Are you having trouble choosing between a whole-home and portable air purifier? While both improve indoor air quality, one is superior in a number of settings. Let’s take a look at the difference between the two and several situations that require you to choose between one or the other.
Whole-House vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A whole-home active air purifier installs directly into your existing HVAC system. In other words, it requires very minimal effort! The device eliminates dust, dander, mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, odors and more. Whole-home active air purifiers utilize active air technology like bipolar ionization to find and capture air pollutants. Ionization processes release positive and negative ions into the air and encourage particles to bind, making them larger. These larger particles are easier for HVAC filters to capture.
A portable air purifier is not installed directly into your existing HVAC system. Rather, it is a standalone device stationed in one room or area at a time. And, it must be manually transported from one location to the next. All portable purifiers are equipped with an air filter and additional technology (e.g., ozone, ultraviolet or HEPA). Depending on the technology, they are more or less efficient and effective with regard to removing contaminants.
Air Purifier Certifications: Whether you’re purchasing a whole-home or portable air purifier, finding a device with trusted and verified purification data is important. Here are eight air purifier certifications to look for →When To Choose a Whole-House Purifier System
1. As a Homeowner
Without a doubt, homeowners should choose a whole-home air purifier. First and foremost, homes are larger than apartments and condos. They require a solution that will address the space in its entirety. Moreover, homes benefit from the combined passive and active methods of capturing air pollutants. In other words, air pollutants find their way into the ductwork and move toward the filter (passive) while positive and negative ions simultaneously locate them and increase their size (active). This combination is unique to add-on whole-house purification systems.
2. As a Business Owner
Much like homeowners, business owners benefit from whole-building purifiers due to the square footage of their operation. Businesses often see a variety of clients each day, and this level of exposure increases the number of air pollutants indoors. Plus, businesses are often located in industrial areas with above-average air pollution levels. All of these factors make whole-space purifiers the perfect choice for commercial buildings and small businesses alike.
3. If You Suffer From Allergies and Asthma
If you or your occupants suffer from allergies or asthma, then a whole-home air purifier is the best choice. As aforementioned, whole-house purifiers remove allergens and other air pollutants from each and every room in the home. This allows allergy and asthma sufferers to breathe freely.
4. If You Live in Highly Polluted Areas
If your home or office is in a highly polluted area, it is best to invest in a whole-home or whole-building air purifier. Highly polluted areas are often filled with the worst contaminants including particulate matter, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide and lead. Whole-home air purifiers are equipped to deal with these dangerous air pollutants.
When To Choose a Portable Purifier Device
1. As a Renter With a Unwilling Landlord
If you’re a renter and your landlord is unwilling to invest in a whole-home air purifier, the next best option is a portable air purifier. Investing in a portable air purifier will remedy the issue to a degree, making your space as comfortable as possible.
If one apartment in your complex is suffering from an indoor air quality issue, it is likely that others are as well (or it’s just a matter of time before they do). It’s always worth the effort of advocating to your landlord or landlord company how IAQ solutions could benefit the space.
2. For Accessory Dwelling Units
By nature, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are small. They are detached structures that share amenities with a single-family home. Yet, because they are separate and due to their size, one portable purifier is often sufficient for most indoor air quality issues. Again, a portable device will make your small space healthier.
3. For Finance Reasons *
If you are unable to invest in a whole-home air purifier, consider purchasing one or more portable purifiers instead. While they are less powerful, it’s better than having no air purifier at all!
* However, it’s important to keep in mind that portable purifiers cannot address indoor air quality issues in their entirety. As a result, you may spend more money trying to remedy these issues than you would if you invested in a whole-home air purifier.
Whole-House Purifiers for the Win
We are in favor of whole-house purifiers over portable purifiers as they are more efficient and effective to address large spaces at once. However, we understand that there are certain situations that require the use of portable purifiers. If you must choose a portable air purifier, be sure to invest in one with HEPA filtration and avoid ones that produce ozone.
