Best Air Purifiers 2024 - The Definitive New Zealand Buying Guide
Our guide explains everything you need to know to buy the right air purifier for your home at the best price.
Updated 2 January 2024
Summary
To help you shop with confidence, our guide covers:
Know This First: What causes pollutants in the air?
Who is an air purifier suited to?
- If you suffer from allergies or live in a polluted area, you may think about getting an air purifier to give you the cleanest breathing air and alleviate your sinus issues. Air purifiers live in a crowded market, with the likes of Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming and online retailer pbtech selling all sorts of models.
- However, not all purifiers are created equal - some may claim they clean the air but instead only bounce the particles around the room (rather than removing them).
- If you're in the market for an air purifier, think carefully about why you need it. Do you just feel like the air is polluted, or do you have specific allergy issues? This will help you find the right model and avoid you being stuck with something unfit for your specific needs.
- Also, we suggest you challenge how frequently you'll need it - does it need to run around the clock, or do you want a programmable unit?
- We've put this guide together to help you shop with confidence and avoid buying something that's not fit for purpose. Air purifiers are a long-term investment both financially and in your health, with good models costing more than $500.
To help you shop with confidence, our guide covers:
- What Makes a Good Air Purifier, and What Do I Need to Consider When Buying One?
- What Types of Air Purifiers are Available?
- Four of the Best Air Purifiers Available in New Zealand Right Now
- Frequently Asked Questions
Know This First: What causes pollutants in the air?
- The air in your home may be even more polluted than the air outdoors. Not only do you have the pollutants from outside in your home, but you have dust, pet dander (skin, fur, everything related), cigarette smoke, mould, plant spores, chemicals emitted from items in your home, such as mattresses, paint, and furniture, and bacteria and viruses.
- The air outside moves around because there's more room for circulation. Inside air, though, is static and creates a stale and polluted environment. Even if you clean frequently, you may clear the air slightly, but it doesn't eliminate the pollutants that move around. Only an air purifier can help get the results you need.
Who is an air purifier suited to?
- People that live in a polluted area or that smoke often benefit from air purifiers. It clears the air, making it easier to breathe. Others that benefit are those suffering from allergies or asthma.
- Any pollutants or allergens in the air make it harder to take deep breaths, but an air purifier may help by removing the harmful contaminants.
How do air purifiers work?
Air purifiers sanitize their air as well as purifying it; particles in the air are removed and the air is cleaned to become free of contaminants. How effective and what particles are removed using an air purifier will depend on the model you choose and the size of your room.
​Are air purifiers effective?
Usually, yes, depending on where you live in New Zealand and your home. However, air purifiers work best when contaminants are in the air. They are not effective when it comes to removing particles that sit on soft surfaces, such as furniture, bedding, and carpets, as well as hard surfaces, such as the walls of your room.
Where and when don't air purifiers work?
The size of the air purifier is key - if it's too small, it won't have the power to sanitize a big room, let alone a home. The best way to limit new particles entering your home is to make sure you keep things clean. This includes frequent vacuuming, replacing carpets with flooring, washing pets often, not smoking in your home, ensuring your home has the correct humidity, not smoking inside and ventilating your home.
What Makes a Good Air Purifier, and What Do I Need to Consider When Buying One?
Air purifiers come in all shapes and sizes; some use the latest technology while others only have the bare minimum features. You may not need the purifier with all the latest features, but knowing what's available will help you make the right decisions.
Air purifiers come in all shapes and sizes; some use the latest technology while others only have the bare minimum features. You may not need the purifier with all the latest features, but knowing what's available will help you make the right decisions.
The most popular air purifier features:
The most popular air purifier features:
- Automation – Running an air filter around-the-clock is unnecessary. Choose an air purifier with automated settings. It turns the system on when needed (high pollution) and doesn't run it when unnecessary. Automation works well in high-traffic areas and during seasons of high allergies. It keeps the air clean when it's most polluted, but doesn't run when it's not needed.
- Timer – Setting a timer limits how long the purifier runs. If you aren't home, for example, you won't need it. Set the timer so the purifier runs at certain times of the day when you know you'll need it most, whiles saving on electricity when not using it.
