If you are looking for an air purifier to improve the air quality in your home, but you are concerned about how much electricity it would use, you are just landed in the right place: we are about to discuss just this factor.
As with all home appliances, the amount of electricity they consume is an important aspect to consider before purchasing.
Many people think that when you buy a home electric device, the only expense you should consider is the price of the device.
But home appliances also have another cost to be considered: the one that ends up on your electricity bill!
Sometimes, a device can be more expensive at the beginning, but it can determine money-saving in the long term just because it is more energy-efficient than other cheaper options.
So, when it comes to air purifiers, how much electricity do they use?
Key Takeaways
- Because an air purifier remains on for long hours, it consumes as much as 458 kWh per year.
- HEPA air purifiers are usually the most energy-efficient but are also the most expensive ones.
- You should look at the Watt rating before buying an air purifier as it explains the amount of electricity a device consumes per hour.
Are Air Purifiers Energy Efficient?
Bad news first: air purifiers are among the home appliances that consume the highest quantities of energy.
Any household appliance that runs on a motor and has fans, after all, uses a lot of energy: Energy Star has esteemed that an average air purifier that stays on 24/7 consumes around 458 kWh per year, that is, 50W on average to operate.
When compared to the electricity consumed by other home devices like a refrigerator, for example, the electricity consumed by an air purifier seems pretty high.
However, while a refrigerator stays on 24/7, an air purifier rarely stays on for so long.
You’ll hardly spend the entire day (and night) in the same room for the entire week every week of the air.
Usually, we need an air purifier where we spend the majority of our time; it could be the bedroom, or it could be the office (just to make a couple of examples).
Even if you have two air purifiers, one in the bedroom and one in the office, they’ll be on 16 hours per day, and on the weekend, the one in the office would stay off.
These are all aspects you want to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
Furthermore, you need to compare the expenses related to electricity consumption with the health benefit you can obtain from such devices. 1
Are Some Air Purifiers More Energy-Consuming Than Others?
When purchasing your air purifier, energy efficiency is certainly an aspect you want to consider. So, what are the most energy-efficient air purifiers?
As you know, not all air purifiers exploit the same technology: HEPA air purifiers are usually the most energy-efficient (they are also the most expensive and the most effective).
Read: Air Quality Index
Read: VOCs: What Are They?
How to Tell How Much Electricity An Air Purifier is Using?
The parameter you need to look at is the Watt rating. This number explains the amount of electricity a device consumes per hour. That is to say, the lower the watt rating, the better!
Factors Affecting Energy Consumption of Air Purifiers
Here are some factors that could cause the air purifiers to consume energy unnesscarily:
- You should maintain and clean the filters & pre filters regularly. Dirty, clogged filters will consume more energy to work properly, which will directly impact your bill.
- The size of the air purifier is also important. If you buy a large air purifier for a small room, then that might too cause unnecessary consumption of energy.
- If you get some add-ons to your air purifier, such as getting a UV-c filter, carbon filter, etc., then it might also lead to more energy consumption.
- The watt, then, of course, is the main factor that will directly affect the energy consumption level in an air purifier.
- UV air purifiers also consume more energy because of the add-on service that it renders.
- The speed of the air purifier also contributes to the consumption of energy. Air purifiers are equipped with three modes, and if you run it on high mode all the time, then obviously, it will consume more energy. We recommend getting an air purifier having auto mode. 2
Conclusion
In conclusion, air purifiers do not consume a lot of energy anyways, and so this should not be the deciding factor when buying an air purifier.
You can, however, check for the energy star certified purifier, which will serve the purpose.
FAQ’s
Does auto mode in air purifier helps in saving energy?
Yes, it certainly does. This is because, due to the auto mode, the air purifier adjusts the levels on its own accordingly, which helps in saving energy.
Will unplugging the air purifier help in saving energy?
Yes, unplugging it can help in saving energy, but because they are supposed to work 24×7, you shouldn’t really unplug or switch it off.
How much will it cost me if I run air purifier 24×7?
You will get a bill of additional $5-$10 if you run your air purifier 24×7.
Kylie has been studying air purifiers for the last 20 years and is an expert in the field. She tests and reviews different air purifiers, letting people know they are worth buying. Kylie writes blogs about the latest air purifiers, their features, health benefits, and more. When she’s not writing or spending time with her granddaughter, Kylie can be found testing new air purifiers to see how they perform.
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