Does the air in your home office feel heavy? Does it get difficult for you to breathe? Do you get fits of cough? According to the United States Environment Protection Agency, the air quality inside our homes can be five times more polluted than the outdoors.  The air that we breathe inside our homes can have bacteria and other pollutants in it. To get rid of airborne contaminants and allergens, you need to consider getting an air purifier for your home office. 

Deciding on picking the right purifier for home office can be a task in itself as there is a wide variety of options available to choose from. A detailed guide to air cleaners at office should help you make up your mind.

How Does an Air Purifier Work?

An air purifier’s mechanism is quite simple. It uses a system of internal fans that sucks the air in your home through several filters and removes harmful contaminants like bacteria, pollen, and dust. Then it circulates the clean and purified air back into your home. This process is run in cycles, so you always have purified air to breathe.

Benefits of Air Purifiers

Listed are some of the reasons you should consider getting an air purifier for your home office:

• Frees the air of bacteria, making it fresh to breathe in
• Removes unpleasant odors
• Traps airborne allergens caused by pet dander
• Traps dust before it settles
• Removes 99% bacteria including mold spores and pollen
• Helps combat seasonal allergies
• Healthier lungs

Versions of Air Purifiers

Types of Air Purifiers

HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) Filtration

These purifiers are acknowledged worldwide and are considered the gold standard when it comes to the best air purifiers for office and home. It has a thick filter paper that traps all the pollutants present in the air, thereby, improving the air quality. Thus, while buying an air purifier, always look for a “True HEPA Filter”. It is guaranteed to remove 99.97% of airborne contaminants as little as 0.3 microns in size.

Ionic Filtration 

This filtration system sends out a cloud of charged ions into the air that gets latched with the airborne contaminants and causes them to fall onto the surface. Air purifiers need to have a system to collect fallen particles to keep the place clean. This is done with the help of an electrostatic collection plate that attracts fallen contaminants and eliminates them from the room.

Carbon Filtration

A carbon filter uses a special form of activated carbon that consists of several tiny absorbent pores. These pores trap gases, odors, and fumes and make the air quality better. This type of filter only gets rid of the particles that may cause a bad smell. It does not fully remove any pollutants that may pose a threat to your health.

UV Light

These types of air purifiers emit a UV-C band of the ultraviolet spectrum that attacks pollutants, unlike other purifiers that pass them through a physical filter. It destroys the bacteria and viruses present inside the house or office, providing cleaner air to breathe in.

Things To Consider Before Buying An Air Purifier For Your Office

Operating Cost

Although getting an air purifier has many proven benefits, there is an annual operating cost of about $150 to $200 for maintaining them. If you buy an air purifier with carbon filtration, you may need to replace the filters every three to four months, depending on the usage. The main filter is to be changed once a year. Some HEPA filters come with two filters installed inside them. The airborne particles reach the alternate filter before reaching the main HEPA filter. This might save some maintenance costs.

Noise Control

When looking for an air purifier for the office, noise control is certainly a major concern. People are likely to prefer appliances that do not make much noise, so they do not get distracted because of high pitched noises. It is recommended to buy larger units that come with a noise control feature, which might cost more, but worth the extra price in the long run.

Energy Consumption

While investing in an air purifier, the ones that are Energy Star certified are preferred. These units are much more energy efficient as compared to the regular models.

FAQs

How do I know if the indoor air quality is poor?

If health problems emerge especially after moving, remodeling, refurbishing, or fumigation, then it might be because of poor air quality. Other sources may include poor ventilation, pets in the house, or certain cleaning products. Moreover, if the air feels heavy or it gets difficult to breathe, it’s a good indicator of poor air quality.

Which air purifier is best for me?

The choice depends on many factors including the one covered above and your individual preferences.

Where should the air purifier be placed?

Generally, air purifiers are designed to clean a single room. It is best to place the air purifier at a central position in the room you spend most of your time in. You can go for air purifiers that come with caster wheels so they can easily be moved around the house. An air purifier should not be placed in an area that receives direct sunlight.

How long should the air purifier be used?

Air purifiers can be used as per your need. They can be used all day long or during specific times. Most air purifiers come with adjustable levels of noise, speed, and coverage. They can also be left switched on while you are away from the house and allow you to schedule when to turn them on or off

How often should air purifiers be cleaned?

Many air purifiers come with multiple filters to provide a better quality of air. For best results, the filters need to be cleaned every six to eight months. When the filters get dirty, the air purifiers automatically indicate that the filters need to be cleaned. Follow the product manual for regular maintenance and cleaning,

Is it expensive to use an air purifier?

A good air purifier can cost between $150 to $600, mainly depending on its size and how much you use it.

Conclusion

Having an air purifier in your office along with a beautiful indoor plant won’t just provide you with fresh air to breathe, but also help you focus on your work and keep you motivated. It is not just another device for your home office, but a worthy investment for your health. So, make sure to choose the one that aligns perfectly with your budget and requirements.

If you are thinking of buying an air purifier but you need some tips and recommendations, our Guide to Selecting an Air Purifier might help you.