it will be more efficient and spend less time running on the loudest high speed in a smaller room.

Blueair 650E

• Ionizing air purifiers have been criticized for their production of lung irritating ozone, but the Blueair 650E claims to only produce a barely measurable amount, well below the Food and Drug Administration safety standards for medical equipment, according to Consumer Search. It combines an ionizing filter and high quality fiber filter. Effective at removing allergens and small particles like cigarette smoke from the air, its quiet operation makes it a good choice for constant use. Filters in this model will only last about six months, raising the overall cost of operation.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower HEPAQuiet

• Experts at the Bestcovery website recommend this Honeywell tower air purifier for homeowners who need a less expensive machine for smaller rooms that still offers the air quality of a HEPA filter. Removing air particles in rooms up to 170 square feet, it is only appropriate for a small office or bedroom, but runs quietly and takes up little space. Oscillation and multiple fans circulate the air in the room for better air purification without noise. Washable filters cut the costs of replacing expensive HEPA filters every few months, making the cost of operation low for this model.