9 Best Whole House Air Purifiers For a Cleaner Home

1. Honeywell F300E1019 (HVAC Air Purifier)

Our top pick for the overall best whole house air purifier goes to the Honeywell F300E1019. This is a fantastic, versatile air cleaner that’s suitable for almost all HVAC systems. It can operate with gas, oil, and forced air warm furnaces and AC systems and is compatible with most ducts.

It utilizes a three-stage filtration process that captures 98% of all the particles that pass through. In the first stage, larger particles like pet hair are caught by the prefilter. Next, the air is electrically charged as it passes through a high voltage electric field, and the charged particles are collected on collector plates with the opposite electrical charge. Finally, the air passes through media post-filters to remove even more particles before circulating the air through your home.

This process removes almost all the dust, pollen, and pollutants from the air in your home as well as most airborne bacteria. Electronic filters are also a great solution for removing byproducts of smoking from the air, so if you’re a smoker, this is a great option.

Because it uses an electronic filter, rather than a media filter, you won’t ever need to replace it, making this a low-maintenance and low-cost option. You just need to wash the filter every 6-12 months.

It has a MERV 11 rating, solid-state power supply, and excellent build quality. The rugged zinc-coated cabinet is very durable and built to last.

2. Alen BreatheSmart Classic

If you’re looking for a freestanding unit, look no further than the Alen BreatheSmart Classic. This is undoubtedly the best portable model for large home areas. As it’s freestanding, installation is a breeze – you just plug it in.

It also uses a True HEPA filter (remember, that’s the gold-standard in the filter world) with a 99.97% removal rate. It doesn’t get much better than that. The classic option will remove dust, allergens, pollen, pet dander, fur, smoke, VOC fumes, and even odors.

You can also choose between different HEPA filter types based on the particles you’re most concerned about. For example, if you suffer from allergies, select the ‘Allergies & Dust’ option. If you’re sensitive to VOCs or smoke, choose the ‘Smoke/Chemical’ option.

Unlike the Honeywell F300, the ionizer used in the filter is ozone free, which is great. It’s highly energy-efficient, consuming just 105 watts on turbo mode, and will automatically adjust the speed of the fan depending on how dirty the air is. The fan itself is whisper quiet and suitable for the bedroom. The advanced WhisperMax technology creates a ‘pink noise’ that’s conducive to sleep.

Another neat feature that we like is the air quality sensor light. The unit will monitor the air quality and change color to let you know how clean the air is. Blue means it’s excellent, orange is okay, and red is poor.

Because it’s not integrated into your HVAC system, it’s not going to cover your whole home unless you live in a studio apartment, but it does have an impressive 1100 sq. ft coverage area.

To put that into perspective, the average home size in the USA is around 2,000 sq. ft. So, while not quite large enough to cover your whole home at once, it’s not far off. It should be more than sufficient for most large rooms, and you can just move it around depending on which room you’re in.

 3. Aprilaire 5000 (Furnace Air Purifier)

Next up, we have the Aprilaire 500; probably the best furnace mounted whole house air purifier in this price range.

It claims to be able to remove 98% of airborne particles up to 0.1 microns through a combination of traditional air filters and electrostatic technology. For comparison, a True HEPA (the gold-standard) filter removes 99.97% of particles up to 0.3 microns, so it really isn’t a bad particle removal rate.

It’s especially useful at controlling allergens and works wonders for dust and pollen removal.  It removes 94% of asthma-triggering dust and 99% of pollen, mold, and spores, making it one of the best whole house air purifiers for allergies. I’d definitely recommend it this purifier for anyone that suffers from severe allergies, asthma, COPD, or other respiratory problems.

It’s a furnace-mounted unit, which means it needs to be installed on or near your furnace. As the air passes through your HVAC system, the unit filters out particles permanently with 72 sq. ft of microfiber filters. Unlike other HVAC-installed whole house air purifiers, the Aprilaire 5000 can be configured to run independently of your AC system.

Furnace installations are complex, so it’s probably a good idea to hire a professional to install it. It’s possible for novices to do it if you’re very handy and prepared to work but be prepared for sheet metal work and complicated wiring.

