If you’re heading off to college this fall, there are certain pieces of equipment you should get that won’t be standard in your dorm room. One piece of equipment you may want is a good-quality air purifier.
- 1 Things to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier
- 2 Should you bring an air purifier to college?
- 3 Why do I need an air purifier for my dorm room?
- 4 Are air purifiers allowed in dorm rooms?
- 5 Do air purifiers help with stuffy rooms?
- 6 Why is it good to have a dorm room air purifier?
- 7 Do air purifiers help in dorm rooms?
- 8 Do u need an air purifier in college?
- 9 How big of an air purifier do I need for a classroom?
If you’re a college student, chances are you’ve been looking for the best air purifier for dorm rooms.
As a new academic year rolls around, many of you will be heading off to college for the first time. Moving away from home can be an exciting experience, where you get your first real taste of independent living. However, you may soon realize that the living standards you’ve grown accustomed to will soon be a thing of the past.
After all, dorm rooms aren’t often regarded for their immaculate cleanliness, generous size, or personal space. Instead, you’ll probably find that after a long day spent in the library or out making new friends, keeping your new dorm spick and span has seriously fallen by the wayside.Besides the inevitable dirty dishes and piles of laundry that will soon start to build up, you’ll also have to navigate living in close quarters with one or more roommates. You may also fall foul of the dreaded freshman plague that is rife on campus, ready to strike against weary students.
So, how can you combat mounting dust and dirt, potent pongs, and vicious viruses whilst also juggling a full-time study schedule and budding social life? Well, a simple solution that requires next to no effort is to invest in an air purifier.What criteria are required to determine the best air purifier for a dorm room? First, you’ll want to consider the size of the unit. Depending on the size of your room, and if you have a roommate, you might prefer a desktop air purifier rather than a floor model to save on precious square feet.
Additionally, you’ll want to consider which air pollutants are an issue and find an air purifier with a filtration system that’s rated to effectively and efficiently remove those contaminants. Other features, like quiet mode or even an app-based control panel, can make your air purifier more intuitive and easier to use.
1.LEVOIT Air Purifier
Pros
- The air purifier comes with excellent performance for an affordable option.
- This well-made little purifier works well in a medium-sized college dorm room.
- When it’s in sleep mode, it’s a quiet purifier.
- It’s a compact size, suitable for use as a desktop air purifier.
- It comes with an indicator to tell you when pre-filter or carbon filters need replacing.
Cons
- It doesn’t come with smart features (such as auto mode) on the control panel.
- It doesn’t come with extra features, such as an LED display to let you know what the current air quality is.
The LEVOIT air purifier is a powerful compact unit, with a 360-degree air intake facility. Plus, it includes a 3-stage filtration system, which involves an H13 HEPA filter for greater efficiency.
Measuring only 14.2 by 8.7 inches is ideal for placing in a dorm room where limited space is available. It can also be freestanding on the floor or, if you wish, a desktop air purifier.
2.Coway Airmega AP-1512HH True HEPA Air Purifier
Feature
Purifier technology:True HEPA, activated carbon, and pre-filter plus bipolar ionizer
CADR (CFM / m³/h):240 CFM
Recommended room size:361 ft²
Filter life:6 months
Noise level (low – high):24 – 53 dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):18.3H x 16.8W x 9.6D inches / 46.5H x 42.7W x 24.4D cm
Weight (in pounds / in kg):12.3 lbs / 5.58 kg
Energy consumption:$168.58 per year
Pros
- Powerful performance that rids rooms of pollutants fast
- Despite its power, it can run at whisper quiet volumes on its lowest speed setting
- Unique and modern design
Cons
- Powerful performance comes at a cost, drawing 77.6 watts when used on its highest setting
- On the larger side, which may take up a lot of valuable floor space
In fact, this purifier is the most powerful unit on our list of top dorm room recommendations. Boasting not only the highest CADR score overall, but registering the fastest time in our real-world performance tests too, having cleared our 705 cubic foot test space of all pollutants in just 23 minutes.
With a pre-filter, True HEPA and activated carbon filters under the hood, you can rest assured this unit will effectively eradicate pollutants in a room up to 361 ft². Plus, with its additional bipolar ionizer, you can also electrostatically charge particles to make them easier for the HEPA filter to capture, whilst neutralizing harmful bacteria and viruses in the process.
3.Germ Guardian Air Purifier for Home
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Compact profile
- Effective four-filter system
Cons
- Slight burning smell
This device has a four-stage filtration system that includes an effective HEPA air filter for removing dust, pollen, and allergens. It has a UVC light that eliminates viruses, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Rated at 55W, this air filter is efficient and safe for dorm rooms. However, this device produces a slight burning smell.
