Do Air Purifiers Use a Lot of Electricity?

Air purifiers are often recommended to be turned on continuously 24/7 to ensure the best air filtration performance. From a health perspective, this is a good advice. Because if air quality is always maintained at the best level, our respiratory system will also be healthier. However, from a financial perspective, will leaving the air purifier on all day cause your electricity bill to skyrocket? To clearly this question, we need to understand the power consumption of air purifiers.

So, do air purifiers consume a lot of electricity? This article will tell you the answer.

Do Air Purifiers Use a Lot of Electricity? 

The short answer is that air purifiers consume very little electricity. According to Eco Cost Saving, when air purifiers are active, they usually consume between 8.2 watts and 130.8 watts, with 50.2 watts being the average active wattage. So, a typical 50W air purifier running at maximum speed for 24 hours per day will only cost us approximately $36-48 per year for electricity.

We have compiled information about the electricity consumption of some representative home appliances from U.S. Department of Energy estimates in the table below. When we have a comparison with air purifiers, we can see that air purifier consumes a very small amount of electricity. Some devices like Levoit Core 300s 15w air purifiers even consume less electricity than a phone charger.

The Average Cost of Electricity in the U.S

Although the average cost of electricity in the U.S. is 11.74 cents per kWh, we can see it has a difference in electricity prices in different areas. To make it easier for you to compare electricity prices between states, we have compiled some information below:

The top five most expensive states for electricity costs per kWh are:

Hawaii — 36.72 cents

Vermont — 19.97 cents

Connecticut — 17.83 cents

New York — 17.26 cents

Alaska — 17.07 cents

The cheapest states for electricity costs per kWh include:

Louisiana — 8.38 cents

Idaho — 8.47 cents

Washington — 8.61 cents

North Dakota — 8.62 cents

Missouri — 9.11 cents

How to Measure Energy Usage of Air Purifiers?

To measure the power consumption of an air purifier, we need to know the following 3 variables:

– Device capacity (unit: watts)

– Number of hours the air purifier operates per day (unit: hour)

– Electricity price in the area you live (unit: USD/kWh)

First, we must calculate the daily electric consumption of the air purifier by a simple formula: (Device capacity x number of hours the air purifier operates per day)/ 1000

Then, we will multiply this above result by the regional electricity price to calculate the daily operating cost of the air purifier. In short, we have the following formula:

Power consumption per day = (Wattage * kWh cost * Time (hours))/1000

For example: The Winix 5500-2 air purifier has a capacity of 70w. Suppose this air purifier is turned on 24 hours. And the cost of electricity in the state of California is $0.12/kWh. So the daily power consumption of the Winix 5500-2 is: (70 x 0.12 x 24)/1000 = $0.2

Thus, we can see that although it is capable of filtering the air in a 300 sq ft space, Winix 5500-2 air purifier consumes quite little electricity.

On the other hand, you can calculate the annual electricity cost of an air purifier yourself at Appliance Energy Calculator – a tool created by energy.gov.

Factors Affecting Air Purifiers’ Energy Consumption

There are many factors that can affect the power consumption of an air purifier. Understanding them will help you manage your device’s energy usage well. Below, we give 5 key factors you need to know that help you answer to question, “Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?”.

Size of air purifier

Obviously, the larger the air purifier, the more energy it requires. However, in reality, a large-capacity air purifier still consumes less electricity than different home appliances like a refrigerator or a washing machine.

Clean air delivery rate (CADR)

CADR is an important air quality standard that we must notice when using air purifiers. It is established by The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). An air purifier with a higher CADR will consume more energy compared to a device with a lower CADR. Specifically, when we compare a bigger unit with a CADR rating of 200m3/h, an air purifier with a CADR value of 42m3/h may consume less energy in an hour. However, we should keep in mind that the greater the CADR, the more efficient the air purifier.

Room size

Room size is also one factor that affects the electricity consumption of an air purifier through its clean air delivery rate. The same air purifier, if placed in a room with an acreage bigger than the CADR index, will consume more electricity compared to a room with an acreage smaller or equal to the CADR index.  For example, an air purifier with a 42㎥/h CADR rating will take less time to clean air in a room measuring 40 sq. ft. The same purifier will take more time, hence consume more power, to purify a larger room measuring 100 sq. ft.