Other things we liked about the  Aprilaire 500 are the completely silent operation, easy maintenance (filters last around a year), and adjustable energy-saving settings.

4. EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Model Air Purifier

The EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Model is an air purifier on steroids. It is one of the best air purifiers on the market and comes assembled and almost ready to go out of the box.

Set up instructions are found on the air filter and in the owner’s manual. Set up is less than 5 minutes. Following the instructions, you should run the system on high for 24 to 48 hours to get a good cycle of the air in your home.

After that, you should turn the system down to the lowest setting and let it run for a few more hours before selecting the right speed for your needs. This model is best for areas 1000 square feet or less and comes with a 4-speed motor capable of moving 250 CFM of air and performing up to 5 air exchanges per hour.

The caster wheels come attached already and roll fine over hard flooring, low pile and high pile carpet, rugs, and floor mats. It is important to note that the wheels do not lock. The unit weighs just under 40 pounds, and on an uneven surface is can move and even pick up steam, banging into a wall or counter with a pretty good force.

It removes all odors from the house, and after returning home after a day out, you can actually smell the fresh air. Other than the wheels not locking, we can’t find anything to complain about.

5. Hathaspace HSP002 Smart Air Purifier 2.0

The Hathaspace Smart Air Purifier 2.0 is their brand new model based on the technology of their original design and quite a few upgrades. The biggest selling feature is that it uses an H13 HEPA air purifier, arguably better than True HEPA filtration and completely medical grade – trapping 99% of all air particles up to .1 micron. Most air purifiers can only trap particles .3 microns or larger.

We think that this Hathaspace model is the best portable model for large spaces. It will replace 100% of the air in areas up to 1500 sq ft once every hour, making it ideal for whole home use. It’s an especially optimal choice for people who rent because there aren’t any permanent fixtures like some of the other options out there.

My favorite feature of the Hathaspace 2.0 is the energy efficient smart features. When this air purifier is set to “Auto Mode,” sensors will automatically adjust the fan with a range of five different speeds based on your current air quality. The unit is Energy Star certified, and the company says that this feature alone will save you money and energy with a power savings of up to 90% over other models.

Hathaspace is confident that you’ll love this new model, and we are too. If it’s not enough to convince you, though, know that the company also includes a 5-year warranty with this product.

6. GT3000

The GT3000 is another excellent freestanding whole-home air purifier. It’s excellent at removing odors and is probably the best whole house air purifier for mold.

It works differently than many other air purifiers in that it uses an ‘active air purification system’ rather than a passive system. This means that it doesn’t just filter out particles that reach the filter. Rather, it utilizes a process called ‘flocculation’ and creates ionization to attract particles in your home together, causing them to clump up and fall down out of breathing space.

The advantage of this kind of purification process is that it can remove very tiny particles even smaller than the 0.3 microns that HEPA filters are capable of removing. We’re talking about particles in the nanometer range.

The main disadvantage is that this process also creates ozone, which has a distinctive odor and can be harmful to breathe in large amounts. That being said, the GT3000 product listing states that it won’t lead to an ozone density of over 0.05 ppm if used correctly, which is generally considered to be safe and less than the maximum recommended output of indoor medical devices under FDA health standards.

The GT3000 uses four advanced filtration technologies that work together to eliminate the harmful mold, bacteria, and viruses in the air and keep your home clean. It also eliminates odors from pets, cooking, and smoking and replaces it with a fresh, outdoor-esque scent.

It’s easy to set up – just plug it in and turn it on. You can also easily adjust it to your preferences by changing the fan speed and coverage area.

7. Aprilaire 2410

If you’re looking for something more affordable, check out the Aprilaire 2410. This is our top pick for the best budget whole-house air purifier. It offers excellent value-for-money with a greater performance-per-dollar ratio than any other model on this list.

It’s a furnace-mounted unit, so be sure to check that it’ll fit in your HVAC system before you buy. It uses an extended media filter that’s over 30 times the size of standard 1” furnace filters to remove 98% of visible airborne particles like dust, pet dander, and other large particles. It also captures over 97% of airborne pollen.