This GermGuadian AC4825E air filter has a coverage of 743 sq. ft. per hour, so it’s suitable for both dorm rooms and apartments. A prefilter traps large particles. This device also has an activated charcoal filter for fighting odors. With a freestanding vertical design, this air purifier has a small footprint that’s suitable for desks and narrow spaces. The air purifier is easy to take apart for cleaning or replacing filters.
4.LEVOIT Air Purifiers for Home
Pros
- Super quiet performance
- Sleek design
- Compact construction
Cons
- Emits a slight burning smell at high settings
This ozone-free air purifier is safe to use in living spaces. It uses an environmentally responsible UVC light to purify the air. This air purifier is also suitable for people with asthma and allergies. With whisper-quiet performance, this device is ideal for nighttime purification. However, this device produces a slight burning smell when the fan speed increases.
This fine Levoit air purifier has three fan speeds to help users change between aggressive purification and quiet performance. It has nine different certifications for safety. The device is quite efficient and is unlikely to significantly impact the energy bill. Its three-stage filtration system includes an H13 air filter, which removes dust, pollen, pet hair, and other particles. An ambiance of blue light instantly transforms the mood in the room.
Also read:Best Baby Air Purifiers
5.Pure Enrichment® PureZone™ Air Purifier
Pros
- This full-air filter offers excellent performance.
- It’s a convenient compact tower design.
- It’s fitted with an accurate smart sensor, providing better air-cleaning performance.
- Auto mode will adjust the equipment to clean the air effectively.
- A UV-C sanitizing light helps kill off airborne particles and germs that could prove detrimental to your health.
Cons
- It can be pretty noisy when you have it running at its highest speed.
- It comes with a low CADR rating.
- The cost to replace filters in this model is high.
It comes with several settings that’ll allow it to meet all your purifying needs. If you use it daily, you´ll find the HEPA filter is more than adequate at removing unwanted items from the air in your room, via the 3-speed fan and auto mode feature.
Plus, this purifier comes with the additional feature of a UV-C sanitizing light that’s great for removing airborne germs that are measured in microns in size.
6.Smart Air S (HEPA + Carbon)
Feature
Purifier technology:H12 HEPA and activated carbon filters
CADR (CFM / m³/h):185 CFM
Recommended room size:430 ft²
Filter life:HEPA filter: Every 9 – 12 months. Carbon filter: 6 – 12 months
Noise level (low – high):23 – 52 dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):14.6H x 13W x 13D inches / 37H x 33W x 33D cm
Weight (in pounds / in kg):16.5 lbs / 7.5 kg
Energy consumption:$82.55 per year
Pros
- Filters that last up to a year
- Operates at just 23 dB on lowest speed setting
- Small size and unique design
- Designed with performance in mind
Cons
- No smart features or air quality feedback
- Not the most energy efficient
Despite its small and cute appearance, this purifier has powerful fans and quality filters under the hood that make this unit a force to be reckoned with. It can complete 5x air cycles in an hour within a 430 ft² space whilst removing 99.95% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns in the process.
Focusing on performance rather than fancy features or glossy design has paid dividends for Smart Health. Although it has an old-fashioned dial operation (which makes it super intuitive to use) and certainly can’t connect to your smart speaker, it was able to clear our home office of all pollutants in an impressive 29 minutes during our real-world tests, making it the second-fastest unit on this list.
Also read:Best Air Purifiers With Washable Filters
7.Honeywell HPA100 HEPA Air Purifier
Pros
- Incredibly compact design
- HEPA filter
- Shut off delay timer
Cons
- Slight burning odor
This air purifier has a HEPA filter that eliminates small particles and allergens. It has four customizable fan speeds. Its freestanding vertical design occupies a small space, so this device can be installed on shelves or small tables. This device is effective in removing pet hair, VOCs, and odors. However, some units have a very slight burning smell when set to Turbo mode.
This Honeywell HPA100 air purifier has an intuitive control panel, which allows adjusting settings easily. A Check Filter indicator lets users know when it’s time to replace or wash the filters. Featuring an auto power-off timer with delays of up to 8 hours, this device offers effortless operation. It has a dimmer button that reduces the brightness of the purifier’s light as needed. A Turbo mode removes pollutants very fast.
Also read:Best Air Purifiers for Mold
8.Medify MA-40 Air Purifier
Pros
- Incredibly powerful filtration system
- Delay timer and child lock
- Stylish design
Cons
- Device is loud at high fan speed settings
This air purifier has a high CADR, so it cleans up the air in rooms of up to 1600 sq. ft. in just 1 hour. It’s more than adequate for dorm rooms, and it is also suitable for apartments. The HEPA H13 filter on this model removes particles down to 0.1 microns. However, this device is a bit loud at high fan speed settings. For a unit with an ultra-quiet operation, you’ll want to read our Austin Air Healthmate HM400 review.
