I know many people who buy a portable air purifier and leave it in one room in their apartment.
And when I tell them that it might be best to move the air purifier around from time to time, they often tell me they never knew that you could move an air purifier from room to room.
But looking back, I had no idea how to use my first air purifier either.
I understood its benefits and knew why I needed one, but knowing how to use one effectively is a different story.
So, if you’re wondering if you can move an air purifier from room to room, you aren’t alone.
Generally, air purifiers work best when you move them around.
Even if the air purifier can handle your entire home, you still need to move it around to get the most out of it.
And in this article, I’ll explain why.
Let’s dive into it.
Can an Air Purifier Clean the Air in a Whole House?
Many people I know have bought an air purifier designed for a 500-square-foot room, thinking they could leave it in the bedroom of their 300-square-foot apartment, and it would clean the air in the whole place.
While this might sound right, this isn’t the proper way to use a portable air purifier.
Most people have a portable air purifier without even knowing it.
Unless you bought an in-duct air purifier and had it installed in your HVAC system, you have a portable air purifier.
These air purifiers will do their job most efficiently if you move them from room to room every now and then.
For example, while misleading, if your air purifier’s product description says it can handle 300 square feet, it means a 300-square-foot room, not a 300-square-foot apartment.
The air purifier will have difficulty purifying the air in other rooms, even if they’re close together and the doors are wide open.
In fact, I always recommend closing the doors in the room where there’s an air purifier.
So, if your home has no walls and barriers, then a portable air purifier will likely be able to handle the whole house.
So, how do you use a portable air purifier to purify the air in your entire home?
That’s what I’ll explain in the next section.
Can I Move an Air Purifier from Room to Room?
Most air purifiers are designed to make moving from room to room easy.
This is because manufacturers understand that you need to move the air purifier around if you want to purify the air in your space effectively.
It’s best to move the air purifier around the house throughout the day, especially in rooms where people are most of the time.
That way, you can rest assured that the air will be clean, and you won’t be inhaling dust, pollen, and other harmful particles.
For example, if you work from home, you can start the day with the air purifier in your office.
And at the end of the day, when unwinding with family or friends, you can move the air purifier to the living room.
Then, when you go to sleep, you can move the air purifier with you to the bedroom so you don’t inhale pollutants and contaminants while you sleep.
Why You Need to Move Your Air Purifier from Room to Room
You need to move your air purifier because most air purifiers only clean the air of the room they are in.
So, if you have an air purifier running 24/7 in one room, you can rest assured that the air in that room is always clean.
Ideally, you want all the air you breathe at home to be clean and pollutant free, especially if you have bought an air purifier for allergies.
And to do that, you must move the air purifier to different rooms.
That way, you can rest assured that all the air in your house is clean, which is the main reason you need an air purifier in the first place.
Which Is the Best Room to Place an Air Purifier?
Simply put, there isn’t one room in the house that is the best place to put an air purifier.
I found it best to keep the air purifier in the room where people are hanging out.
That way, the air purifier will capture any particles that float around the air from people walking in, from cooking, and dust that floats around in the home.
However, if you’re alone in your house and staying in the bedroom, then there’s no reason to leave the air purifier in the living room.
So, if you just bought a new air purifier, remember that the air will be the cleanest in the room the air purifier is placed in.
While it still helps clean the air in other rooms (provided it can handle your square footage), the air in different rooms won’t be purified as efficiently.
So, to reap the most benefits from your air purifier, I highly suggest keeping it in the room that most people in the house hang out in during the day.
Are There Air Purifiers That Can Handle a Whole House?
If you have a stand-alone air purifier like the BluAir211+, Levoit Core 400S, or a similar model, these work best in the room they are in.
While it can improve the air quality of the whole house, it won’t capture as many particles in the other rooms if you don’t move it around.
All portable air purifiers work like this.
So, if you have one of these air purifiers, you must move them around if you want clean air at home.
However, if you live in a house with an HVAC unit, you can get away with using one air purifier for the entire place.
This is through in-duct air purifiers. Although, they can be a bit more expensive and work differently from portable air purifiers.
First, there are two general types of in-duct air purifiers that handle the air in the whole house; UV and Extended Media Filters.
The UV light air purifiers work the same way sunlight kills germs.
Professionals install the air purifier in your HVAC unit.
