Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity? For most people, this is one of the first questions they want to ask when buying an air purifier, and there’s a good reason behind it! And what’s that?
Purifiers don’t just clean your air; they make it better to breathe, too. This means that you not only want the highest-quality air purifier you can afford, but you also want one that won’t cost an arm and a leg in energy bills every month!
So, how much electricity do air purifiers use? Do they consume less or high energy? We have the answer for you! Before answering, let’s see what an air purifier is. Read on!
Read Also: Benefits of air purifiers
Air purifier
An air purifier is a device that removes contaminants from indoor air. The most common are HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which remove dust and particulates from the air. Some air purifiers also use UV light to kill airborne viruses or germs (for example, by eliminating bacteria on electronic equipment or killing mold spores).
Read Also: Best air purifiers for homes
Does it make sense to run an air purifier all day long?
For most of us, though, running an air purifier for eight hours every day likely won’t change your energy bill by more than a few bucks a month. For example, let’s say you have an air purifier that consumes 60 watts (like Winix) and costs $150.
If you run it 24/7, 365 days a year at 8 cents per kWh (the national average), it will cost you about $11.60 in electricity each year. If your air purifier is rated to cover 1,000 square feet, it will cost about 0.16 cents per hour to run—or about 7 cents an hour if it runs 24/7 for 8 hours each day.
Do air purifiers increase static electricity?
Air purifiers can be particularly effective in reducing airborne pollutants and allergens, but they also have a negative side effect: increased static electricity. Static electricity, also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD), is a build-up of an electrical charge that makes it easy for people to shock each other.
Increased ESD poses dangers for those with pacemakers or other implanted devices, who are at risk of being shocked. In addition to these potential dangers, high levels of ESD can damage sensitive equipment and computers. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your air purifier’s effects on static electricity.
One way is by using anti-static floor mats under your air purifier; these mats will help ground any charges that develop in your home from your air purifier. In addition, you should make sure you don’t wear synthetic clothing around your air purifiers, such as nylon or polyester, as these fabrics tend to attract more static than natural fibers like cotton.
How much electricity does an air purifier use?
One issue with looking up how much electricity your air purifier uses is that there is no industry standard for doing so. Some air purifiers are more efficient than others, and some use more energy than others. There are also different types of air purifiers; some are meant to clean large areas and others are meant to clean small spaces like offices or bedrooms.
If you have a big house or want to run your air purifier 24/7 then you should look into getting one that is more energy-efficient. Another thing that can affect how much electricity your air purifier uses is where in your home it gets plugged in.
Different types of filters impact energy usage
A key factor in determining an air purifier’s energy usage is its filtration method. There are three main types of air filters: 1) Pre-filter, 2) True HEPA filter, and 3) Ultra-low-particulate (ULPA) filter.
The pre-filter traps large particles like hair and pet dander; a true HEPA filter captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns; ULPA filters capture even smaller particles at .1 microns or less. All of these filters have their roles to play and impact the amount of energy your device can consume.
Should you leave an air purifier on all the time?
If you’re worried about energy consumption, you may be wondering if it’s worth keeping your air purifier on all day. Here are a few things to consider:
First, keep in mind that an air purifier running all day won’t necessarily mean it will use more energy than a typical light bulb. It’s important to look at watts per hour (W/hr) when comparing appliances and electronics.
For example, a 60-watt incandescent light bulb is equivalent to 1.5 W/hr; most air purifiers run between 50 and 100 W/hr, and there are less than half of what most lights consume!
Second, remember that your air purifier will likely operate at full power for only short periods when allergens or pollutants peak in your home or office space.
How much will my bill increase for the air purifier?
This is a very important issue, since if you don’t know how much it will cost, then you may not be able to afford to run your air purifier. If you want to save money, it’s a good idea to consider how much electricity your air purifier costs.
In addition to filtering your air, many models (such as HEPA Air Purifiers) also include built-in fans that use small amounts of energy while they run.
Depending on which model you choose, however, an air purifier can increase your electric bill by as much as $100 per year. This is especially true if you have multiple air purifiers running in different rooms or at different times of the day. So it’s always good to minimize the use of your air filter.
How many hours should you run an air purifier?
Air purifiers consume electricity, so you’ll want to make sure you choose a model that will not run up your power bill. On average, air purifiers use about 90 watts. If you were running an air purifier for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, it would use about 40 kWh of electricity each month, less than $5 in most areas of North America.
But remember, running an air purifier continuously can also save you money on doctor visits and medicine because it reduces allergy and asthma symptoms.
Using your unit as designed will help save on energy costs
Another reason you should care about how much electricity your air purifier uses is that it will help cut costs on your utility bill. Air purifiers use a lot of power, especially larger models like those with motorized filters or UV lights.
If you’re in a state where electricity prices are higher (e.g Texas, Hawaii and California), an air purifier that consumes more energy might be more expensive to run than one that doesn’t. It can also lead to increased wear-and-tear on motors and fans, which means a shorter lifespan for your unit.
For example, if you’re using a Coway air purifier with a 3-speed fan that runs at high speed for 10 hours per day, 365 days per year, you could be spending as much as $724 per year just on electricity! That would make up around 4% of the total cost of ownership over 5 years!
Conclusion: do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?
Choosing an air purifier is important – it can improve your indoor air quality, but only if you choose correctly. Also, remember, running your air purifier all the time doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in energy consumption, especially when you are using the right device.
If you’re looking for a great way to cut costs and cleanse your indoor air at home, the HoMedics Air Purifiers area is a great option. It’s just one of many recommendations for devices that can help make sure that your air is safe to breathe.
If you enjoy reading this “Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?”, you may also find this article that talks about the benefits of having an air-purifying system around you to be helpful.