Best place to put air purifier reddit

The bedroom is a perfect place to use an air purifier since so many hours per night are spent sleeping in that space. An air purifier helps remove dust mites, fine particles, and other tiny substances floating in the air, all of which might otherwise contribute to breathing issues for those with asthma, allergies, and various other health conditions. The best place to put the air purifier in the bedroom is somewhat near the bed in an unobstructed area.

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Tip

Always read the purifier manual before using the device for the first time, as different models may have slightly different usage requirements.

Place It on a Nightstand

Atop a nightstand or side table near the head of the bed is an ideal location for an air purifier because the purifier works best if it's not directly on the floor. This also ensures that the cleanest air coming out of the purifier reaches those in the bed.

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If the noise is a bit bothersome, place the air purifier slightly farther away but still aim it toward the head of the bed. If it's too far away, you won't enjoy the full benefits of the clean air. In a huge bedroom, for instance, placing it a great distance from the bed keeps the air far away from the bed quite clean, but the purifier won't have much of an effect on the air you breathe in as you sleep.

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Air Purifier Don'ts

Much like other devices that impact the air in your room, such as a portable air conditioner, some places are not ideal for an air purifier. Don't place it under a shelf or tuck it into a bookcase, as it needs ample airflow to function properly. For this reason, it also shouldn't be used in a corner of a room or against any furniture. Air purifiers have intake valves that must not be obstructed, or the device can't do its job well.

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Also avoid placing the air purifier near a humidifier, as the added moisture in the room could negatively affect the filters in the purifier. Keep the purifier away from extreme heat or even a window facing the sun on a hot summer day, as the excessive heat could damage the unit.

Other Air Purifier Tips

An air purifier works best in a room with all the windows closed and ideally the door too. Otherwise, new air keeps mixing in with the cleaned air, and the purifier has to constantly remove more pollutants. Always clean or replace the air filters as often as recommended by the manufacturer, especially if you run the purifier every night. When the filters clog, the air purifier doesn't work quite as well. It's still important to sweep or vacuum the room regularly to remove dust, as dust bunnies could clog the filters as well.

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Run the air purifier for at least an hour before heading to bed; this way, the air is already fairly clean when it's time to rest. Make sure the purifier's cord is out of your usual walking path to the bed so it won't be a tripping hazard, especially at night with the room's lights off.

Will my air purifier still work if I have a window open? New test data from Smart Air finds that air purifiers can still meaningfully reduce particulate pollution in a room with a window cracked.  Here’s what to know:

The Obvious: Air Purifiers Most Effective With Windows Closed

No one doubts that purifiers are most effective with the windows closed. That’s obvious. Real-world tests show that – even without an air purifier – simply keeping doors windows closed keeps particulate pollution levels at 50% the level of outdoor air.

But the more practical question is, if I have to keep a window open for some other reason, will running a purifier still work? Will it have a meaningful effect? For some people, keeping windows open is a necessity. You might want to keep your windows open to reduce chemicals such as VOCs and formaldehyde in your home or office. Others might want to keep a window open to ventilate out CO2. In addition, new studies show COVID-19 spread is reduced drastically when both filtration and ventilation are used together.

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

The Test: Air Purifier vs. Open Window

Can we have it both ways – clean air AND open windows? CK from the Smart Air team put this question to the test by running the DIY Cannon air purifier Smart Air’s 12m2 Beijing test lab six times with the window open and closed.

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

The effect on indoor air pollution levels of having your window open will be more prominent when outdoor air is hazardous, so CK chose two days when outdoor air pollution was bad (February 14th and 15th) for his tests. During these two days, Beijing’s AQI averaged 239 and 290 according to the US Embassy.

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

To keep the baseline level of pollution consistent across tests, CK opened the window to let in outdoor air (and outdoor air pollution) until it the particulate pollution was the same as outdoors. Then, CK turned the Cannon air purifier on high for 20 minutes. He ran three tests with the windows open and three tests with the window closed.

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

Results: Can You Use an Air Purifier with the Window Open?

With the window closed, the Cannon air purifier reduced particulate by an average of 90% after 20 minutes (blue lines). With the window open, the Cannon air purifier managed a 60% reduction (red lines).

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

The data shows that it’s clearly better to close the windows with running your air purifier. No shocker there!

But here’s the more interesting part: even with the windows open, it’s still possible to significantly reduce indoor particulate by turning on an air purifier.

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

Turning on the air purifier with the window open still reduced pollution levels by 60% within 20 minutes.

How to Use Air Purifier with Window Open

The best way to use an air purifier with the window open is to use a purifier that’s rated for a larger area than your room size. We do this in the Smart Air office by using the super-charged Smart Air Blast, which cleans up to 130m2. Here it is kicking butt in Beijing while the window is open.

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit

Best place to put air purifier reddit
Best place to put air purifier reddit
Check out the powerful Blast and Blast Mini air purifiers


Bottom Line: Can I Turn on My Purifier and Open a Window? Will the Air Purifier Still Work?

Even with a window open, air purifiers can work decently and still meaningfully reduce particulate air pollution in the home – by 60% in 20 minutes in our tests. Obviously closing the windows is the most effective, but if you have to balance outdoor pollution against VOCs or CO2 indoors, it is possible to get some ventilation AND significantly reduce pollution.

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Free Guide to Breathing Safe

Want to learn more about Air Purifiers? Join thousands more and stay up to date on protecting your health.

Where is the best place to put my air purifier?

It's important that you choose a location that is not behind furniture or directly below shelves. Since most air purifiers have an intake near the front of the machine, you want it to be able to see the whole room and have access to the many airborne particles that have run rampant.

Is it better to put air purifier on floor or table?

If Possible, Elevate It Air purifiers work best when positioned 3-5 feet off the ground. At this height, they can take advantage of air flows in the space. If you have a suitable table, placing your air purifier on top of it will help you maximize its effectiveness.

Should an air purifier be placed high or low?

Should the air purifier be on the floor? Not really. Placing an air purifier off the ground (3 to 5 feet is perfect), you not only capture the horizontal indoor air movement but also expose an air purifier to the vertical air movement.

Should an air purifier be near a window?

With the window closed, the Cannon air purifier reduced particulate by an average of 90% after 20 minutes (blue lines). With the window open, the Cannon air purifier managed a 60% reduction (red lines). The data shows that it's clearly better to close the windows with running your air purifier.