That way, the air that passes through the unit comes into contact with the UV light, killing germs before entering the vent into your home.
The other type of in-duct air purifier uses a series of different filters on top of the pre-filter of your HVAC unit.
That way, the tiny particles that might escape the original pre-filter won’t go through the vents and circulate around your home.
If you have one of these air purifiers, you can rest assured that all the air from your HVAC unit is clean.
This could be more convenient as you won’t have to move your air purifier from room to room, but these air purifiers aren’t for everyone.
To start, you need an HVAC unit at home. Not all homes have one of these, so in-duct air purifiers aren’t the most accessible option.
Additionally, you must pay a professional to install the air purifier in your ducts without damaging the HVAC unit.
So, portable air purifiers are still the most practical option for most people.
The only downside to portable air purifiers is that you will have to move them around.
Still, most modern air purifiers are lightweight and easy to transport, so it won’t be much of a hassle.
Why Get an Air Purifier?
I wasn’t immediately sold the first time I heard about air purifiers because they seem like such specific appliances that only serve one purpose.
On top of that, moving the air purifier around, changing the filters, and figuring out the suitable model seemed like an unnecessary hassle.
However, while everything I thought at the time had some truth to it, I didn’t see the bigger picture.
I didn’t know it then, but getting an air purifier offers many benefits that make it well worth the investment.
And if you’re having similar thoughts, here are some of the reasons I personally found it worthwhile investing in an air purifier:
Clean & Healthy Air
The first benefit of using an air purifier is getting clean and healthy air.
Modern air purifiers utilize various methods to ensure the air you breathe in your home is particle and pollutant-free.
Most air purifiers nowadays have a HEPA filter.
These are generally considered the best method for capturing dust in the air and is the one I recommend over ionization.
With a HEPA filter, you can capture fine dust and other particles that would otherwise circulate in the air and get in your lungs.
On top of that, it can absorb PM2.5 particles, some of the most concerning pollutants we can find in our air.
Additionally, many modern air purifiers also have a carbon filter.
These filters mainly absorb foul and strong odors at home.
Still, they can also absorb VOCs or volatile organic compounds, which are bad for our health despite being found in many modern homes.
So, if you get an air purifier, you will notice a drastic difference in the air you breathe.
When I turned my first air purifier on, I was genuinely surprised to notice such a huge difference.
Once you feel the clean and healthy air when the air purifier is on, you’ll find it hard to imagine how you lived without an air purifier before.
Say Bye to Allergies
The most significant benefit I got from my air purifier was a reduction in my allergies.
I have pretty bad seasonal allergies.
So, when spring comes along, dust and pollen are in the air, and my sinuses pay the price.
While I’ve learned to deal with it outdoors, it can be frustrating to have these issues when I’m in the comforts of my own home.
With an air purifier, dust and pollen won’t be a problem anymore.
So you won’t have to deal with allergies.
Also, air purifiers can capture pet dander, which is good if you or any of your regular guests with pet allergies visit your home.
Keep the House Smelling Fresh
As I mentioned earlier, the carbon filter in most air purifiers can absorb strong odors.
So, if you moved into a home that a smoker used to live in, you can use the air purifier to get rid of that smokey tobacco smell.
Even if you have cats, your air purifier can work to remove the foul odor that comes from their litter box.
For me, the carbon filter comes in handy whenever I cook dinner.
I’m no chef, but I enjoy using various spices and ingredients in my dishes, but unfortunately, the smell can sometimes linger for days.
With my air purifier, this isn’t a problem anymore.
I simply put my air purifier around the kitchen area, and the air purifier removes any odors by the following day.
The House Stays Clean for Longer
Another massive advantage of having an air purifier is that you can use it to keep your house clean for a long time.
Without an air purifier, the dust and particles floating around the air will eventually settle on surfaces in the room.
But if you have an air purifier, you can capture the dust before settling on a different surface.
That way, you won’t have to sweep or vacuum as much while still keeping your house clean.
Conclusion
Air purifiers can offer a ton of benefits.
However, if you only have one air purifier at home, it might be best to move it around from room to room.
This allows the air purifier to capture more contaminants in different areas of the house and ensures that everyone at home breathes in fresh and clean air.
Most air purifiers on the market are designed to be portable.
So, don’t hesitate to bring your air purifier out of your bedroom the next time people hang out in the living room!