Indoor air quality has become a significant concern, especially considering the amount of time spent indoors. If you're looking for something to help you achieve healthier air quality, improve unpleasant odors indoors, or alleviate respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis, pollen allergies, seasonal allergies, pet dander allergies, etc., then an air purifier is an excellent choice. To achieve the most effective air purification results, it's crucial not only to ensure that your air purifier is suitable for the size of your room but also to pay attention to the placement of the air purifier.
In this article, we will share important tips on placing air purifiers and help you determine the optimal place for an air purifier in various rooms (home office/study, basement, pet area, nursery or childcare room, bedroom, kitchen, living room).
Why Is Air Purifier Placement Important?
The optimal performance of an air purifier is not only influenced by its model, capacity, filters, and functions but also largely depends on its placement within the room. Understanding the best placement for an air purifier can maximize its efficiency in cleaning the air we breathe.
The primary working principle of most air purifiers is as follows: a fan draws in unfiltered air, passes it through filters, and then returns the filtered clean air to your living space.
We tested 10 air purifiers for different Spaces and types of air pollution. Through experiments, we found that the same air purifier placed in different positions under the same indoor air quality can have vastly different effects. Particularly, when placed in a corner or behind a television, the overall effectiveness of the air purifier can decrease by 50%.
So, where should you place an air purifier in a room to achieve the best results?
Where to Place Your Air Purifier in Room for the Best Results
When placing an air purifier in different rooms, there are some important tips to consider to ensure the best results. Here are some recommendations for the best placement locations in different rooms:
1、Home Office or Study
For those who spend a significant amount of time working or studying at home, placing an air purifier in the home office or study area is beneficial. These areas are often used frequently and may accumulate a lot of dust, bacteria, and other pollutants.
Placing the air purifier in the office or study area shouldn't cause any unnecessary attention, away from desks and computers. I suggest you move the device at least 15 inches (38 cm) away from walls and other objects. However, it's important to ensure that the air purifier's location is free from any obstacles to avoid blocking airflow, and regularly clean the filters to maintain optimal performance.
2、Bedroom
The bedroom is where people relax, rest, and recharge, so choosing an air purifier with a "sleep mode" function is crucial for sleep and health. It can help improve sleep quality and reduce the impact of allergens and pollutants on health.
Place the air purifier in a corner of the bedroom, away from the head of the bed and sleeping area, positioned 6 to 10 feet (1.8m to 3m) away from the head of the bed. At the same time, avoid directing the airflow directly at our faces or heads, as this may disrupt your sleep and cause discomfort, and even lead to headaches.
3、Living Roomand common areas
The living room is the main area for family activities and leisure, it's also where we spend most of our time and it's often crowded because there are always people there. Frequent activities in this area can generate a lot of dust. In addition, the living room and common areas are also sources of many pollutants such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, viruses, and bacteria. Therefore, the living room is often one of the most polluted rooms in the house, making it a good idea to equip it with an air purifier. Running an air purifier system around the clock helps to address all air pollutants.
Place the air purifier in the central area of the living room, where people frequently walk and stay, while keeping it away from electronic devices (suggested six feet/1.8 meters). This way, the air purifier can quickly and effectively capture dust particles in the air. Avoid placing the air purifier under or behind furniture.
4、Kitchen or cooking spaces
The kitchen is the primary source of oil fumes and cooking odors. During the cooking process, food preparation generates steam, oil fumes, and various odors, which are released into the air, affecting indoor air quality and comfort, and making people feel uncomfortable or repulsed. Therefore, placing an air purifier in the kitchen can effectively remove smoke, oil fumes, and odors.
Firstly, it's important to choose a model that has the ability to filter various particles in the kitchen. Secondly, place the air purifier near the stove or cooking area to minimize the time and opportunity for oil fumes and odors to enter the indoor air.
5、Basement
As is well-known, basements are often areas with higher humidity and are prone to mold and mildew. If you spend a lot of time in the basement, you've probably encountered the unpleasant and intolerable smell that hits you when you open the door. Placing an air purifier in the basement can effectively remove moisture and mold, improving air quality.
I recommend placing an air purifier near the moldy walls in the basement, as close to the source of mold as possible. It's important to avoid placing it too close to the walls.
6、Pet Area
Families with pets often encounter issues such as pet hair, odors, and allergies. Pet hair can float indoors and settle on furniture, floors, and other surfaces, while pet dander and secretions can release odors. Placing an air purifier with high-efficiency HEPA filters and activated carbon filters can help address these issues by effectively removing pet hair, dander, odors, and other harmful particles from the air.
Please place the air purifier as close as possible to the area where pets are most active, or where they spend the most time or relieve themselves. However, make sure that the purifier does not blow directly at the pets, as they are as sensitive as humans.
7、Nursery or Childcare Room
The respiratory systems of babies are not fully developed, and they are particularly sensitive to pollutants, especially during their most vulnerable times. By placing an air purifier, pollutants in the air, including dust, pollen, bacteria, and other allergens, can be effectively removed, providing a safer and healthier indoor environment.
Choosing an appropriate location near the baby's crib or changing table to place the air purifier is a good idea, ensuring its safety to prevent the baby from coming into contact with any part of the device.
Important Tips for Placing Your Air Purifier
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Cannot |
Can |
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Near walls or room corners (behind doors, in corners) |
Place in the room where you spend the most time |
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Behind or underneath furniture |
Position near the most severe air pollutants (smoke, odors, mold sources) |
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In high humidity areas (bathrooms, etc.) |
Place where airflow is maximum (doorways, near windows, room center) |
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Near electronic devices (microwaves, stereo systems, etc.) |
Optimal effectiveness is 3-5 feet above ground level (elevated devices) |
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Near heat sources or air conditioning vents |
Keep intake and outlet vents unobstructed |
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Near obstacles |
Additional Tip: For maximum efficiency, move the air purifier around the room |