IQAir - HealthPro Compact XE

We have the health pro, the compact, and the multi-gas. Wish we hadn’t the compact (was trying to save some bucks) as the health pro is better. We use the multi-gas near the kitchen. They are all great, but we like the health pro the best. Also, if you are focused on VOCs, then you want the multi gas, or AustinAir makes a great one with about 30 pounds of charcoal if memory serves. Not sure about any of these and Voc’s though. But for particulates, viruses, etc, these units are amazing.

Might be overkill for y’all but I got the HealthPro Compact XE because of really bad allergies and I love it.

These are the 3 air filters I personally have. Most air filters only get down to 0.3 microns; these get down to 0.003 microns, which captures mold - which is my main concern - as well as viruses, bacteria, etc.  AirDoctor IQAir AirOasis I also have a Levoit that I like but doesn't capture as small of stuff as the ones above.

So here's the thing - no matter what anyone tells you, there is no magic box that will do what you want. Air purifiers move air at relatively low speeds through a fairly restrictive filter. That means that they only "clean" an area of about 300sqft. around the unit effectively. They are almost universally ineffective through doorways, around corners, etc. If you have HVAC, the single best thing you can do is put a better filter in and run it on "always on" (not "circulate" or "auto", but ON). The best filter for a 1" insert (the most common) is a 3M Filtrete 1900. They're $20. The problem is they clog quickly, so you'll likely have to replace them every 30-60 days. That said, it'll cover your whole house. If you don't have HVAC, you could consider an AirFanta or building your own CR box. They're ugly and loud, but they move a lot of air. Again, I'd use those 3M filters if you want to stop smoke. Dust and other allergens, any ol' filter will do. The "traditional" route would also be to put several purifiers in your home, sized appropriately for the rooms - a large one for the open living space, and smaller ones for the bedrooms. I have the following setup: 1st floor, 1000 sqft, semi-open plan: I have an IQ Air and an Austin running at opposite corners of the home on a constant speed of medium. 2nd floor (bedrooms, also 1000 sqft): Master bedroom has a Coway 250, guest bedroom has a Winix 5500-2, both kids' bedrooms have Blueair 411's. Finished Basement (also 1000 sqft): Coway Mighty and Winix 5500-2 at opposite ends, running as needed (since the basement gets less outside air) and the one bedroom down there has an aging but still functional HEPA from Idyllis/3M (the Lowes brand) that was purchased years ago but uses 3M HEPA filters. IN ADDITION, I use MERV13 in my furnace and my ERV. The air here is VERY CLEAN. (Bad allergies run in the family...)