health
Can an air purifier help protect you from COVID-19?
Some experts recommend using an air purifier as an additional way to keep your home safe, especially if it isn't well-ventilated. But how effective are air purifiers at actually preventing the spread of COVID-19?
Are air purifiers effective against COVID-19?
We want to be clear that at this time, no portable air purifier manufacturer has been able to test against the COVID-19 virus.
A doctor we spoke to said, “Since most COVID viruses spread through droplets and/or aerosols, these airborne pathogens can be captured by the air purifier filter.”
Due to the lack of research, the EPA cautions against relying solely on a purifier to stay safe. However, it can be used in addition to other safety measures like regular sanitation and cleaning for extra protection.
“By itself, air cleaning or filtration is not enough to protect people from exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19,” the Environmental Protection Agency says.
“When used along with other best practices recommended by CDC and others, filtration can be part of a plan to reduce the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.”
How to choose the best air purifier for COVID-19
The most important thing to look for is an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, according to both medical experts and the EPA.
These filters are capable of capturing at least 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Most airborne pathogens are in a micrometer-size range.
The EPA also recommends choosing an air purifier that is Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) certified and can remove most airborne particles smaller than 1 mm.
Air circulation is key. Without projecting the purified air around the room, you may risk only purifying a small bubble around your machine instead of the whole room.