5 Best Air Purifier Placement Techniques

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Having an air purifier is definitely a step in the right direction when you want to create cleaner air for yourself and your guests and everyone in your home. But if you don't know about air purifier placement techniques, then the air purifier isn't really doing its job.

It's like the exercise bike in the corner that never gets used or the smartwatch that's never charged. If you're not making the most out of your devices, then your devices aren't being used to their best effect and that's why air purifier placement techniques really do matter.

What Do Air Purifiers Do?

Air purifiers are devices that remove contaminants from their surrounding air. They're particularly practical and beneficial in the homes of people who suffer from respiratory illnesses, such as asthma or allergies, but they will improve air quality anywhere to literally help you breathe easier.

While a number of air purifier systems, such as photocatalytic oxidation vents, are built directly into a building's existing heating and air conditioning system, there are also a lot of free-standing devices that homeowners use to create better breathing conditions inside their homes.

Good placement will ensure that air purifiers are capturing mold spores, dust, and other pollutants that irritate allergies and affect air quality. What you are breathing matters.

Air Purifier Placement Techniques

When it's placed correctly, your air purifier will be much more efficient. Put it in the wrong place and you could lose as much as 50 percent efficiency, or perhaps even more.

Problem Areas

Wondering where to place air purifier devices? In areas where they will help the most.

Is there a particular area of your home where the air is noticeably lower in quality? Areas that are constantly plagued by bad smells, such as utility rooms where the litter box is stored or a room where a smoker often sits, are prime candidates for an air purifier.

If you know you have an issue in a particular area of the home, such as a spot where mold grows, this is exactly where you want to put your air purifier because this is where active pollutants are located. This is where you need to purify your air the most.

Off the Ground

Wherever you put your air purifier, it shouldn't be placed on the floor. Air purifiers should be three to five feet off the ground.

You want your air purifier to be cleaning air that you are breathing, not struggling to capture air down on the ground. The whole point is to circulate clean air through the room, so place the air purifier in a spot where it can actually access that air.

In Active Airflow Areas

Air purifiers need air to clean in order to work at their peak efficiency. This means that the best placement for air purifiers is in areas of the home where airflow is the highest.

Place air purifiers near doorways or windows. And if possible, mount the purifier directly to the wall so that it will constantly work to keep the air clean.

In the Open

Place the air purifier away from corners and furniture that might impede the airflow. It's tempting to attempt to hide an air purifier, tucking it behind a couch or television or placing it in a corner, for instance.

Placing air purifiers near obstacles like this will only obstruct air flow and reduce the efficiency and capacity of your air purifier. The best place to put air purifier devices is where they will have three feet of open space on all sides.

Away From Electronics

Electronic devices can actually affect the efficiency of air purifiers and may even cause electronic interference. Avoid putting air purifiers too close to microwave ovens, televisions, and other electric devices that are frequently used.

You want your air purifier to be about five feet, or more, away from these electronics.

Specific Room Placement

In addition to all the usual placement techniques, you want to pay special attention to where air purifiers are placed in certain rooms of the home. There are some special considerations and some things you should think about when it comes to perfect air purifier placement on a room-by-room basis.

Bedroom

An air purifier in the bedroom can make the air very nice for you while you sleep but it can disrupt your sleep if you place it in the wrong spot. You need to know the best place to put an air purifier so that your sleep will be optimized by good air quality and not messed up by an improperly positioned device.

Face the air intake near the bed so that the air around the bed will certainly be filtered. However, be careful about placing the purifier so that the air is not blowing directly on your face while you sleep.

You could wake up with a headache or have trouble sleeping if you have your purifier facing the wrong way. The best place to put air purifier in bedroom environments is close to the bed, off the ground, with the air blowing harmlessly away from the occupants of the bed.

You might wonder how long to run air purifier in bedroom areas before it purifies the air? The size of the bedroom plays a big role in how long it might take for the air purifier to start cleaning the air and raise the overall quality of the air in the room.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are rooms that have high humidity, which means the chances for mold and mildew growing here are higher than anywhere else. This might make the bathroom seem like a natural location for an air purifier.

However, humidity isn't good for air purifiers. The heavy, humid air will decrease efficiency and force the device to work harder.