This Medify MA-40 air purifier is ETL-listed and ENERGY STAR-certified for efficient operation. It has a durable filter that lasts about 3,000 hours or six months. The air purifier has a touch control panel that allows users to adjust several parameters. A child lock prevents children from tampering with this device’s operation. It also has a 0-8 hour delay timer for putting the operation on autopilot. It has a sleep mode that’s especially suitable for dorm rooms. Users can choose from three fan speeds, depending on whether they want to maximize filtration or minimize noise.
9.HATHASPACE Smart Air Purifier 2.0
Pros
- The primary filter in this model is a medical-grade True HEPA-type filter that easily gets rid of odors such as cigarette smoke.
- It’s 100% ozone-free.
- The purifier is fitted with an air quality sensor and a five-stage filtration system.
- It comes with four different fan speeds that can be activated through the control panel.
- It comes with max, sleep, and auto modes.
- It’s fitted with a washable pre-stage filter.
- It’s energy star certified.
- You get a 5-year warranty with this model.
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a remote control.
- Filter replacement needs to be carried out often, as the filter life in this model is around 3 to 4 months.
- The cost of replacing the filter assemblies regularly can be as much as $150 a year.
The HATHASPACE HSP002 is a powerful piece of equipment, yet it doesn’t produce a great deal of noise on any speed setting.Like other stylish design models, this one is easy to use as all controls are found on the top of the unit.
10.Medify MA-15 Air Purifier
Feature
Purifier technology:Pre-filter, H13 True HEPA, and active carbon composite
CADR (CFM / m³/h):88 CFM
Recommended room size:165 ft²
Filter life:3 – 4 months
Noise level (low – high):35 – 51dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):12.2H X 7.5W X 7.5D inches / 31H x 19W x 19D cm
Weight (in pounds / in kg):5.89 lbs / 2.7 kg
Energy consumption:$46.27per year
Pros
- Uses top-of-the-line H13 HEPA filter
- Available in either silver or white
- Small size makes it easy to maneuver around your space
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not the quietest of air purifiers
- Short filter life
The Medify MA-15 is compact enough to sit on top of a desk whilst being highly efficient at ridding your dorm room of airborne pollutants.
With three levels of filtration, including a pre-filter, H13 True HEPA, and Active Carbon Composite filter, this unit makes light work of capturing dust mites, odors, mold spores, and even microscopic viruses as small as 0.1 microns. Plus, thanks to its powerful fans, it can complete four air changes per hour in a 165 ft² sized space, creating a much healthier environment for you and your roommates.
Operating this purifier is super simple, with fuss-free filter changes and an intuitive control panel where you can cycle through the three fan speeds, set a range of timers, or activate sleep mode. This model is ultra-lightweight and takes up next to no room, so will fit perfectly inside a dorm room.
Also read:best car air purifiers
Things to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier
As you’ll be spending quite some time in your dorm room with others, there are certain things you need to consider to choose the right air purifier.
Whether you want help controlling odors, protecting against viruses, or providing relief from allergies, certain factors will come into play. We take a look at these factors below.
1. Is It Built to Last?
You want a purifier you know is going to last for a few years. So ideally, look for purifiers for dorm rooms with a warranty of upwards of 3 years.
2. Is It Able to Remove Unwanted Dorm Room Odors?
Unfortunately, odors tend to linger in college dorms, but if you purchase the right kind of air purifier, this shouldn’t be the case in your room.
Ideally, choose models fitted with HEPA filters or with activated charcoal filters. Both are effective at helping remove dorm room odors, bad smells, gasses, and much more from the air in your dorm room.
3. Will It Eliminate Airborne Viruses and Germs?
The risk of you getting ill at college is relatively high, but installing an air purifier fitted with a standard HEPA filter reduces the risk of this occurring.
An air purifier fitted with a HEPA-type filter can remove upwards of 99.7% of any harmful pollutants from the air in your college room.
Choose an air purifier that’s fitted with a HEPA-type filter that can remove contaminants from the air measuring only 0.1 microns.
4. Can It Capture Allergens?
If you suffer from allergies, you want to ensure that you remove as many 0.3-micron particles as possible that can trigger an attack.
So make sure you read through the specification of each air purifier model to ensure it can remove any air particles, such as pollen, dust, mold, or dander from the air.