That is why we should use an air purifier suitable for the room area. Ideally, our air purifier should have a CADR equal to at least 2/3 room size area to save energy. For instance, a purifier with a 100㎥/h rating would be effective for a 200 square feet room and will use less energy.

Filter type and its condition

Each air purifier uses a different filter. For example, my devices use HEPA filters, while others in my friends’ house use activated carbon filters. Obviously, different filters will have different power consumption levels. Not to mention, if our filter is old, dirty, or clogged, it will also cause power consumption to increase higher than normal. The reason is our air purifier is forced to work harder in this situation. 

Poor state of the environment

If our air purifier operates in polluted air environments, we will definitely need a high-speed setting to level up air filtration. As a result, our air purifier consumes more power. Currently, on the market, many air purifiers are equipped with the feature to automatically adjust operating speed based on surrounding air quality. It may help us to optimize electricity consumption in different air quality situations.

Smart Features

Some air purifiers are equipped with smart features that allow us to remotely manage the machine. So they will help us save significant energy. Here are some interesting smart features to check for:

• Sleep mode: Certain air purifiers offer a ‘sleep mode’ that allows the machine to run at reduced rates, particularly at night. This function not only reduces noise levels but also assures that the air purifiers use less energy.

• Night light: Most new-generation air purifiers have a night mode reducing the brightness of the panel light to half helps conserve electricity.

• In-built timer: This feature allows you to program when the air purifier will run and when it will go into standby mode.

• Filter change reminder: It will alert you when it is time to change the filter so that the air purifier may continue to work effectively.

• UV light: A light that destroys germs and bacteria. You not only save money on power, but you also save money on medical expenditures by having the cleanest and freshest air in your house.

Which Air Purifiers with the Highest Energy Efficiency?

We used the usage monitor to measure the power consumption of some popular air purifiers (when they operate at peak capacity) and compiled them in this table. You can save it for reference when you need to buy an air purifier for your family.

From the table above, it can be seen that Blue Pure 311 Auto is the air purifier with the highest power consumption, at about 35w/hour. Blue Pure 311 Auto air purifier can cover a room size of up to 388 sq ft. So it’s not surprising if this device tops the list of devices that use the most electricity.

In addition, Levoit air purifiers have the lowest electricity consumption. As analyzed in the first parts of the article, this level of electricity consumption less than 10W – is even smaller than a mobile charger.

Tips for Reducing Air Purifier Electricity Cost

Although air purifiers have quite low power consumption, we should still take measures to save electricity. The ways we suggest below not only help you reduce your electricity bill when using an air purifier continuously but also protect your living environment.

Set low speeds

Although keeping the air purifier at a high level can help us quickly reduce pollutants in the air, it will definitely increase our electricity bill at the end of the month. So, the first and simple tip to save electricity when using an air purifier is to set fan mode at low speed and keep it running all day. In this manner, the filtering system can continuously remove allergens and other foreign materials as they enter without using a lot of electricity.

Keep the window and door closed.

Opening the window while turning on the air purifier not only reduces air filtration efficiency but also causes our air purifier to work at a higher capacity. As a consequence, our air purifier will consume more electricity. Therefore, to save energy, when we use air purifiers, please close all windows and doors and vice versa.

Change out old filters.

The effectiveness of our air purifier is significantly influenced by filters. Specifically, filters build up dirt and particles over time which can impair an appliance’s performance. Because of this, we should replace the filter periodically according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We also should buy the filter from the air purifier’s seller or manufacturer to make sure it fits with our device.

Setup air purifiers in the right placement

The last tip we want to tell you is that you should place the air purifier in ideal locations where air can flow from all directions. Because if the air purifiers are set up in indoor corners or where there are many obstacles blocking the flow of air in and out, they will have to work twice as hard to clean the air. And when the devices have to work more, we are sure that they will consume more energy.

Buy a new air purifier.

When your air purifier gets too old, its air filtration performance will definitely decrease. Therefore, power consumption and even noise levels will be much more. In this case, we think you should spend some money to buy a newer air purifier. 

