LOOKING AT FACTS: CAN AN AIR PURIFIER MAKE YOU SICK?

This article outlines key considerations around air purifiers potentially making you sick. It was updated on September 1, 2023, with the latest information and insights.

Well, it may seem complicated because there's no clear-cut answer. Cheesy air purifiers and those that are improperly used can make you feel downright miserable. Think throat irritation, dry coughs, headaches, and similar health issues.
But can air purifiers make you sick if they are up for multi-stage filtration and are adequately utilized? That's where you can hear a distinct "No" loudly echoing around. Confused? You shouldn't be.
Read on to better understand the logic behind this and dig out what makes the best air purifier that can improve your health.

When can air purifiers cause illnesses?

In some cases, your air purifier can be the culprit of your malaise. It's not that common, but it still happens, especially if:
● You're using an air purifier that should be avoided, particularly if you're wondering, "Can air purifiers cause breathing problems?" There are many excellent devices on the market. But low-quality ones are just as bountiful. The worst of them can even pollute your home, leading to poorer indoor air quality than what you'd breathe in without an air purifier. That's when filters and CADR ratings come in (more on this a little bit later). The rule of thumb is that your unit's filters and CADR rating should be tailored to the square footage of your home and pollutants specific to it..
● You do nothing to keep your air purifier well-maintained. "I'm about to throw that weird-looking box away because I guess it's making me sick." It's the first thing that may pop into your mind when your air purifier fails to do its job, which is to purify the air (thanks, Captain Obvious). But have you ever tried to maintain its operation? Yep, air purifiers need your attention, too. It's crucial to change replaceable filters, wet-clean washable ones, and tidy up the area around your unit regularly. Take care of your air purifier's "health" so that it improves yours.
● It's positioned in a hit-or-miss manner. The placement of an air purifier is just as vital as its maintenance. You can't put your unit somewhere in the corner, pile your clothes on it, and expect it to filter out all the pollutants and dust. To prevent an air purifier from making you sick, do some strategic thinking first. The best way is to place it where it's needed most, like an odor source, and ensure that it can suck in particles from all directions. Additionally, keep your unit away from your bed so that you don't feel any blowing to avoid morning headaches.
● It's too small for that room. The circulation capacity of air purifiers isn't endless unless you're using some souped-up commercial one. How much space residential products can clean varies from one device to another and should be carefully considered. For example: if your air purifier is suitable for 50 sq. ft., and you've placed it in a 100 sq. ft. room, this doesn't mean it will take it twice as long to clean your place. What this really means is airborne pollutants won't be removed from the remainder of your room.
● Your air purifier is a masked ozone emitter. There's a common misconception that ozone-producing air purifiers (or ozone generators) can help with asthma and allergies. To put it bluntly, this couldn't be further from the truth. If you didn't skip your chemistry class, you'd know that ozone causes lung irritation when inhaled. Hence, if you suffer from allergies or asthma, it can make your symptoms even worse. That is why ozone generators are a definite no-no in residential buildings.

Possible Side Effects When Using Air Purifiers
While quality air purifiers are generally safe when used properly, there is a risk of side effects in some situations. Using an air purifier with lower-grade filters or that emits ozone can lead to side effects like air purifier sore throat, coughing, and air purifier headache.
Some key points on potential air purifier side effects:
● Lower-quality HEPA filters may not capture all pollutants, leaving irritants in the air. This can cause side effects of HEPA air purifier like throat and lung irritation. True medical-grade HEPA is important to minimize side effects.● Ozone air purifier side effects are common and can include sore throat, lung irritation, and worsening of asthma/allergy symptoms. Ozone air purifiers should always be avoided due to these negative side effects of air purifiers.● If an air purifier's filters are not changed regularly, mold and other contaminants building up can get blown back out. This demonstrates how air purifiers can be harmful and aggravate health conditions if maintenance is not done properly.● Air that is too dry from some air purifiers can cause air purifier dry throat, sinus irritation, and nosebleeds. Using a humidifier in addition to an air purifier can help mitigate this potential side effect.● Ionizing air purifiers, if not used properly, could potentially cause headaches or lung irritation in some individuals. So it's important to closely follow manufacturer guidelines.
While quality HEPA air purifiers are designed to improve health, improper use or inferior models can occasionally cause side effects like air purifier sore throat, coughs, and air purifier headache. If you experience these or are wondering "is my air purifier making me sick?", discontinue use and contact the manufacturer. Using true medical-grade HEPA filters and avoiding ozone-emitting purifiers can help minimize risks.

How to choose an air purifier for sickness prevention?

If you breathe in healthy air, your lungs will thank you. That is why a high-quality air purifier that fits in with your home's specific environment is much more than just an illness safety barrier. In fact, it can improve your general well-being along with allergy symptoms.
Bad news: it's all too easy to get baffled by the overabundance of products out there. They are many, but you need only one. Your ideal one.
Here are 5 tips on choosing the best air purifier that will ACTUALLY make you a healthier version of yourself:

1. The clean air delivery rate is where you start
A CADR rating seems to be a complex specification, but it's too important to disregard. In layman's terms (with no fancy parlance), it's used to indicate how much air in the room a particular air purifier can clean up when put into its highest gear. It's usually measured in cubic feet per minute.
As simple as it gets, a higher CADR rating is for larger places, whereas a lower index is for smaller ones. Make sure you're buying an air purifier that is powerful enough to handle the size of your room. Otherwise, it's like pouring your money down the drain.
Some products come without clean air delivery ratings at all. It's the first warning sign of a good-for-nothing air purifier, and this is what you'd want to eschew.

2. Say "Yes" to true HEPA – Say "No" to HEPA-style
Admit it: if a filter is used in medical settings and manufacturing sites with high contamination risks, then it's a good filter. All this goes for a HEPA one. It captures almost 100% of airborne pollutants, dust, and particles with guaranteed effectiveness.
But do air purifiers keep you from getting sick just because they are advertised to have HEPA filters? The short answer is yes. Yet, there's a catch you need to be aware of.
With unethical marketing being on the rise, many air purifiers are sold as products with HEPA-type filters. What you must know is that they are not HEPA filters. They do not have such a high filtering capacity and may leave pollutants in the air you inhale. Don't be misled into buying a device with a HEPA-type filter when you need a true HEPA one.