Choosing the Right HEPA Air Purifier

In the post-COVID-19 world, clean hotels and guest rooms simply aren’t enough to attract guests to stay at your property. Healthy guest rooms are now foremost in the minds of most travelers. Offering guest rooms equipped with a portable HEPA air purifier may be the best way to meet this new consumer desire. This article will discuss what you need to know when choosing the right air purifier(s) for your property.

HEPA air purifiers

HEPA air purifiers draw in room air and pass it through a series of filters. To be considered a true HEPA air purifier, it must capture 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. This includes harmful particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold spores, and bacteria. But as it turns out, a 2016 study by NASA found that HEPA air filters can trap all airborne viruses.

When selecting a HEPA air purifier, look for one certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

Filtration components

Pre-filters:  Some HEPA air purifiers include a pre-filter to trap larger airborne contaminants like pet hair. Pre-filters have a life of about 3 to 4 months. Some of these are washable for long-term usage.

HEPA Filters: HEPA filters consist of fine fabric mat. This is the primary filter. They generally last about one year, depending on use. Some air purifier brands feature HEPA filters that can last two or more years.

Activated carbon or charcoal: Some HEPA air purifier models include activated carbon or charcoal. These components trap gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and odor compounds. Most rooms don’t need this extra level of filtration. However, they are ideal in guest rooms situated near a pool or hot tub. High-quality HEPA air purifiers with activated carbon or charcoal can remove the chlorine odor often found in these rooms.

The life span of these filters varies from six months to five years, depending on the model.

Ionizers and Ultraviolet (UV) light:  The air purifiers we recommend use mechanical filtration—which means their filters physically trap the pollutants that pass through them.

Some air purifiers utilize filtration processes that rely on ionizers or ultraviolet (UV) light. The effectiveness of these devices isn’t well demonstrated. Ionizers may also produce ozone. This substance is a lung irritant that could make any breathing-related problems worse rather than better.

Choosing the right size of air purifier

Many guests suffer from allergy and asthma symptoms. Therefore, it is critical to ensure the air purifiers selected can quickly remove any airborne irritants. This factor is gauged by an air purifier’s air change per hour (ACH) rate. ACH refers to the number of times an air purifier can filter the entire air volume in the treatment space each hour.

Air purifiers that can clean the air in a space at least four times per hour are best for allergy and asthma sufferers.

When sizing a HEPA air purifier, the most crucial factor is to know the square footage of the room in which it will be placed. This number is calculated by using a measuring tape to take the measurements of the two perpendicular walls.

If you want an air purifier that will cleanse the air of a connected room, add its square footage to the total.

For business meeting rooms: Measure the rooms to determine the square footage. It may take multiple air purifiers to clean the air of these larger spaces properly.

Selection Method One: The most straightforward way to select an air purifier is to look for the maximum square footage rating stated on each model’s specifications list. Select a model with a capacity slightly higher than the square footage of the intended room(s).

Selection Method Two:  Most air purifiers are labeled with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) number. AHAM developed this metric. It helps consumers understand how capable a device is at filtering various particles in a specific sized room.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers these guidelines for minimum CADR ratings by room size:

Some air purifiers have a single CADR number, while others have different CADR numbers for smoke, dust, and pollen.

Other Considerations

Noise levels:  Look at noise levels (listed in decibels) in the product specifications—the lower the decibels, the quieter the unit. The noise levels for larger models used in business meeting rooms aren’t as crucial as models used in guest rooms.

Filter change indicator lights:  Most HEPA air purifiers have an LED light that indicates when the pre-filter and HEPA filters need replacing. This feature makes it easy to ensure the filters are changed in a timely fashion.

Energy usage:  To save money and conserve energy, we recommend Energy Star-certified units by the EPA.

Wi-Fi controlled air purifier: It’s best to have HEPA filters that are easy to operate. An on/off switch and a fan speed button are all that is required for units in hotels.

Air quality indicators: Some units include indicators that give real-time updates on the air quality in a room. This feature generally isn’t needed in a hotel setting.

Caster wheels: For larger air purifiers, look for units that feature caster wheels for easy mobility.

Amount of night light emitted: One often overlooked consideration when choosing an air purifier is how much light a unit emits in a dark room environment. Some models have multiple LED lights. These can be distracting for some guests: the fewer the lights, the better.

Placement of the unit: Rooms come in all shapes and sizes. The same is true of HEPA air purifiers. Before selecting an air purifier for a room type, make sure there is a space in the room that can accommodate the unit.

Warranty: Manufacturers have different warranties for their units. Read the specifications sheet to see how the warranties for the models compare.

The ROI on HEPA air purifiers

HEPA air purifiers offer hoteliers a significant ROI. The daily operating cost of a HEPA filter is about 40  to 70 cents per day (when amortized over five years). This cost depends on the room size and the HEPA unit.

Hotels that charge a $5.00 per night HEPA upsell premium would earn about a 400% ROI. A hotel can maximize its HEPA filter investment by packaging the product with other allergen-reducing items like hypoallergenic bedding as part of an allergy-friendly room and charge even more per night.

If you have any questions, schedule a call with one of our Wellness advocates at the WHAI. We’re here to help.