Are whole house air purification systems better for my home?

For those seeking set-it-and-forget-it permanent air filtration, I recommend the Aprilaire brand of air cleaners.

I like these units because they are made in the USA, run silently along with your central AC or heat, and fit with nearly all ducted HVAC systems.

With only a couple hours of work, I can install one of these and offer customers 6 months of easy breezy air purification before it's time to change the filter. 

Quick glance: My recommendations

Air Purifier Product Database

Medify Air MA-112 

This air cleaner was originally designed to help parents provide their children with relief from poor air quality, so it uses medical-grade True HEPA filters paired with an activated carbon filter to catch 99.9% of airborne particles and eliminate odor.

In my opinion, the Medify MA-112 V2 has the best level of filtration you can buy for your home. It is definitely a strong contender for anyone who needs a purifier with the strength of a lion to tackle wildfire smoke, dust, pet dander, allergens, and unpleasant cooking odors.

I like that this model offers a child lock feature, and you can choose between four fan speeds with quiet operation. Plus, I can set a zero to eight hour timer to make sure that my child's sleep is never disturbed by me coming in to adjust settings. 

At 32 pounds, the Medify air purifier is significantly heavier than many other purifiers on my list.

I also recommend this Medify model on my list of the best air purifiers for removing VOCs. 

Turonic PH950 Air Purifier

I love when one device has more than one function, especially when it can actually deliver on both fronts.

That’s where the Turonic PH950 comes in, providing both air purification and humidification to large spaces. 

This Turonic model boasts 8 filtration stages, which initially had me questioning if this was even possible.

Most of the models on my list, including my top pick of the Medify MA-112, only have 3 stages of filtration. 

So let me break it down. Here’s how Turonic numbers their filtration stages:

I would say that including the ionizer, humidification, and UV light as filter stages is a stretch, and most brands wouldn’t market it this way. 

I also don’t really see the purpose of an extra cotton filter, but the Turonic still does a really impressive job of cleaning the air. 

Like the Levoit Core, the Turonic PH950 has an auto mode, which is my absolute favorite feature. 

I love that I can leave the air purifier on 24-7, and it will adjust the fan speed based on my current air quality. Most of air purifiers I reviewed only have the standard three fan speeds, including the VEWIOR Air Purifier.

The Turonic PH950 has an impressive 8 fan speeds, meaning that at the lowest speed, the sound will be nearly silent.

Overall, if you’re in the market for both an air purifier and humidifier for your home of up to 4200 square feet, I’d recommend the Turonic PH950.

Related article: Air purifiers compared to ionizers

Medify MA-125 Air Purifier

The Medify products have impressed me so much that I had to include two on this list.

This one, the Medify MA-125, is the one I recommend when you don’t quite need the 5000 square feet of coverage that the Medify MA-112 offers. 

This one is also about $80 cheaper, which can be a huge deal when on a budget. 

Most of the features between the MA-125 (this one) and the MA-112 are similar, making this device a proper little “mini-me.”

However, this Medify purifier takes the edge on fan speeds. While it’s predecessor only has 4 fan speeds, this one has a total of 9 fan stages. 

That means, just like the Turonic PH950, the Medify MA-125 can keep my home purified at all times and is nearly silent on the lowest speeds.

This air purifier is quite heavy at 40.7 lbs, so it’s ideal for those who have a particular location in mind. 

If you think you’ll be moving your purifier around a bit, take a look at something more portable, like the Levoit Core. 

My only gripe with the Medify brand is that their lifetime warranty coverage requires you to register within 90 days and use authentic Medify filters, and those filters don’t come cheap. 

However, with the highest level of HEPA filtration available (H14), it’s definitely worth the price, especially since the filter life is 3000 hours.

Levoit Core 600S

The Levoit Core 600S portable air purifier has a massive coverage area of 3,175 ft — plenty of square footage for any large room, such as a huge dining area, and homes with up to five bedrooms.

Its 3-in-1 filtration system captures a minimum of 99.7% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in size, which I found matches or exceeds most other air purifiers on the market.

For me, a 99.7% filtration percentage or better is the bare minimum I recommend because so many models on the market offer this or better.

One of the biggest benefits of this particular system is its QuietKEAP technology, which keeps noise levels as low as 26 decibels, which is softer than a whisper and plenty quiet whether you’re a light sleeper or working from home. 

Not only that, but this modern air purifier can be synced through its free VeSync app and connected to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

I love that I can monitor air quality from anywhere or give my air purifier voice commands, freeing up my hands and allowing me to multi-task as I tackle chores around my home.

When allergy season hits, I can even check pollen data through the Vesync app and adjust the purifier accordingly to make up for sudden increases in pollen.

While allergies are never fun, this model makes it easy to adapt to changing weather conditions and seasons.

I find the Levoit Core 600S stands out for its innovative smart technology, whisper-quiet fans, and excellent sleep mode, which goes as far as to turn off even the small display lights, so you’re in total darkness.

This is a HUGE step compared to models like the Medify Air MA-112, which only factor in reducing noise during its sleep mode. 

The only thing I don't like about this model is that it only works in temperatures below 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

As someone who has lived in scorching deserts, this would be an absolute dealbreaker for me if I wasn’t now living in a cooler climate. That said, thank goodness for air conditioning.

