Do Air Purifiers Help with Dust?

Yes, air purifiers can help reduce dust in indoor environments. Air purifiers equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are particularly effective at capturing airborne dust particles as small as 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency.

By continuously circulating and filtering the air in a room, these devices trap dust particles before they have a chance to settle on surfaces or be inhaled, leading to cleaner air and less dust accumulation on furniture and floors.

In this article, we take a deep dive into just how effective air purifiers can be in combatting dust in the home.

Understanding Dust

In order to understand how an air purifier can help to reduce dust in the home, first we must understand what dust actually is. Although it will often look like uniform grey dirt when it settles on surfaces, dust is actually a hodge-podge collection of many different kinds of tiny particles that come from a surprising number of sources.

What is Dust?

It is a common myth that household dust is mostly comprised of our own skin cells that have shed. In fact, the exact composition of indoor dust will vary between each and every household, and is based upon a number of factors, including how many people and pets live in the home, the outdoor environment, and even how foods are typically cooked and consumed. For most of us, however, dust is mostly made of particles that originate outside.

Outside particles may include pollens, mold spores, and other organic debris. These are harmless to most people, except for those who have health conditions that can be triggered by contact or inhalation of environmental contaminants, such as allergies and asthma. A smaller amount of particles from outdoors may come from scarier sources, such as lead, arsenic, and trace amounts of pesticides. Cigarette smoke, whether it originates from outside or inside the home, can contribute to dust as well.

Sources of Dust

Indoor dust particles are also generated by a number of sources. While it does not comprise as high a percentage of dust as myth would lead you to believe, our skin cells and hair, as well as our pets' dander and fur, are components of household dust. Messy cooks can contribute to dust as food particles spatter in the kitchen. Insect by-products also contribute to household dust, both from the dust mites that favor our mattresses as well as from cockroaches and flies that love our trash and leftover food.

In addition to the vast range of sources that contribute to dust, these different particles all range significantly in size. Dust mites, for example, while incredibly tiny to our eyes, are actually quite large in terms of dust, ranging from 100-300 microns each. Pollens can range from the relatively large 1000-micron range down to the much smaller 10 microns in size. Other particles that make up dust can be even smaller than that. Face powders and pigments from paint can get down to as small as 0.1 microns inside, and toxic chemical residue like cigarette smoke can range from 4 to 0.01 microns.

Effectiveness of Air Purifiers in Reducing Dust

All of these tiny particles move around indoors by floating through the air until they finally settle on a convenient surface in our home. By adding an air purifier to a room, many of these particles will be trapped before they have time to settle, not only making the air more pleasant to breathe but reducing the accumulation of dust on our tabletops, books, and shelves.

Studies and Findings

Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of air purifiers with HEPA filters in reducing indoor dust levels.

EPA Findings: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, which includes common household dust particles. This high efficiency helps in significantly reducing dust accumulation in indoor environments.

Clinical Study: A study published in the Environment International evaluated the impact of HEPA air purifiers on indoor particulate matter levels. The researchers found that using portable air cleaners with HEPA filters resulted in substantial reductions in indoor dust concentrations, leading to improved air quality. The study concluded that HEPA air purifiers have a consistent removal efficiency of 98% for particles in the 18-514 nm range, including dust and pollen.

Impact on Air Quality

By reducing the concentration of dust particles in the air, air purifiers can improve overall air quality. This can lead to a decrease in respiratory issues and allergies caused by dust allergens.

An air purifier will circulate the air in a room, and as it pulls in the air it also pulls in all of the tiny particulate matter floating in it, including dust. The air passes through the filter with ease, but the particles become trapped in the fibers. These particles that become trapped are the particles that would have turned into dust on home surfaces, or caused allergy or asthma symptoms when they are inhaled. Although an air purifier cannot remove particles completely, with regular use it can provide a significant reduction in household dust.

Types of Filters

The most important tool for filtering out dust is a true HEPA filter. HEPA filters were designed in the 1940s to protect scientists working on the Manhattan Project from tiny radioactive particles, and due to their efficiency at removing particles from the air they gradually became used commercially in filters and vacuums. A true HEPA filter is rated to capture particles at 0.3 microns in size with 99.97% efficiency, although it can capture both much larger and smaller particles as well. The 0.3 micron size was chosen because it is both the hardest size to trap and the size most easily drawn into lungs.

Rabbit Air's air purifiers go a step further to help protect against dust with our advanced BioGS HEPA filters. Rather than use standard paper or glass fiber materials for our HEPA filters, we use a special bioengineered fiber material that prevents mold growth and secondary contamination on our filters, allowing them to capture particles for a longer time without losing efficiency. That means less dust floating around, less need to clean, and better, cleaner air throughout your home.

Practical Considerations

Placement of Air Purifiers

To maximize air circulation and dust collection, place the purifier in rooms where you spend the most time, such as living rooms and bedrooms. Position it centrally and away from walls or furniture that could block airflow. If possible, elevate the purifier off the ground to capture both lower and higher air currents where dust particles travel. Additionally, placing it near sources of dust—like entryways where outdoor particles may enter or areas with heavy foot traffic—can help in capturing dust before it settles on surfaces.

Maintenance and Filter Replacement

Over time, the filters accumulate dust and particles, which can clog the system and reduce airflow. This not only diminishes the purifier's effectiveness but can also strain the motor, potentially shortening the device's lifespan. To prevent this, adhere strictly to the manufacturer's recommendations for filter replacement or cleaning. Standard HEPA filters, in particular, may need to be replaced every six to twelve months, depending on usage and environmental factors.

We recommend replacing our BioGS HEPA filters every 18 months and if you're using a Rabbit Air Activated Carbon filter, replace it every 3 years.

Effectively Remove Dust With Air Purifiers

Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters offer an effective solution for reducing indoor dust levels and improving overall air quality. By understanding the composition of household dust and implementing strategic placement of air purifiers, you can significantly diminish the accumulation of dust on surfaces and reduce exposure to allergens.