5. Key Features to Check
When choosing an air purifier to take with you to college, here are two key features to look for:
- Filter Type – Choose purifiers fitted with HEPA, carbon, or pre-filters.
- CADR Rating – Choose models with as high a Clean Air Delivery Rating as possible, as this will be more effective at cleaning the air.
Getting the Best From an Air Purifier
It is essential to set it up and operate an air purifier correctly. To get the best from it, make sure any wrappers covering the filters inside have been removed.
Also, place the air purifier in a position that sits at least 18 inches away from any wall or furniture: if you can, place it about midway in a room. Also, it’s important that, when the indicator says the filters need replacing, do so as soon as possible.
What are Dorm Room Air Purifiers
Even though you might use the search phrase “dorm air purifiers”, know that these are essentially just regular air purifiers used for college dorm rooms. Just like any other interior space, dorm rooms can have poor air quality. Everything from offensive odors like old gym clothes and burnt food, and of course cigarette smoke can all make indoor air stale and unpleasant to breathe. With awful smells like this, there’s no question as to why you should get an air purifier for your dorm room.
Add in the potential that you might have a roommate and there are plenty of contributing factors that can lead to poor air quality. For instance, lots of dust can make your dorm room unpleasant, but the good news is that there are lots of air purifiers that are perfect for dust. A good air purifier for odor can remove pollutants as well as trap odors depending on the filtration technology it uses.
Additionally, considering that you’re potentially living in a shared space, you might also want to consider investing in an air purifier with germicidal functionality to help remove harmful pathogens from the air. Typically, you can opt for an air purifier with a UV light function or an antimicrobial coating on the primary filter to aid in removing pathogens.
Dorm Room Air Purifiers vs. Air Purifiers
There is no significant difference between air purifiers designed for smaller spaces like dorm rooms and those intended for use in the home, like the best air purifier for large rooms. In both scenarios, these units work similarly to help remove various pollutants from the air to improve indoor air quality.
Just like with standard air purifiers, you can find great college dorm air purifiers with varying filtration methods. This includes HEPA, activated carbon, UV light, and even ionizers. The right filtration method is going to depend on the contaminants that are present in your dorm room.
And just as with air purifiers for the home, you’re going to need to focus on the CADR or clean air delivery rate score to ensure that you’re picking a unit that’s compatible with the total square footage of your dorm room. In short, you’ll want to get a great HEPA air purifier for a dorm room that matches the room size.
The general recommendation is that you should pick a unit that’s rated for a room that’s slightly larger than where you plan to place your air purifier. But considering the communal nature of dorm rooms, you also need to consider the human element.
If you have a roommate, they may or may not be on board with incorporating an air purifier into the room. A floor model — while efficient — may be too big for the room. And considering that dorm rooms aren’t always spacious, a large air purifier can take away from essential floor space for other furniture. In that case, you’ll want to stick with a small air purifier for a dorm room instead.
The size of a good dorm room air purifier is one aspect that sets it apart from a home air purifier. If you have a roommate who refuses to give up precious floor space for a unit, you might need to settle for a less obtrusive desktop model. Size is not the only thing that matters when it comes to choosing air purifiers.
How Dorm Room Air Purifiers Work
Dorm room air purifiers work just like traditional air purifiers. They usually feature a pre-filter and a primary filter. The pre-filter is located near the intake and helps to remove larger particles from the air, helping to extend the primary filter’s lifespan.
The air purifier relies on a fan to help draw air into the primary chamber where it is passed over the filter and additional particles are removed from the air. The cleaned air is then released back into the room through the outtake.More importantly, you need to determine which air filter is the best for a dorm room air purifier that removes impurities. If dust particles, smoke, and pollen are your biggest concerns, a HEPA air purifier filter is best as it can remove particles as small as 0.03 microns.
For students that want to remove stale odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), an activated carbon filter is the best option. However, you’ll want to ensure that the filter contains several pounds of carbon for the best results. While air purifiers with ionizers can also control odors, they don’t completely remove them from the room. This means that once the ionizer mode is deactivated, the odors may return.
To remove pathogens, you should opt for an air purifier that contains a UV light feature or has a primary filter with an antimicrobial coating. But with UV light, you’ll want to ensure that the light stays on for several minutes to ensure that pathogens are effectively destroyed.
Are Dorm Room Air Purifiers Worth Buying?
- You Live in a New Dorm Building: New buildings mean you’ll regularly be near off-gassing items. Everything from carpeting, freshly painted walls, and even furniture can release VOCs which can reduce air quality.
- Someone on Your Floor Smokes: Maybe your roommate isn’t a smoker. But if anyone on your floor smokes (both cigarettes or weed), that smell is inevitably going to make its way to your room.
