Television advertising of portable home air purifier products in the last decade has helped to educate the public about indoor air pollution. However, as with all commercials, it is important to separate the fact from the fiction. In the case of air purifiers, advertisers predominantly focus on the cost of ownership, rather than on the effectiveness of the air purifier and its impact on a person or a family's health. What difference does it make if the air purifier is cheap to operate if it doesn't actually clean the air or if it does a mediocre or minimal job?

Generally, if an air purifier sounds too good to be true, it probably is, particularly if it is inexpensive. A few brands of air purifier can actually clean several hundred square feet virtually silently, depending on the technology, but they are typically the higher end models made by manufacturers who have invested a lot in research and development. The fans employed to move the air, as well as the design of the airflow can be very quiet yet still effective in some of the higher quality air purifier models. These are typically HEPA (high energy particulate arresting) technology air purifiers that do require filter changes, although some washable electrostatic models also do a good job. Air purifier models that work without fans typically don't truly clean. Air has to be moved. It has to be pulled in to the air purifier from the farthest point of the designated square footage, and clean air has to be pushed out. An air purifier that doesn't make any noise, doesn't move any air, and doesn't have filters that require washing or changing, probably won't make much difference in your health.

Another important consideration in whether or not to purchase an air purifier that requires washing filters rather than discarding the used ones and replacing them with new ones, is the additional work required. Washing air filters, particularly if they are not easily removed and reinstalled, is an easy thing to procrastinate on for most people. However, a clogged air purifier will not help you. Retired persons are one group of air purifier users who have the time and motivation to clean their air purifier filters regularly. Busy working people, often find it hard to get around to, which negatively impacts their health and that of their children. Unless you know you will be diligent about cleaning the washable air filters found in an air purifier, it is more cost effective from a health standpoint to buy a model where you can replace the filters as needed in a matter of minutes on an annual or longer basis, rather than a weekly one where time-consuming cleaning is involved.

Many people who are choosing an air purifier for the first time (and not really wanting to spend the money on it anyway), will purchase a low cost model which does not cover the square footage that needs to be cleaned adequately, or clean to the micron level of the problem allergens or irritants. These models might last a year but are unlikely to last the five or ten years, or do the highly effective cleaning that a higher quality model will do. As with other products, quality lasts longer but costs more. When it comes to your respiratory health and that of your children or elderly parents, it is wise to choose the most effective air purifier that will require the least work on your part, and last a long, long time.