- Fan – A fan helps the clean air circulate the room. Without a fan, the air next to the purifier is clean, but the rest of the air may remain polluted. Look for a purifier with a fan with multiple settings. You may choose the high setting during the day, but a lower setting at night when you need the noise level minimized.
- Pre-filter – This captures the largest particles in the air and prevents them from entering the purifier. This helps prolong the purifier's life. As a bonus, pre-filters are easy to clean and/or replace.
- Capabilities – Air purifiers clean air in specific room sizes; you'll need to know the area's square footage to find the right air purifier for your needs. Other considerations are whether you are cleaning the air in multiple rooms or just one? The most suitable option is a purifier that cleans the air in an area slightly larger than you need. This enables you to clear the air even on the lowest setting when you don't want the noise of the high settings.
- Wi-Fi capabilities – Do you like controlling your appliances from your smartphone? If so, look for a purifier with Wi-Fi. You can control the unit when you aren't at home, turning it on before you'll arrive home or shutting it off when you forget.
- Remote – Do you want a unit you have to get up to turn on or off, or would you rather have remote control access?
- Weight – Will you keep the air purifier in a single room or move it around? If you will use it in multiple rooms, watch the weight and size of the purifier to make moving it easier. Dragging something heavy around your home isn't fun - if the purifier has a carrying handle or caster wheels for portability, that's even better.
- Smart-enabled – Even air purifiers connect to your smartphone. Learn which pollutants your purifier removes and find out what the quality of the air you breathe. All of this is available on your smartphone. A classic air filter doesn't provide this information. You only know when the air is bad when the filter is dirty, and sometimes it's too late.
- Filter replacement lights – An air purifier is only as good as its filter's cleanliness. Filter indicator lights let you know if a filter needs replacing. If you forget, you're breathing in the same air you'd breathe without the purifier.
- Antimicrobial treatment – Air purifiers pick up the 'junk' in the air, including bacteria. Antimicrobial treatment protects the filter from these microorganisms, giving the air filter a longer life. It also reduces the risk of releasing the germs back into the air.
- Nightlight – This is useful for air purifiers in the bedroom to avoid waking you up or unsettled sleep.
​What Types of Air Purifiers are Available?
Air purifiers come in all forms - the four options below explain what's available in New Zealand, and the pros and cons of each.
Option One: HEPA – High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration Purifiers
HEPA is the highest standard in air purifiers. The paper filter grabs air contaminants, so you don't breathe them in. HEPA filters grab 99.9% of the air's pollutants, including the smallest 0.3 microns in size. Make sure the product is a 'true HEPA filter' and not HEPA-like. These filters only trap a fraction of the particles in the air. HEPA filters are efficient, removing most pollutants in the home. However, the filters must be replaced often and get costly.
Option Two: Carbon Filtration Air Purifiers
Carbon filtration filters are used mostly to clear the air of odours, rather than pollutants, carbon filtration uses activated carbon made of absorbent pores. The pores grab harmful odours, including gases and VOCs from cooking, painting, smoking, and chemical emissions. Carbon filters don't remove allergens or other harmful pollutants that cause respiratory issues. Carbon filters make the room smell fresh, but don't help with breathing issues.
Option Three: Ionic Filtration Air Purifiers
Ionic filtration filters releases ionic particles into the air that pushes contaminants to the floor. This removes the impurities from the air, but they remain in the room. If you add an electrostatic collection plate, it collects the particles removing them from the room. The filter removes particles as little as 0.01 micron in size. Ionic filtration removes allergens including pollen, pet dander, bacteria, and viruses, which help clear the air. It doesn't remove odours, though, and without the collection plate, the particles remain in the room.
Option Four: Ultraviolet Light Air Purifiers
Ultraviolet light filters uses UV light to kill the air's pollutants. Using only the UV-C ultraviolet light spectrum, the UV light is safe. Mainly used to kill viruses and bacteria, UV purifiers create a sterile environment in the home. Most air purifiers use UV light as an add-on, not as the main component of the purifier.