Alen BreatheSmart 75i

The Alen BreatheSmart uses a H13 HEPA Pure filter technology— the absolute best filter life available on the market — and has a top-notch 99.9% removal rate, which is about as high a percentage as you can get and better than models like the Leviot Core 600S with a standard 99.7% filtration efficiency.

While that 0.2% difference may not seem like a lot, any serious allergy sufferer (Present!) can tell you that we’ll take all the help we can get for maximum relief.

You can also opt for multiple colors and varieties, from the allergy option to odor and smoke coverage options, allowing you to customize your model to your exact needs.

For example, I don't live somewhere with much smoke, so I can stick with the model designed for allergies.

My favorite feature? This purifier doesn't impact my energy bills greatly. Its high energy efficiency only generates an energy cost of approximately 11 cents per day, even when run for 24 hours daily — slashing any concerns I have about my utility bills spiking.

I also like the SmartSensor technology built into this product. Its SmartSensor technology detects airborne particles, automatically adjusting its fan speeds to clean the air.

Simultaneously, the Alen purifier has an indicator that lights up different colors to indicate how clean the air is, so you can see your purifier working in real-time.

For example, blue light means the air quality is excellent, but red or purple indicates poor to bad air quality.

Blueair Blue Pure 211+

This cleaner has a built-in pollutant level monitor that auto-adjusts the fan to create optimal air quality.

The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ is ENERGY STAR-certified and uses less electricity than an LED lightbulb, making it a cost-effective choice.

In terms of removing contaminants, this purifier checks off all the boxes as it removes mold, pollen, bacteria, allergens, viruses, and other pollutants from your home’s air.

I particularly like that this model has a washable pre-filter, saving me money in filter replacements over time. Another plus in terms of value for money.

This model has also been independently tested for performance and safety and releases no ozone into the air — a claim that models like the Ivation 300B can’t make, so this is an excellent product for anyone concerned about ozone released in their home.

Overall, I recommend this air purifier to anyone concerned about their all-day air purifier sucking up a lot of energy or those wanting a hands-off product that they can plug in and go.

Related article: The top air purifiers with washable filters

VEWIOR

Similar to the Medify Air MA-112 air purifier, the VEWIOR Whole House Air Purifier uses a three-stage filtration system with an activated carbon filter, a H13 True HEPA filter, and a pre-filter that catches dust, lint, fibers, and pet dander.

This surpasses my expectations, especially for an air purifier with such a competitive price point of under $100.

This air purification system also comes with three fan speeds and five timer options, providing plenty of choices that meld with your lifestyle.

I personally use settings like these to customize when my air cleaner is running and how fast (and loud) the fan is moving so that I can reduce noise while working and intensify the fan speed when I’m out of the house.

Like the Alen BreatheSmart purifier, this model offers a built-in air quality sensor with real-time PM2.5 levels so you can see exactly what your home’s air quality is like.

With that said, I prefer Alen BreatheSmart’s color-coded indicator for an easy visual over the real-time numbers, but this all depends on your preference.

Both offer an excellent way to determine your home’s air quality and see the results of your new air purifier.

I love that this purifier has a built-in filter reminder that lights up red whenever I need to replace the filter.

While this is a pretty standard feature, it's useful and something I look for in a product.

A standout feature that only VEWIOR offers among the models in my guide is an aromatherapy diffuser option.

In addition to improving my home's air quality, I can drop my favorite essential oil on top of the purifier's essential oil cotton pad, and it will diffuse a lovely fragrance throughout my home.

Clean-up is also simple, as you can clean the washable filter cover with just water — a huge bonus for someone like myself who doesn't want to reference the product manual every time the filter needs to be cleaned to remind me what can and can't be used on it.

Who is the Ivation 300B best for?

The Ivation 300B is best for professional use in unoccupied spaces where strong odors, mold, or bacteria need to be eliminated, such as in restoration work or deep cleaning situations. While they can be effective in these scenarios, they should be used with caution and only by those who understand the risks and proper safety protocols, as ozone can be harmful when inhaled.

Should I have an air purifier in every room?

Having an air purifier in every room isn't necessary, depending on your specific air quality goals and the type of air cleaner you use.

If you have a home with poor air quality, purchasing an air purifier for every room may work, but I recommend looking into a whole-house air purifier.

Do air purifiers make the air dry?

No, air purifiers don’t make the air dry. Air purifiers improve air quality and don’t reduce indoor humidity.

If you’re interested in changing your home’s humidity levels, look into a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture content in the air or a humidifier to add it back into the air.

Related article: Air purifiers with built-in dehumidifiers

How long does a whole house air purifier last?

How long your whole house air purifier lasts depends on several factors, including maintenance, room size or the size of your home, and the durability of your specific unit.

Air filtration systems need their filters changed periodically, typically every six to 12 months, to reach their expected lifespan.

Are air purifiers a waste of money?

Air purifiers are seldom a waste of money. Whether you live in an area with many outdoor pollutants, such as a big city or by a busy road, or have allergies, a purifier significantly reduces the number of airborne contaminants in your home.