Instead of straining your air purifier, use a dehumidifier to reduce the risk of mold and mildew in the bathroom. You can use an air purifier in conjunction with the dehumidifier if you want, but putting an air purifier in any humid environment without a dehumidifier will decrease its efficiency and its ability to work.

Kitchen

Food smells are never pleasant and the kitchen is a frequently-used part of the home, so it's a good idea to place an air purifier here to reduce smells and clean the air. Try placing the purifier on top of a cabinet where it won't be crowded or surrounded by a lot of other objects, especially electronic devices.

An air purifier might work especially well in the middle of a kitchen island or a kitchen table. The central location and open placement will allow the purifier to work at its peak efficiency and give it access to the air in the room so that it can more easily be purified.

Living Room

The living room is one of the most-used rooms of the home, which means it is ideal to receive an air purifier. Ideally, the best place to put air purifier devices is near the center of the room where it will have open space all around it.

Don't forget that the purifier should be placed at least five feet away from the TV to avoid electronic interference.

Air Purifier Placement Techniques

What's the best place to put air purifier in room spaces? Where should you put an air purifier in bedroom or living room areas?

Wondering where to put an air purifier means you're looking to improve your air as much as you can, and it's true that the placement of air purifier devices really does matter.

Should air purifiers be on the floor? No, as the best location for air purifier devices is where they can get the best possible airflow.

Find the best place to put air purifier devices in home areas of all kinds and under all conditions, so you can get the clean air you want to breathe in all the spaces where you live.

Air Purifier Placement FAQs

Should I place my air purifier high or low?

When you have a choice between the two options, always place your air purifier up high before you put it low. The lower your air purifier is to the ground, the less efficiently it will work.

Ideally, the air purifier should be three to five feet up off the ground. This will give the air purifier an optimized airflow and access to the breathing air you most want to clean.

What is the best way to set up an air purifier?

The best air purifier placement is up off the ground in a spot where it is unrestricted and at least three feet away from all other objects, including walls. You want the air purifier to be away from electronic devices, out of humid environments, and in areas where people are actually breathing the air so the purifier can be of use.

Don't place the air purifier in the fancy room you barely ever go into, for example, unless there is a known mold issue here that you are trying to address. Most of the time, you want the air purifier to be near the most-used areas of the home or in the bedroom where you sleep so you can benefit from all the clean air these devices are creating.

How do I get the best results from an air purifier?

To get the best results out of your air purifier, pay attention to the placement of the device. Make sure it is at least three feet away from furniture, walls, and even the floor.

The air purifier should be up off the ground and toward the middle of the room whenever possible. Keep it away from humid areas so it can operate at maximum efficiency.

What room is most important for air purifier devices?

Where will the air purifier do your home the most good? Figure out where to place air purifier devices so they can do the most good.

Many people place air purifiers in baby rooms or children's rooms so they can benefit from better air quality.

Other good spots for air purifiers are your bedroom, the living room, and the kitchen.

Is it better to have an air purifier on the floor or on a table?

When you have the choice, place the air purifier on a table rather than the floor. The purifier will get much better airflow on the table and do a much more efficient job of purifying the air.

Does an air purifier have to be upright?

While some air purifiers are designed to work as well on their sides as they are standing upright, for the most part, you should always position your air purifier to stand upright. They are designed this way for a specific reason, and if you want the device to work at its best you should honor the way it is designed by keeping it in an upright position.

Air purifier placement and position definitely matter and you should always try to keep your device working at its very best.

Where should I place my air purifier in my bedroom?

Place the air purifier up off the floor in the bedroom, near the bed but without the air blowing directly onto any sleeping faces or heads. While clean air is always awesome, having air blown into your face while you sleep is not great for you.

Can you put an air purifier on the floor?

You can technically place an air purifier on the floor but if you want it to operate at its peak, you will keep it at least three feet off the floor and no higher than five feet off the floor.

Further Reading

5 Indoor Plants That Will Absorb Humidity in Your House

9 Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

The Best Houseplants to Purify Your Home's Air

DIY Safety: Ensure Clean Air During and After a Home Improvement Project

Electric Air Purifier Usage: When and How Long To Use

How Do I Know If My Air Purifier is Working?

Keep Your Family Safe From Indoor Air Quality Hazards