Best affordable air purifiers to prepare for wildfire season

Affordable air purifiers for wildfire season

Wildfire season comes with various problems for those in nearby areas. Among them is the significant drop in air quality that can occur. Wildfires release dangerous particulate matter into the air, which can enter your lungs and bloodstream. Many air purifiers are designed with efficient filters that can contain these particles before you breathe them in. Still, air purifiers can be a costly investment and aren’t likely to cover the entirety of your home’s exterior, so you may need more than one. Luckily, numerous affordable models can help.

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What is particulate matter?

Particulate matter is one of the primary wildfire components responsible for decreased air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems.”

The EPA notes that particulate matter from wildfires is generally as small as 2.5 microns, although some of it can be smaller. For this reason, choosing an air purifier with a filter that can remove particles 2.5 microns or smaller is a good idea.

What to consider when buying an air purifier for wildfire season

Air purifiers with HEPA filters can typically remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, making them an ideal choice for wildfire season. This type of filter is an air filter efficiency standard; those that meet this standard can remove 99.7% of the three-micron particles that pass through them, although many can remove particles that are even smaller. You’ll also want to consider how long these filters last. Many are durable enough to last a year or so, but it’s important to remember that these filters will degrade faster during wildfire season since they’ll be removing more particles from the air than usual.

Air purifiers are designed to cover a specific area. If you live in a large home, you may be better off with a larger air purifier. However, if your house has numerous small rooms, it may be best to buy a compact model for each room.

Other tips for wildfire season

• Buy an air quality monitor: Many budget air purifiers don’t have built-in air quality monitors. This makes it difficult to know when the air in a given room is sufficiently clean. You can buy stand-alone air quality monitors that alert your phone when a room’s air is clean or dirty.
• Stay indoors: Wildfire smoke generally enters your home through open windows and doors. Consider keeping your windows closed and staying inside as often as possible.
• Keep cool: If you live close to a wildfire, heat can be a concern. Run your air conditioner on its recirculation setting to cool down.

Budget air purifiers for wildfire season

Levoit Air Purifier

It takes approximately 30 minutes for this air purifier to clean the air in a 500-square-foot room. The HEPA filter removes particles as small as 0.3 microns. The Levoit Air Purifier features a sleek design and whisper-quiet operation.

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Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier

This air purifier can remove 99.7% of the particulate matter in a 300-square-foot room. It has a high-efficiency particulate air filter and three speed settings. It’s available in gray and white.

Medify MA-14 Air Purifier with True HEPA H13 Filter

This air purifier can clean a 470-square-foot room in just one hour. The True HEPA filter can eliminate 99.7% of allergens, odors, smoke, pet dander and other irritating particles. It’s also very quiet.

GermGuardian 4-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier

This True HEPA filter air purifier can trap 99.7% of harmful particles and features UV-C light, which can reduce airborne viruses and VOCs. It can refresh the air in rooms measuring up to 740 square feet in one hour.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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