When it comes to cleaning, we are accustomed to instant results and black-and-white proof. A wipe of the counter results in crumbs, and a swipe of Windex produces a clear view.
Indoor air quality solutions aren’t always as clear-cut. And because we cannot see air particles with the naked eye, it’s easy to start to doubt whether or not an air purifier is working to eliminate indoor pollutants.
So, maybe you’ve taken the plunge and bought an air purifier or air purification system, but want to test it yourself to ensure it’s working. Or perhaps, you’re considering investing in a purifier and not only want to make sure they work but make sure they’re effective at improving IAQ.
Here are a few easy ways to test an air purifier yourself.
Try Our Home Air Purifier Efficiency Calculator: Simply input basic information about your space, current air quality, and your purifier’s rating. Our calculator does the rest by providing an estimate of how efficiently your air purifier can clean your air. Make informed decisions for a healthier home and use our Home Air Purifier Efficiency Calculator today. Try it now →Is My Air Purifier Working?
We promise–you are not the first person to ask that question.
While air purifiers are a popular air quality solution on the market, they operate in the background to provide cleaner air, which can cause a bit of suspicion.
Whether you can’t tell and want peace of mind or are looking to test the purifier’s efficacy, we can suggest a couple of steps.
Remember that the tests look slightly different depending on the system, purification method, and whether it’s a whole-home solution or portable purifier.
Testing the Performance of Portable Air Purifiers
1. Airflow Test
Check that the purifier is on, its filter is installed correctly and its inlet and outlet are clear. Follow the manual when checking airflow or changing filters.
A quiet purifier may be operating normally at a low fan speed. Sound alone does not establish whether it is cleaning the air.
Airflow confirms that air is moving through the device. Judge particle-cleaning capacity using its clean air delivery rate (CADR), room size and operating speed. Unusual noise or weak airflow calls for troubleshooting using the manual.
2. Filter Test
The filter test means examining the internal filters that come with the device.
Visible dust indicates that some material has collected on the filter. It does not measure how much airborne pollution the purifier removes from the room.
Follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions. A heavily loaded filter can reduce airflow and cleaning performance; a clean-looking filter is not proof that it is unused or ineffective.
Good filtration is crucial for air purification. That’s why it’s important to check and change system air filters routinely.
Portable Air Purifiers: A properly sized portable purifier can reduce particles in a room. Compare its CADR with the space it will serve. Learn More →
How to Test Whole-Home Air Purifiers
For an HVAC filter, check fit and maintenance. Evaluating whole-home performance also requires checking system operation and airflow. Filter appearance alone cannot establish the effect on indoor pollutant levels.
Bipolar ionization and photocatalytic oxidation require technology-specific evidence. EPA cautions that bipolar ionization has less documented real-world safety and effectiveness than established filtration and may generate ozone or other harmful byproducts.
EPA also describes incomplete pollutant removal and possible harmful byproducts from photocatalytic oxidation. An odor change cannot establish safe, effective operation. Review independent testing for the exact device and follow its installation and maintenance requirements.
1. Odor Limitations
Odor is not a reliable test of overall air-cleaning performance. Particle filtration and gas removal are different tasks.
Do not burn incense, create smoke or deliberately add strong odors to test a purifier. These activities add pollution. Use normal household conditions for the observations below.
A fading odor does not prove that a purifier removed it or that the air is safe. Ventilation and other processes can change airborne concentrations. If odor control is the goal, check evidence for the specific gas and the device’s gas-removal filter or technology.
2. Dust Test
Less visible dust is not a reliable measure of airborne particle removal. Many larger particles settle on surfaces before they reach a filter. Continue routine cleaning even when a purifier is running.
3. Airflow Test
Check that supply and return vents are clear. Airflow is necessary for ducted filtration, but a home airflow check does not measure pollutant removal or establish balanced ventilation.
Make sure vents are open and not blocked by furniture or miscellaneous items. Because whole-home systems install directly into the HVAC system and work with the existing ductwork, purification depends on good air circulation.
Whole-Home Air Purifiers: Evaluate the exact technology, installation and independent performance evidence before choosing a system. Health benefits and pollutant removal vary. Learn More →Universal Methods to Test Your Air Purifier’s Effectiveness
These options can help investigate performance, but neither a consumer monitor nor a brief assessment guarantees safe air.
1. Air Quality Monitor
A PM2.5 monitor can help track fine-particle trends. Consumer sensor accuracy varies with the model, placement, humidity and other conditions. A particle reading does not measure gas removal or identify infectious particles.
Use the same monitor in the same location, following its placement instructions. Note the room, purifier speed, time, and whether doors or windows are open. Record readings during ordinary use without generating smoke or changing ventilation just to create a test.
Look for repeated patterns under similar conditions. Cooking, cleaning, outdoor pollution, occupancy and changing airflow can affect the readings. Do not turn off protection during a pollution event or open windows to polluted outdoor air for a comparison.
A falling reading may be consistent with particle removal, but it does not isolate the purifier’s effect or establish health protection. An air-quality monitor also does not replace a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm.
An in-duct monitor can also show trends, but a reading at one duct location may not represent every room. Check what the sensor measures and how its results should be interpreted.
Indoor Air Quality Monitors: Monitors measure selected pollutants or conditions. Their readings need context and cannot establish that all of the air in a home is safe.Learn More →
2. Professional IAQ Testing
If performance remains unclear, ask a qualified IAQ professional to identify the pollutants of concern and recommend suitable measurements. Ask how the assessment will separate purifier performance from changing sources and ventilation.
How Long Does it Take An Air Purifier to Work?
The time it takes for an air purifier to clean the air in a room depends on several factors, including the size of the room, the power of the air purifier, and the level of pollutants in the air.
There is no single cleaning time for every room. The result depends on CADR, room volume, operating speed, air mixing and continuing pollution sources. Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions; longer operation generally filters more air.
Our Home Air Purifier Efficiency Calculator provides estimates, not a measurement of your room’s air quality. Check its inputs and assumptions before relying on a result.
It’s important to note that while an air purifier can help improve your indoor air quality, it’s not a one-time solution. Maintaining clean air requires regular use of the air purifier, along with other measures such as proper ventilation, regular cleaning, and controlling sources of pollution.
The Impact of Effective Air Purification
Air filtration can reduce exposure to some airborne particles. Some studies report health benefits, but the results vary by device, setting and person.
Odor reduction requires suitable gas-removal capability. No air cleaner removes every pollutant, and an air cleaner cannot solve an underlying moisture or mold problem.
Use air cleaning alongside source control and appropriate ventilation. Maintain the equipment and seek medical advice for persistent symptoms.
