Episode 8: Air Purification Basics

Welcome to episode 8! We’re diving into the basics of air purification, offering you practical, science-backed information on how to make the air you breathe cleaner, whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to invest in advanced solutions. I’ll be discussing air purifiers, DIY solutions, and things in between—because clean air should be accessible to everyone.

Transcript

Hey everyone and welcome back! My name is Ms. Carmen, and I am your host. The goal of this podcast is to provide you with science-based information about air quality issues so that you have the information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family. I hope you’ve been finding this podcast interesting, helpful, and/or educational because I sure do have a lot to say on the topic. The temperature in Brooklyn, NY at the time of recording is 65 degrees F, which is roughly 18 C, and our current AQI is 12.

Before diving in, I want to give a shout-out to listeners in Texas, New Jersey, Guatemala, Illinois, the UK, and a big hello to our listener in Malawi.

Welcome to episode eight! The goal of this entire podcast is to provide accessible education around air quality and how it affects you. Previously, we’ve talked about outdoor and indoor air quality, how polluted indoor air can harm our health, and a brief history of air pollution. A lot of it was not so great news, so here’s something good for you—we can take action to improve the air around us.

Today, we’re diving into the basics of air purification, offering you practical, science-backed information on how to make the air you breathe cleaner, whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to invest in advanced solutions. I’ll be discussing air purifiers, DIY solutions, and things in between—because clean air should be accessible to everyone.


We know that air pollution affects our lungs, hearts, brains, and overall health, but there’s something we don’t discuss enough: indoor air can be even more polluted than outdoor air, and this is where we spend most of our time. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air pollution can be up to 5 times worse than the air outside. This can be due to sources like cleaning products, pet dander, dust, and even flooring and furniture materials. We spend a whole lot of time indoors breathing in pollutants, often while we sleep.

But its not all bad news: we live in the future, so we have air purifiers that are designed to remove many of these pollutants, including particulate matter, germs, allergens, and volatile organic compounds. Air purifiers pull air in using a fan, and this air then gets pushed through a filter, which traps the pollutants. It’s similar to a fish tank filter, except for air.


The goal of today’s podcast is to break down how you can improve your indoor air quality—from the budget-friendly to the high-tech. If you're working with a limited budget, there are several small but mighty options that have been shown to improve your indoor air, and I’ve personally used one of them.

Before we dive in, I want to add this: using official or certified HEPA filters is the gold standard in air purification because these filters can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. If cost or accessibility is an issue, MERV-13 filters are absolutely perfectly adequate at getting the air filtration job done. I’ve personally used both and can highly recommend them equally.

Let’s talk about the physical machine, the air purifier. Here we’re talking about the actual machine, which uses a filter that you replace every six months or so. When looking into an air purifier, I recommend looking for small, portable units that fit in bedrooms or smaller rooms. Definitely look into the cost of replacing the filter that the unit uses first and take that into account before making your final purchase. Here at home, I use a Levoit Vital 200-Sp, which we’ve had for a few years and it has met our needs without issue. The price range for a compact, portable air purifier varies, from $90 to $200. Prior to this podcast, I looked up the very same purifier I have at home and it’s significantly more expensive than it was three years ago. My best advice is to shop around and compare models based on the size of the room where the air is being filtered.


Having said that, there is a great, affordable, DIY option that’s less than $60 to put together. It’s the Corsi-Rosenthal box filter! This DIY purifier is an effective and affordable solution that has been scientifically shown to work. I’ve personally built a few myself and have seen them in action. They work, ya’ll! All you need is a standard, 20-inch box fan, strong tape, 4 MERV-13 filters, and cardboard.

What you’re basically doing here is building a square out of the MERV-13 filters, making sure that the arrows are pointing inward. You’ll need to tape the edges securely, and attach a piece of cardboard cut into a 20-inch square to the top. Turn the whole thing upside-down, and you’ll be placing the box fan on top, with the air blowing outward. So what we have now is the fan is pulling the air through the filters, the particulates and air contaminants get caught in the filters, and the air that comes out from the top is clean, filtered air.



