Elevation is key when it comes to placing an air purifier for maximum effectiveness. It is best to place the air purifier 3 to 5 feet from the ground, such as on a sturdy table. This will help take advantage of the room's airflow. For large air purifiers, they should be placed on the floor, while small, portable air purifiers should be placed on a small desk no more than 3 feet (about 1 meter) high.
When considering the purchase and use of products with technology that can generate ozone, it is important to verify that the equipment complies with the UL 867 standard certification (standard for electrostatic air filters) for the production of acceptable levels of ozone, or preferably the UL 2998 standard certification (Environmental Claims Validation Procedure (ECVP) for zero ozone emissions from air filters). Most air purifiers have an intake fan to suck in untreated air and an exhaust fan to circulate clean air. Negative air ions are generally O2 molecules with an excess of electrons and positive air ions are generally N2+, O2+, N+ and O+ molecules with an electron deficiency. While confirming that air ionizers are capable of removing ultrafine particles from indoor environments, the results of this study provide more information on room size and ventilation systems.
Based on my experience with the daily use and testing of air purifiers, I analyzed the characteristics of some of the most common rooms and made suggestions for the proper placement of air purifiers in them. Although the best location to place an air purifier is in the center of the living room, it's not always the solution, especially since an air purifier needs a nearby power outlet. There is no need to place large and some medium-sized air purifiers on a table, as they are generally powerful enough to circulate air around the room smoothly, even from the floor. When placing an air purifier, several factors must be considered, such as room size, type of air purifier, air flow, noise level, and accessibility to electrical outlets.
Placing an air purifier on a higher surface, such as a table or shelf, has been shown to help improve its efficiency by allowing air to enter from a higher level. A whole-home air purifier is designed to filter air from a larger indoor environment through an air piping system or as an accessory to the home's existing HVAC air treatment system. After testing air purifiers in specific situations, it has been confirmed that if someone smokes in the living room, it's best to open a window while smoking and turn on the air purifier afterwards to further remove cigarette smoke and clean the air thoroughly.
