If you’ve done any research into air purifiers, then you know that different machines are meant for rooms of different sizes. Some work best in small rooms, while others are specially made to purify large spaces.
But how strict are those rules, exactly? How versatile is the average air purifier, and would it be possible to use your large air purifier to cleanse the air in a small room? We’ll be answering these questions and more throughout this article. Read on for the answer to the question of will a large air purifier work in a small room. Let’s get to it!
Can an Air Purifier Be Too Large?
Technically speaking, yes. However, even if your purifier is too large for your room, it will still clean the air efficiently. The major downside comes in the fact that you will be paying more than necessary for the unit, and will have to pay even more for maintenance and replacement parts.
If you want to purify the air in a small living room or bedroom, you really don’t need to purchase a purifier that has a max rating of 3,500 square feet. Not only is the purifier never going to be as efficient as possible, but it will also end up costing you more money in power bills and repairs.
So, it makes much more sense to purchase a purifier that is the appropriate size for your room. We’ll discuss how you can determine what is appropriate in later sections.
Big or Small?
Generally speaking, it’s always best to choose a purifier that purifies a slightly larger area (in square feet) than the area of your room. Emphasis on slightly. What we’re saying here is that it’s better to have a unit that is a little bigger for your room than to have one that’s too small.
If you’re trying to reduce costs and stay within your budget by purchasing a purifier that is too small for your room, you’ll be defeating the purpose of the machine entirely. That unit will be unable to purify your room’s air properly, which will leave you unsatisfied and with wasted money.
Conversely, an air purifier unit that has a slightly larger square footage rating than that of your room will work perfectly, since it has more than the necessary capacity to clean your room’s air.
Sizing Guide
You’ll find that air purifiers come in four distinct sizes, with each made for a specific room size that is measured in total square feet:
- Small: Suitable for personal spaces and rooms up to 200 square feet.
- Medium: Suitable for rooms between 200 and 400 square feet.
- Large: Suitable for rooms between 400 and 1,500 square feet.
- Whole-house purifiers: Suitable for purifying every room in the house simultaneously.
Choosing the Right Size
To choose the right air purifier size, you are going to have to measure the room you want to purify in square feet. Once you have that measurement, you can pick out a purifier that either meets or exceeds that measurement – this is essential for having the cleanest air possible.
Determine where you want to place the purifier
This is perhaps the most important factor to determine when you are picking out your unit. Do you want to purify the air in a single room, several rooms, or throughout your entire house? Answering this question will help you narrow down the best machine to choose, and also makes it far easier to compare purifiers.
Measure your room’s square footage
After you have decided which room you want to purify, you are going to need to take a measurement of that room in square feet. This is a very easy step if you’re working with a single room.
Simply take a measuring tape and measure along two perpendicular walls. This will allow you to determine the square footage for that room.
For instance, if one wall measures 15 feet, and the wall perpendicular to that measures 10 feet, then the square feet of that room is 15’ x 10’ = 150 square feet. It’s that easy!
If you want your purifier to be able to purify several connected rooms, then all you need to do is measure the width and length of each room, and add the totals together. For instance, if you have two adjoining rooms that are 80 square feet and 120 square feet, then their total square feet would be 80 + 120 = 200 square feet.
When you want to purify your entire house, we suggest taking a look at the paperwork you received when you moved in. This house plan should include the total square footage of your home.
If you’re having trouble finding these documents, don’t worry – simply measure the length and width of the exterior walls of your home. Then, multiply that number by the number of stories in your home.
For example, if your exterior square footage comes out to 1,200 square feet, and you live in a two-story home, you would use 1,200 x 2 = 2,400 square feet.
Match the square footage rating of your air purifier to your room
Once you’ve completed the above two steps, all you need to do is match the rating of your air purifier to the footage that you measured. As we mentioned earlier, the most effective purifiers will either match the size exactly or slightly exceed the square footage of your room.
Where to Place a Purifier
The placement of your air purifier is just as important as its size, and if you place it in the wrong area, it won’t work as effectively as possible. Here’s how to know where to place your air purifier:
- Place it near the worst pollutants (mold, smoke, odor, mildew)
- Place the unit 3 to 5 feet off the ground
- Place it in high airflow areas
- Don’t place the machine in a corner
- Don’t obstruct the purifier
- Avoid high-humidity areas
- Don’t place it near electronic devices
Wrapping Up
Air purifiers are excellent tools for making sure your indoor home environment is always healthy but be sure to pick a unit that works best for your space!