Now, if your budget allows, you could up your air purification game and get an system that has additional options: this can be HEPA with activated carbon and/or UV filters. These are more high-end and are great for tackling a wide variety of pollutants and are particularly helpful in larger indoor spaces. These units often have smart sensors to automatically adjust their settings depending on the air quality in the room. They really do a great job, and will run you anywhere from $250 to $400+.


If you’re looking to invest in top-of-the-line advanced solutions, there are high-end air purifiers available that offer maximum filtration efficiency and feature cutting-edge technology. These premium air purifiers often include smart home integrations, mobile apps for monitoring air quality, and advanced filtration systems that target a wider range of pollutants, contaminants, and pathogens. These purifiers are often designed for large commercial spaces or whole-house filtration. Premium air purifier costs start at $500.


Not everyone wants, or can rely on, electronic machines for cleaner air. If you’re looking for an off-the-grid, eco-friendly approach, there are things you can do to boost the quality of your indoor air that fit this criteria.

Houseplants are more than just decorative, they literally make the air we breathe. Plants like peace lilies, spider plants, and snake plants have been shown to help with air quality. Full disclosure, if you’re looking for results similar to an air purifier, you’ll need hundreds of plants per person in your home. Not knocking plants, just letting you know off the bat that the comparison won’t be the same. Having said that, plants are still great!

Baking soda and activated charcoal can also be helpful by absorbing odors and light moisture in places like the fridge, trash cans, or bathrooms. For places like closets that may get humid, there’s absorbent silica packs that help remove the moisture. Now, there’s a big difference between condensation moisture and a leak. If there’s consistent water present, like a drip or an actual puddle, this should be addressed as soon as possible by a professional in order to avoid mold.


Regardless of your budget, there are a few key features to consider when shopping for an air purifier. One of them is the CADR or the Clean Air Delivery Rate. This measures the effectiveness of the purifier and how it filters the air in a given space. Higher numbers mean more efficient cleaning. BUT, do be mindful that in a situation where there’s a small air purifier in too large a space, this number won’t be accurate.

Which brings us to our next key feature: room size. Make sure the purifier you’re looking to get  is rated for the size of the room you want to use it in. A small purifier in a big room isn’t going to get you the expected results. Likewise, spending extra money on a bigger purifier in a smaller room doesn’t clean the air better or more efficiently. My best advice is to estimate the size of the room where the purifier will spend most of its time in and take it from there. In my household, our air purifier gets moved around as needed and is used in the rooms that meet the size needs of the machine.

Another key feature to look out for is the filter type. I recommend HEPA or MERV-13 filters for filtering small particles, bonus points if it includes activated carbon for odors. When thinking about the filter that will go in your unit, consider the long-term replacement costs. For maximum efficiency, most manufacturers suggest changing your filter every six months. What does that cost look like after three years? Here is where we get into the true cost of clean indoor air.


The last thing to consider is noise level. Some purifiers can be a little noisy, in some, the steady hum of the fan is audible. If noise is an issue for you, you’ll want to research air purifier models designed for quiet operation, especially if it’s going in a bedroom. 

Improving the air quality in your home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Whether you opt for a simple DIY solution, a budget-friendly purifier, or a premium system, every step you take helps! Remember, clean air is a basic right—and with the proper tools, information, and mindset, you can make big differences for you, your family, and your community.

Thanks so very much for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this information helpful! If so, please share with a friend. If you’re looking to learn and chat more about air quality and air pollution, you can connect with me on BlueSky at MsCarmenScience. Have a question or comment? Send a message to AirQualityPodcast@gmail.com. Until next time, breathe easy and don’t forget…. Despite everything going on in the world, we’re still in this together. This is Ms. Carmen signing off.