Understand ​Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) Ratings
You buy an air purifier to clear the air, so you need to know its Clean Air Delivery Rate, or how much air the air purifier can clean. You'll see the CADR in cubic feet per hour. Each purifier has differing CADR capabilities; the higher the CADR, the more of the room it cleans. You should choose one that suits the room size; anything too small will make your efforts pointless.
Purifiers are tested for CADR for each major pollutant:
Understand the CADR and what it means:
Purifiers are tested for CADR for each major pollutant:
- Dust
- Smoke
- Pollen
Understand the CADR and what it means:
- The purifier should have a rating for each. You'll see it labelled with three numbers.
- Each number will be between 10 – 450; the higher the rating, the more effective the purifier is at removing the pollutant.
- The rating will include all three numbers typically in a row, such as 100/150/300. Read closely to see which pollutant each number refers to. This enables you to choose the unit that purifies the pollutant you're most concerned about.
Air Purifiers - Other Considerations to Make Sure You Get the Best Results:
- The size of the room matters. You can buy the highest rated purifier, but if it only purifiers 300 cubic meters and your room is 800 cubic meters, it won't clean the air. Pay close attention to a purifier's rating and compare it to your room's size. Aim for a purifier that has a rating slightly larger than the size of your room.
- The purifier's placement. The best purifier won't work if you don't place it correctly. To maximize the effect, don't place a purifier in the corner of a room, or in an area blocked by furniture, tables, or walls. Give it at least two to three feet on each side. This allows the purifier to grab pollutants from all angles or emit ions into the air throughout the room (ion filter).
​Four of the Best Air Purifiers Available in New Zealand Right Now
Our list below, which is in no particular order, covers Air Purifiers available online and in stores around New Zealand. We have selected these based on average consumer reviews from customers locally and internationally, as well as various vendor websites and social media platforms both in New Zealand and, if available, overseas.
Important: No air purifier brand or retailer or brand has paid to appear on this list, and MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship with any air purifier supplier or brand below.
Important: No air purifier brand or retailer or brand has paid to appear on this list, and MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship with any air purifier supplier or brand below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What types of air purifiers are there?
There are several types of air purifiers, including HEPA filter air purifiers, activated carbon air purifiers, and UV air purifiers, as outlined in our guide above.
How much should I expect to pay for an air purifier?
Air purifiers range in price from around $250 to $1,000+, depending on the appliance's size, features, and quality.
What features should I look for in an air purifier?
Some features to consider when purchasing an air purifier include the size of the unit, the type of filter, the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) rating, and the noise level.
Know This: It is important to choose an air purifier that is the appropriate size for the room in which it will be used. A larger unit may be necessary for a larger room or one with high ceilings, while a smaller unit may be sufficient for a smaller space.
Know This: It is important to choose an air purifier that is the appropriate size for the room in which it will be used. A larger unit may be necessary for a larger room or one with high ceilings, while a smaller unit may be sufficient for a smaller space.
How do I maintain an air purifier?
To maintain an air purifier, it is important to regularly clean or replace the filters according to the manufacturer's recommendations. This will help ensure that the unit is functioning properly and effectively purifying the air.
Can an air purifier remove all pollutants from the air?
No, air purifiers cannot completely remove all pollutants from the air. However, they can effectively reduce the concentration of many common pollutants, such as dust, pet dander, and smoke.
Will an air purifier make a noticeable difference in my home's air quality?
An air purifier can make a noticeable difference in the air quality of a home, particularly if the unit is properly sized for the space and used in combination with other air quality improvement strategies, such as keeping windows and doors closed and using exhaust fans when cooking.
Can I use an air purifier for allergy relief?
An air purifier can help reduce the concentration of allergens in the air and may provide some relief for allergy sufferers. However, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice on allergy management.
Can I use an air purifier in a small space, such as a car or office?
Yes, there are air purifiers specifically designed for use in small spaces, such as cars and offices. These units are typically portable and can be easily moved from one location to another.
Can I use an air purifier with central air conditioning?
Yes, an air purifier can be used in conjunction with central air conditioning to help improve the air quality in your home.