It has very low maintenance requirements; all you have to do is replace the filters around once per year. Replacement filters only cost around $40 apiece. You also don’t have to worry about ozone as the unit has no moving parts.

It’s relatively easy to install for a furnace-mounted unit, but I’d still recommend having a professional take care of it. If you want to install it yourself, make sure you do your homework first and use a pair of heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands from the sheet metal.

8. Coway Airmega 400

The Coway Airmega 400 is the best whole house air purifier for households with pets. It does a great job of filtering out pet dander as well as pet odors thanks to the combination of activated carbon and True HEPA filter. The HEPA filter captures 99.97% of particles in the air above 0.3 microns, while the activated carbon neutralizes foul odors. There’s also a washable prefilter to capture larger particles.

It’s a freestanding unit designed to cover up to 1,560 square feet, which means it’s more suitable for smaller homes or apartments. If you’re using this in a larger home, be aware that it might only clean the room it’s placed in.

One thing I like about the Conway Airmega 400 is the smart sensors. They test the indoor air quality in real-time and let you know how clean it is through brightly colored LED rings. You can glance at the color to instantly see the quality of the air you’re breathing and adjust the settings accordingly.

Speaking of settings, the Coway Airmega lets you choose between five different fan modes: High, Medium, Low, Sleep, and Smart. The Smart setting is especially neat; it automatically adjusts the fan speeds depending on the current air quality in the room to maximize energy efficiency.

9. GermGuardian AC4150BLCA

Finally, we have the GermGuardian AC4150BLCA, our favorite mini whole house UV air purifier. It uses a recognized winning combiniation of UV-C filter, Hepa & Carbon to eliminate viruses and odors from the air.

UV purifiers like this use UV light to destroy microbial contaminants in the air, which is why they’re a great choice for hospitals and households where germs are the main concern. It also does a great job of getting rid of both pet and cooking odors, as well as chemical vapors. Your home will smell great after running this for a few hours.

As this purifier doesn’t integrate with your HVAC system, you’ll need to see the other models above if that’s what you are after. Users report being easily able to install it themselves as its a simple plug and play system. This particular model is perfect for bedrooms, especially if you ar concerned about germs in the room. It is whisper-quiet, reliable and value for money.

With the GermGuardian AC4150BLCA, you are getting a high-quality product that is suitable for home use in rooms up to about 55 square feet in size.

People Also Ask (FAQ)

What type of maintenance is needed with these air filtration systems?

You’ll need to change the filters periodically. In the case of UV filters, you may also need to replace the bulbs every year or so.

When and how often do I need to change the filters for my whole house air purifiers?

It depends on the type of filter, but usually every 6 or 12 months. HEPA filters only typically need to be changed once per year, whereas carbon filters last 3-6 months.

How do I test air quality at home?

There are various kits and devices that can be used to test the air quality in your home. An air quality monitor will detect and log the air quality in your home over time. You can also look for signs of poor air quality yourself, like mold and musty odors.

Find more information on air quality test kits here.

How long should I run my air purifier?

Most air purifiers are designed to be continuously run – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, if you spend most of your time out of the house and want to save on electricity usage, you can reduce that to 10-12 hours a day.

How does a portable air purifier compare to whole-house air purifiers?

Portable air purifiers are plug-and-play devices that are much simpler to set up. They’re also often more capable of removing the tiniest particles due to the kind of HEPA filters they usually use. However, they’re less effective at purifying large areas across your whole home. You’ll usually have to move them to whatever room you’re currently in for them to be effective. Whole-home air purifiers are more challenging to install but are better at cleaning the air across your home.

What are the best ways of improving the air quality inside the home?

Aside from using an air purifier, some other ways to improve the air quality inside your home are to avoid smoking near your property, cut out aerosols, keep your home scrupulously clean (especially carpets and furniture), keep your home well-ventilated by letting in fresh air through the windows, use eco-friendly cleaning products, and invest in some houseplants.