- You Have Allergies: Common irritants like dust, mold, and pollen all contribute to allergies. Having an air purifier can help keep those irritants to a minimum. Additionally, if mold is your greatest concern, you’ll want a specific air purifier that treats dorm room mold.
- You Want to Banish Lingering Odors: Everything from gym shoes to late-night pizza runs can contribute to old odors that can make your room smell less than inviting. An air purifier with an activated carbon filter can help remove old odors.
Why Dorm Room Air Purifiers May Not Be for You
- You Don’t Have Space for an Air Purifier: Air purifiers are great additions to improve air quality. But they can also take up quite a bit of space — especially if you want to bring a floor model into the room.
- You and Your Roommate Can’t Agree on a Unit: Dorms can be shared living experiences. This means that you need to get your roommate to agree when you’re considering adding an air purifier to your room.
- You Won’t Run It Consistently: Air purifiers work best when you run them continuously. If you constantly turn it on and off, it’s not going to be as effective.
How Long Will Dorm Room Air Purifiers Last?
The actual air purifier devices can last for years before you need to replace them. But the more important factor is that the filters must be replaced consistently throughout the year. This represents additional work for you, as well as a fixed cost to purchase replacement filters.
Depending on the filtration system, the cost and replacement timelines can vary. HEPA filters tend to be the most expensive to replace, costing as much as $200 for each filter. Yet, they only need to be replaced every six to 12 months.
Activated carbon filters should be replaced more frequently — every three to six months. But these filters are significantly cheaper to buy, costing no more than $50 per filter. And for best results, you should periodically wash the prefilter if your air purifier has one.
As we’ve mentioned previously, a prefilter can help to reduce the total workload your primary filter must support by removing larger airborne particles from the air before entering the main filtration chamber.
How to Choose a Dorm Room Air Purifier
There are a few factors that are of particular importance if you’re shopping for a dorm room air purifier. In particular, you’re going to want to pay attention to the size of your unit, and the filtration method that it employs. However, other factors which are important for any air purifier should also be considered.
FAQ
There are a few things you can do to make your dorm less stuffy. First, open the windows as often as possible to let fresh air in.
Second, use fans or air purifiers to circulate the air and keep the space from feeling too stagnant.
Finally, try to avoid using strong cleaning chemicals or perfumes, as these can contribute to making the space feel stuffy. Instead, opt for natural cleaning products or essential oils.
Should you bring an air purifier to college?
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, then it might be a good idea to bring an air purifier to college. Additionally, if you live in a particularly dusty or smoky area, an air purifier can help to keep the air in your dorm clean and fresh. However, if you don’t have any specific respiratory concerns, an air purifier is not absolutely necessary. ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not you want to bring an air purifier to college.[1]Should You Get an Air Purifier For Your Dorm Room?
Why do I need an air purifier for my dorm room?
Air purifiers are extremely effective at removing airborne particles that can affect your health, well-being, and even the cleanliness of your room. Whether dust and dirt particles, fumes from nearby traffic, or even the smells that can occur from living in close quarters with other people.
Air purifiers are also excellent at eradicating germs and viruses that may be transmissible in shared spaces. By avoiding catching the common cold or flu viruses, then you will be in the best shape to crack on with your studies.
Are air purifiers allowed in dorm rooms?
Yes, they usually are. Although, it’s always a good idea to confirm that your college or university allows them. Many schools encourage students to bring air purifiers to improve indoor air quality.
Do air purifiers help with stuffy rooms?
Yes, they can if you pick the right filtration method. Activated carbon air purifiers can help to remove not just odor-causing particles, but gases and chemicals that can contribute to stale dorm room odors. Likewise, if mold is the source of a stuffy smell, then a HEPA filter-based air purifier is a great option.
Why is it good to have a dorm room air purifier?
Considering that dorms are communal living spaces, there are more sources for odors and unhealthy air quality. A good air purifier can keep pollutants to a minimum and help reduce the risk of suffering from allergies or having respiratory conditions exacerbated.
Do air purifiers help in dorm rooms?
Do you need an air purifier for a college dorm? In one word, yes! According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s research report on 341 college campuses, there are very high levels of formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide in college buildings and dorms.[2]Must-Haves For a Healthy, Clean Dorm Room
Do u need an air purifier in college?
Dorms and poor air quality are an important issue, so make sure you have a high-quality purifier that will remove air pollution and provide clean air all through the school year!
How big of an air purifier do I need for a classroom?
To do this, we first need to multiply the volume of the classroom by 5. The number after multiplying the volume of the classroom (in meters cubed) by 5 is the CADR needed (cubic meters per hour) from a purifier to clean the classroom.
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