This will sound like a grand claim, but two filters are all you need. Here’s why (with data). Very Reasonable Reasons To Be Skeptical Why might you be skeptical? For one, big purifier companies are in an arms race to tell you they have more filters than the next guy. Simpleton Thomas here is […]
Tag: air purifier
How to Get the Most Out of Your Purifier
If buying an air purifier is the first step to breathing clean air, the second step is knowing how to use it best! Here are the 4 most important things to know about how to use an air purifier—based on data, not intuition. 1. Note down the date of purchase HEPA filters have a […]
This One Region in China Saw a Pollution Miracle in 2018
New analysis from Smart Air shows that China is making progress on its “war on air pollution.” PM2.5 air pollution was down in 14 out of China’s 15 largest cities. Yet one region saw far more progress than the rest. South Sees Modest Air Quality Gains In southern China, from Shanghai to Shenzhen, […]
China’s 15 Biggest Cities Saw Better Air in 2018 — Except This One
A new analysis of air quality from 15 of China’s largest cities shows that PM2.5 fell in all cities—except one. From Shenzhen to Xi’an, air pollution was down in 2018. Yet Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, actually saw pollution rise 7%. With this increase, Zhengzhou now averages over 6 times the World Health […]
Top Air Purifiers in Shanghai Consumer Protection Bureau Tests
Using actual air purifier test data on is the best way to cut through the misleading marketing claims purifier companies make to try to get us to pay more money for clean air. For that reason, I’m always on the look out for good test data. Data is power. One source I like […]
What is the best air purifier on the market today?
I started thinking about this question a lot because I was living in Beijing, and the “airpocalypse” struck: I had a cough I couldn’t shake for weeks, so I started doing research into air purifiers. Unlike another answer here, I wasn’t concerned about allergens like pollen. I was concerned about the very small particles […]
Is the Molekule really better than air purifiers already on the market?
Over this last Christmas, I was at home on the couch, and my dad asked me if I’ve seen this new purifier he saw an ad for. He asked not because he’s interested in purifiers, not because I’m some PhD in fluid mechanics (I’m a cultural psychologist, not a physicist), but because I’ve […]
This Data Explains Why You Should Never Use Your Purifier’s Auto Mode
Lots of things in our life are becoming smart. Our phones are smart. Our cars are getting smarter. Purifiers seem like a great candidate for “an education,” but test data shows smart purifiers routinely fail, leaving users with dangerous air. The idea behind smart purifiers’ auto mode is simple. The purifier has a small […]
This Data Explains Why You Should Never Use Your Purifier’s Auto Mode – Supplemental Data
Data and Test Details Test Methods: These tests were identical to my previously published tests, details of which can befound here, here, and here. Original Data: The original data for all 13 tests is available as an Excel file here Average Outdoor PM2.5 During Tests It’s important to note the average outdoor PM2.5 during tests because purifiers achieve smaller percentage […]
All purifiers perform worse when air pollution is high
Take an average day in Delhi or Beijing. Not a bad day. Just a regular, old average day. The air coming into our lungs on those average days is 8 to 12 times the World Health Organization’s annual limit. That’s bad! But a lot of people don’t start to get worried until it looks […]