What is the best whole house air purifier? Whole-house air purifiers are highly beneficial as they pull contaminants and other harmful particles out of the air and trap them using a filter. Nowadays, airborne pollutant levels are too high indoors, so it is recommended to install a whole-house air purifier to improve the air you breathe and remove allergens. These devices are available in three types: filter-based units that need to be installed in HVAC furnace systems, duct-based models that are installed into air duct paths, and portable stand-alone systems.

How Whole-House Air Purifiers Differ

Duct-based air purifiers are the most expensive option as they actually replace a section of the ductwork itself, let alone the fact that you will still need to replace filters from time to time.

The second type, which is essentially a furnace filter for the HVAC unit, is categorized into media filters and pricier electronic air filters. They help your existing HVAC system run efficiently but they are not easy to access and, therefore, harder to maintain. Moreover, such filters require you to run your HVAC system constantly to remove pollutants.

Whole-House Air Purifiers Compared

The most convenient and portable solution is a stand-alone whole house air purifier. This type of equipment can be used in houses without central heating or air conditioning. The majority of stand-alone units use HEPA filters, which are more efficient but are not typically utilized in whole-house systems.

The thing is that such filters require more powerful fans than those in furnaces. Made of microscopic glass fibres, HEPA filters are capable of removing 99.97% of airborne particles, capturing all sorts of allergens and pollutants including pet dander and dust mites.

You may choose the HONEYWELL HPA300C Air Purifier equipped with a certified Honeywell HEPA filter that captures almost all airborne particles and the activated carbon pre-filter that also eliminates household odours.

Alternatively, you may go for the more budget-friendly Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier that comes with a washable fine mesh pre-filter handling larger airborne particles, an activated carbon filter reducing odours and VOCs, and a True HEPA filter. Additionally, the unit features dual smart air-quality sensors, an air quality indicator, and an automatically activated sleep mode.

However, HEPA filters have some disadvantages. In addition to the fact that bacteria, viruses, and airborne chemicals can escape such filters, there is also a danger of bacteria and mould growing on them. If that is your concern, you can choose the Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier with a powerful particle carbon filter that is effective against viruses, bacteria, and mould.

An air purifier can clean a whole house provided it has a sufficient efficiency rating and coverage capacity. Whole-house air purifiers have coverage ranging from 300 to more than 3000 square feet, and your choice depends directly on the size of your house. It is advisable to buy a model that covers a little bit more square feet than your house has in order to ensure you will get full coverage.

As a rule, the more square feet the unit covers, the more expensive it is. For example, the Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier designed for 360 square feet will cost you only $204, whereas the 250-dollar HONEYWELL HPA300C Air Purifier and 400-dollar Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier cover 465 and 540 square feet, respectively.

Another essential feature to consider is CADR or clean-air delivery rate that measures the effectiveness of the unit based on the room size and the volume of the air filtered. The rule of thumb is that the CADR should be no less than two-thirds of the area of the room in square feet. For example, a 300 square-foot room requires a filter with a CADR rating of 200.

The Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier offers the highest CADR of 350 cfm, while the HONEYWELL HPA300C Air Purifier has the CADR of 300 cfm for smoke/pollen and 320 cfm for dust. The CFM specs of the Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier are the following: 35 cfm in a sleep mode, 91 cfm at a medium setting, 123 cfm at a high setting, and 240 cfm in a turbo mode.

If you are looking for the best air purifiers - read our Buyer’s Guide: 7 Best HEPA Air Purifiers and Air Cleaners for Allergies

Best-Selling Whole House Air Purifiers in Canada | Comparison Table

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Products with 5 star rating

 

Product5 Stars Votes
Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier20763(62.3%)
Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier6113(18.3%)
Bissell Air220 Air Purifier2001(6%)
LEVOIT LV-PUR131 Air Purifier1669(5%)
Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier1047(3.1%)
Levoit Vista 200 Air Purifier641(1.9%)
IQAir HealthPro Plus – Medical-Grade Air Purifier596(1.8%)
HONEYWELL HPA300C HEPA Air Purifier520(1.6%)

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