The first chilly night of fall usually means it's time to close the windows and turn on the heat. And heaters are equipped with air filters, which means you can pack up the air purifier until spring, right? Maybe not. Dust, pet dander, cooking fumes and fireplace smoke can concentrate indoors during the cold months, and with windows closed against the cold, some of those pollutants can linger longer than they would when fresh air is circulating freely.
According to Filtrete, air quality can worsen in winter thanks to tightly sealed windows, running your heating system and using fireplaces. A portable air purifier can help by continuously circulating indoor air through filters that capture particles such as dust, smoke and airborne allergens. Models with activated carbon filters can also reduce certain odors and gases. Air purifiers may even help reduce airborne particles that carry viruses, which is particularly useful during cold and flu season.
In this article: PuroAir 240 HEPA Air Purifier, Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH Air Purifier and PuroAir 400 HEPA Air Purifier
The trick is choosing the right purifier for your space. They're made for every type of room, with tons of filters and features. Here are some of our top recommendations for winter.
PuroAir 240 HEPA Air Purifier 20% OFF
This purifier, which was named the Best of the Best by our testers, combines a prefilter, HEPA filter and activated carbon, plus a particle sensor that automatically adjusts its fan speed in real time. It also offers sleep mode for quieter overnight operation. It works for spaces up to 1,100 square feet.
Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH Air Purifier
Want a purifier that responds to real-time air quality without making constant adjustments? This one offers automatic and Eco modes, with a real-time air quality indicator and a washable prefilter. Its HEPA and deodorization filters catch small air particles and remove odors.
PuroAir 400 HEPA Air Purifier 20% OFF
This is the larger version of the PuroAir 240, able to clean up to 2,000 square feet in just one hour. Like the smaller purifier, it uses a unique three-layer setup that combines a prefilter, HEPA filtration and activated carbon to catch everything from small particles to odors. It also has a smart sensor that adjusts the fan speed based on real-time pollution levels.
Levoit Eleva 300X Air Purifier
Levoit's Eleva 300X monitors three particle sizes — PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 — rather than just one. Its HEPA and activated carbon filters can be replaced separately, and the VeSync app lets you create schedules, view air quality reports and connect it to voice assistants.
Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier
This purifier offers a washable prefilter that handles larger debris, while HEPASilent filtration targets smaller airborne particles. It also has auto adjusting fan speeds, Wi-Fi scheduling and filter life tracking, and it operates at just 23 to 50 decibels.
Dreo 338 Air Purifier 33% OFF
This purifier offers a color-coded display where it tracks particles in the air and automatically changes fan speed based on its readings. Its three-in-one filter includes activated carbon to remove odors. It also offers Turbo and Sleep modes so you can adjust the airflow settings or operate it more quietly.
Dyson Hushjet Compact Air Purifier 14% OFF
This Dyson air purifier uses a star-shaped nozzle to reduce airflow noise, reaching just 24 decibels in Sleep mode. It has separate electrostatic and activated carbon filters that capture fine particles and odors, and it connects to the MyDyson app, where you can create schedules and view air quality reports.
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Shark NeverChange Air Purifier 40% OFF
If you don't want to pay for replacement filters, this is the purifier for you: Its NeverChange HEPA filter is designed to last up to five years. It also offers Washable Debris Defense screens that catch larger particles first, and a built-in display that tracks air quality.
This was our testers' favorite smart air purifier. It combines a washable mesh prefilter, True HEPA filtration and activated carbon, with a sensor that adjusts fan speed automatically. It uses Wi-Fi to allow you to check or change its settings remotely, no matter where you are.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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