Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?
Air purifiers, as we all know, have been one of the breakthroughs of recent times, keeping us away from free-floating contaminations (for a relatively low price) in the atmosphere. And, in turn, going to see the doctor less than usual. But with this fantastic addition, the air purifier electricity bill is still discomforting for many air purifier consumers. So, do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?
Air purifiers are required to run a lot, basically, a 24/7 operation because they have to be as useful as possible. All air purifiers make use of a fan that blows, with more powerful than the others with the presence of HEPA filters in most units making sure the fan has to blow enough at high speed, thereby consuming much more energy.
In order to clarify and shed more light into the working principle of air purifiers, and the electricity they consume, we have written this article to answer all your questions and give you an idea how much hike you should expect before buying that air purifier.
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How much does it cost to run an air purifier?
Different types of air purifiers are rated depending on the size and its square feet area of coverage. Before purchasing a unit, always check the watt ratting, which the manufacturer always indicates. The higher the watt used, the higher the electricity it consumes. The watt rating always determines the amount of electricity air purifiers would consume.
To estimate the value an air purifier would consume in bills; you can follow this simple method we have developed after researching. Please note that this would only give an estimated range for you to know how it could affect your bill, not precise value, and this method depends on the electricity distributor charge per kilowatt-hour (we would use an assumed amount, try to find yours from your electricity distributor).
Assuming you purchase an air purifier that is rated 120 watts, which is being run for 24 hours, it would run on about 0.120 kilowatts per hour, which is approximately 2.88 kilowatts hours per day or 86.4 kilowatts hours per month.
At an electricity cost average of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, then your bills would be around $12.96 in a month.
Accurately stating it, about $12.96 would be added to your electric bill per month. Some air purifiers, however, are energy star rated, meaning they are designed to maximize power, giving maximum output with low energy consumption (wattage input).
Also Read: American Lung Association air purifiers recommendation
For example: How much electricity do Honeywell air purifiers use
The Honeywell 50250, for example, after the test was carried out, was measured to consume about 200 watts on the highest setting, 165 on medium and 103 on the lowest.
We would take the highest setting to explain how to do the calculation above correctly.
Honeywell 50250 rating: 200 watts
Rating in kilowatt: 0.200kilo watt-hour
Run time: 24 hours per day
Cost of running it per day: 0.200 x 24 = 4.8 kilowatt per hour
Cost of running in a month: 4.8 x 30 days = 144kilowatts per hour
Using an average electricity cost of 12 cents per kilowatt hour cost of electricity bill would be 144 x 0.12 = $17.28 per month.
Note: these are assumed and estimated value, which is why we recommend you find out the correct values that apply to your air purifier. The result would also be an estimation of what your bills would look like, with no guarantees on precise costs.
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Factors that affect air purifiers’ power consumption
- Watt (energy) rating:
The unit’s energy rating determines the amount of electricity you would be billed in due time. In simple terms, the higher the energy in watts it consumes, the higher the bills.
- Type of filter used:
Air purifiers worldwide use several filter types depending on what it is built for and the manufacturer’s preference. Generally, units that use the HEPA filter mean that the fan blows more to force air through the tiny pores.
- Size of fan:
The larger the unit, the bigger the fan that would be used and the higher the power required. An enormous fan always needs more energy to run efficiently and could add to your electricity bills.
- Area of room coverage:
Would you expect an air purifier for small spaces to consume electricity like large rooms? Certainly not. Air purifiers for large rooms have giant fans and a HEPA filter, guaranteeing more energy would be consumed.
- Ultraviolet light (UVGI technology)/ ozone generators:
These lights are built into a unit to sterilize the air. This double protection comes with an extra cost. It is the value consumed depending on the duration the ultraviolet light is used.
- Running speed:
Every air purifier has options allowing the user to vary the fan speed. The significant difference in the action of this mode is the speed at which the fan rolls. Therefore, the machine doesn’t do much air purification. It consumes the most power and is most efficient at the highest setting.
- Poor environmental condition:
Air purifiers must work extra when they are used in really contaminated conditions. Hence, more energy is consumed. Units with auto mode, i.e., the ability to choose the speed at which it operates depending on the environmental condition.
Also Read: Best air purifier for the price
Energy-efficient air purifiers: A solution for electricity bill
With all that has been said about the potentially expensive rate of using an air purifier, the primary solution to both enjoying a clean environment and a fair electricity bill rate is an energy-efficient air purifier that works. In this case, we recommend you go for an Energy Star certified product.
The Energy Star program’s fundamental responsibility is to test and then rate high-efficiency appliances most suitable for consumer choices.
These certified products are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with tests that have recorded up to 40% more efficient than standard air cleaners, saving up to 225 kilowatts per hour annually. This is very wholesome because an average air purifier consumes about 550 kilowatts per hour annually.
The Energy Star program defines room air cleaners as “portable electric connected appliances that remove fine particle matter such as dust and pollen from indoor air.”
Some stringent rules, guidelines, and specifications must be met for a unit to qualify to be rated Energy Star. Air purifiers are categorized under Energy Star based on the methods they employ in cleaning indoor air; they are:
- Fan with filter
- Fan filter with an ion generator
- Fan with filter and electrostatic plates
- Ion generator
- Hybrid
For a product to qualify as energy-rated, it must produce a minimum “50 clean air delivery rate (CADR) and a minimum efficiency performance requirement of 2.0 CADR/ watt (dust)”.
CADR is simply a measure of the amount of contaminant-free air delivered by a room air cleaner. Several additional requirements are listed by the EPA and EOD, which can be read on their website.
There are several applications out there that could help you estimate how much value you would be saving when you decide to make use of an energy-efficient air purifier.
Final verdict: Air purifier’s electricity bill consumption
Air purifiers are generally an awesome addition to life, and although they might come with that little extra cost in the running, it is entirely worth your while, especially when there’s a presence of an energy star rated unit.
Energy star rated device offers a way to stay healthy while keeping your energy bills as low as possible, eliminating the primary concern of air purifiers being too expensive to run.
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