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The Biggest Myths About Air Purifiers

You’ve probably seen ads saying air purifiers can fix things like pet smells, allergies, or even prevent illness. In an age where advertising can overpromise, it’s helpful to understand the uses and limits of these devices before spending the money to purchase one. If you’re considering a purifier but don’t know what to believe, here is a look at what’s real and what isn’t.

Air Purifiers Do Not Replace Cleaning Your Home

Many people assume that once they plug in an air purifier, they can scale back on dusting or forget about vacuuming altogether. This seems logical at first glance. If the purifier pulls allergens and particles out of the air, why not let it do the work? But while air purifiers help reduce airborne particles, they don’t clean surfaces or remove the heavier particles that settle into furniture, curtains, and carpets.

Dust contains skin cells, fibers, pet dander, and other debris that falls out of the air and sticks to things. Once it lands, an air purifier can’t touch it unless it is disturbed. To have a dust-free home, also vacuum with a HEPA filter, wash bedding regularly and wipe down surfaces. If your purifier picks up fewer particles after a deep clean, that’s a sign you’re using both tools together the right way.

Not All Filters Catch the Same Particles

Some forms of air purifier focus on dust and pet dander while others target smoke and odors. You won’t get the same results from every model, and assuming otherwise can lead to disappointment.

HEPA filters are designed to trap tiny particles, including pollen, some bacteria, and mold spores. They don’t catch gases or odors. If you’re trying to remove smells from cooking or chemicals, you need activated carbon in the system. If wildfire smoke is your main concern, you need an air filtration unit that handles fine particulates.

Also, an air purifier is not a dehumidifier. Water particles are not removed from the air in the same manner as other particulates and require a different, specialized appliance.

Air Purifiers Can’t Fix Ventilation Issues

If your home feels stuffy, you might think that a purifier will make the air fresher. It might help a little, especially if the stale feeling comes from dust or trapped allergens. But if the issue is poor airflow or a lack of fresh air, a purifier won’t solve that. It recirculates the same air in the room, filtering out particles but not replacing stale indoor air with outdoor air.

Proper ventilation brings in fresh oxygen and helps remove carbon dioxide, moisture, and odors that linger from daily life. Bathrooms without vents, kitchens without exhaust fans, or sealed homes without fresh air intake tend to feel heavy, no matter how technically clean the air. You might need a dedicated ventilation system or an energy recovery ventilator, not just a stand-alone filter.

Ozone-Generating Models Can Do More Harm Than Good

Some air purifiers use ozone to neutralize odors or destroy contaminants. Ozone interacts with pollutants, breaking them down chemically. But ozone can also irritate your lungs, especially if you already have asthma, allergies, or any respiratory condition. Even people without health issues can feel the effects with prolonged exposure.

These machines sometimes market themselves as air sanitizers. They can be useful for that purpose in cases where you are cleaning a room or building in order to restore it. Landlords often use them in a vacant apartment to break down old scents of pet urine and smoke before repainting or remodeling. However, it’s safest for your health when you limit their use to where people are not also spending time.

You Can’t Rely on One Unit for the Whole House

Some purifiers advertise coverage areas that sound huge. A single device claims to handle an entire floor or even your full home. In reality, most portable air purifiers only clean the room they’re in. They depend on pulling in enough air volume, running that air through the filter, and pushing it back out again. If airflow cannot move through every part of your home unimpeded, a purifier won’t be able to effectively clean everywhere.

To make purifying most effective, move the unit with you or use a multi-room system designed for full-home coverage. Some HVAC-connected systems can work with your existing ducts to treat air throughout the house. If you’re sticking with portable models, plan to target high-use rooms where clean air matters most.

They Aren’t Silent and They Aren’t Invisible

Air purifiers make noise. Some whisper while others hum or even rattle, depending on the fan setting. If you’re expecting complete silence, especially at higher speeds, you’ll likely be disappointed. The sound level can vary by brand, model, and fan setting, but even the quietest machines produce a background tone that never fully goes away. It’s a trade-off between performance and comfort.

You also can’t hide most purifiers behind furniture or in corners and expect them to work. They need access to airflow. That means you’ll have a visible appliance in your living area, office, or bedroom.

Maintenance Is Required

Air purifiers need regular attention to keep doing their job. If the filter clogs with dust and debris, it reduces how much air gets cleaned. It can also strain the motor over time. Some units give you a light to signal when it’s time for a new filter, but not all of them do. If you forget to replace or clean the filters, you’re running a fan with barely any filtration.

Air Purifiers Don’t Eliminate the Source of the Problem

If something inside your home produces large amounts of pollution or particles, the purifier can only remove so much. The machine may not be able to keep up with a mold problem that grows in a crawlspace or a pet that is shedding nonstop in the middle of allergy season. In situations like this, you may also need to identify what’s causing the issue and deal with it directly.

CADR Ratings Matter

When shopping for an air purifier, you’ll see CADR (clean air delivery rate) numbers listed on the box or in the specs. These numbers tell you how quickly the unit can filter particles like dust, pollen, and smoke from a set amount of air. A higher number means it works faster. If the CADR is too low, you have slower results and a false sense of protection. Matching the purifier’s capacity to the room size gives you cleaner air faster and lets you run the fan at lower speeds without sacrificing performance.

Improve Your Indoor Air Today

A home air purifier can absolutely improve your indoor air, but only if you understand what it’s built to do and use it properly. If you’re ready to stop guessing and breathe easier, start by booking an indoor air quality consultation with Hoff Heating & AC.

We also offer whole-home humidifiers, high-efficiency air cleaners, and HVAC maintenance services to support cleaner, healthier indoor air year-round.