Nowadays, modern air purifiers have an innovative 4-stage air purifying mechanism that outperforms traditional purifiers. This improved filter system has the following features:

• A Pre-filter for removing big particles such as hair, dust, and pet dander. Because fewer dirt particles block the machine, pre-filter air purifiers are believed to perform more efficiently.

• A HEPA H13 filter is a medical-grade filter that can remove up to 99.95% of 0.3 micron germs. In your house, this innovative filter successfully eliminates germs, carbon dust, cigarette smoke, paint pigments, and asbestos.

• An activated carbon filter eliminates pollutants, bad odors, and harmful gases from the air.

• A booster filter for an ionizer that employs negative ions to neutralize contaminants for better indoor air.

Choosing an efficient-energy air purifier

Another strategy to minimize air purifier electricity use is to seek devices with an ENERGY STAR rating. Because almost all of them will have high-efficiency air filters and a powerful motor saves electricity. This combination gives the highest and most secure degree of indoor air quality possible from domestic air purifier devices.

The Energy Star is not to be provided this coveted rating to all appliances by the US Department of Energy. You should be aware that to receive the ENERGY STAR, items must:

– Uses less electricity than traditional air purifiers

– Protect the environment by ensuring no toxic substances such as ozone are emitted during operation

Besides Energy Star certification, CARD is also an indicator you need to pay attention to if you want to choose an energy-saving air purifier. CADR is the rate at which air purification equipment distributes filtered air. The larger the room it can serve and the faster it can clean the air, the higher the CADR. An air purifier model that is properly scaled for space and has a high CADR will be more energy efficient.

FAQs

1. Can I leave an air purifier on all night?

Yes. You can absolutely leave the air purifier running all night to maintain good air quality. The only thing we need to worry about is the device’s noise levels. You should set the machine to run in low mode to minimize noise and avoid affecting your sleep.

2. Is it expensive to run an air purifier 24/7?

No. The good news is that air purifiers don’t use a lot of energy. For example, depending on the airflow speed, the majority of HEPA air purifiers utilize roughly 50 to 100 watts per hour. Therefore, even with a 24-hour operation, the electricity bill would be just in the $4 to 10 range each month.

3. Should you leave an air purifier on all the time?

Yes. For continuous air filtration, we should leave an air purifier on all the time. This guarantees contaminants are continuously filtered while also assisting in maintaining stable air quality. However, to keep the air purifier operating efficiently, we must be sure to adhere to manufacturer guidelines for maintenance, including filter replacement.

4. How much does an air purifier cost to run in the UK?

The cost of running an air purifier in the UK is determined by the consumption rating of your purifier. Using the Energy Price Guarantee UK rate of £0.34/kWh (for the period April 2023-June 2023) (Standard credit UK average), an air purifier with a consumption rating of 0.003 kWh will cost:

0.003 kWh x 0.34p = 0.00102p per hour

0.00102 per hour x 24 hours = 0.02448p per day

0.02448p per day x 30 days = 0.73p per month

0.7344p per month x 12 months = £8.81 per year

5. How much does an air purifier cost to run in a year?

A: The average cost of air purifier electricity is £0.024 per day, £5.8 per month, and £70.5 per year. This cost estimate is liable to fluctuate based on factors such as the type of dehumidifier, your power rate, and the seasons.

We have the following calculation:

0.024 kWh x 0.34p = 0.00816p per hour

0.00816p per hour x 24 hours = 0.19p per day

0.19584p per day x 30 days = £5.8 per month

£5.8752 per month x 12 months = £70.5 per year

6. Does pre-filter cleaning save electricity?

Yes, it does. The reason is that when the airflow is clogged by dirt, the machine uses more energy. A dirty air purifier has lower airflow, thus “forcing” the motor to use more watts to increase airflow.

Conclusion: Do Air Purifiers Use a Lot of Electricity

Through the actual data we give in this article, we can confirm that the air purifier does not consume much electricity. However, to use them more optimally, you should know about the factors that cause our air purifiers to consume more electricity. At the same time, let’s keep in mind a few ways to reduce electricity consumption so that in case you use multiple air purifiers at home, your electricity bill does not increase too much.