Did you know that the indoor air is 3 times more polluted than the outdoor air? That should raise a big warning sign for you and since you’re here, this means you’re taking measures to improve the air quality of your house and without a doubt, your overall health.
Just like any other product on the market, some are better than the others. So when it comes to air purifiers, what differentiates them from others in their class? Well, it’s all about performance, isn’t it?
You’re right. The performance of an air sanitizer is directly correlated to two acronyms: CADR(clean air delivery rate) and ACH(air changes per hour).
Today we’re going to tackle the first one, CADR to help you better understand how an air sanitizer performs and what to expect from it.
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and is usually represented with a numerical value that determines the specific amount of particles that are in the air.
What Is A Good CADR Rating?
Naturally, when we’re looking for a good air cleaner we have to keep in mind a good CADR rating since it shows how efficient it is in filtering out dust and pollen from the air per hour.
In most cases, CADR rating is usually measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute), and is the rate of particles that are being filtered out. Certain scientific organizations also use the CADR measurement to determine the density of smoke, particles, and dust in the air.
Since the particles of smoke are incredibly tiny, they usually have a size of around 0.1 – 0.3 microns while dust particles are estimated at 0.5 – 3 microns. The largest type of particles that we can see with the naked eye are pollens which are around 5 – 11 microns.
The standard used for CADR rating was invented by the Association Of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to determine the safety of air purifiers and as a form of accurate measurement.
When you’re looking for an air purifier, it’s recommended that you look for one with a good CADR rating.
But what makes for a good CADR rating, more specifically?
Well, based on what we’ve found, an air purifier with a CADR score above 350 is considered a good one since it’s capable of filtering out hazardous amounts of particles in the air. If the CFM of a certain room is around 300 and above, it’s already hazardous.
Is Higher CADR Better?
Mainly yes, the higher the CADR rating the better efficient an air purifier is at filtering air. If you have a CFM numerical value of 150 and above, this could lead to health complications. By having a good CADR, you can easily lower the CFM of your room and the area to about 0 – 50 CFM, depending on the CADR’s strength.
Room size has to also be taken into account. The larger the room, the more recommended it is to use an air purifier with a high-powered fan and a high CADR rating.
While it’s true that most individuals don’t’ really have the time to calculate the CADR, you can use breathing quality to determine the performances of air purifiers.
If you’re still confused on how CADR works, here’s a visual table on what you should be expecting when determining the CADR of an air purifier:
What Is the link between CADR ratings and air purifiers?
There’s a multitude of air purifiers that are available on the market, but the efficiency and performances that they generate are usually measured through CADR.
CADR which is usually measured through CFM shows how efficiently particles from a particular room are filtered out. In most cases, dust, pollen, and other particles can cause respiratory problems if they reach a density of 150 CFM onwards if they are not properly filtered out.
If you’re looking for a good air purifier but have no idea what to pick, go with the most popular brands.
How Is CADR Calculated?
When we’re calculating the CADR rating, we’ll need to use the ANSI/AHAM AC-1 test. This test is actually simple and won’t really consume too much of your precious time.
Another factor that we have to take into consideration is the room size. While it might be true that CADR is usually used for large rooms, it’s still paramount that we look into the size of a particular room since this will also dictate the efficiency of air purifiers.
For example, air purifiers with a rating of 300 CFM will be able to usually clean a room that’s around 300 square feet and it will be even faster than an air purifier that’s running on 200 CFM.
What About ACH?
Well, ACH stands for Air Changes Per Hour and shows the rate at which an air purifier can replace the air within the span of an hour. The more fresh air there is, the better the air quality. Together with the CADR ratings, ACH can accurately calculate the power of an air purifier.
Conclusion
Now that you know why you should be looking for the CADR rating for an air cleaner, you can start looking for the appropriate air purifier for your house.
Get an air purifier that is appropriate for the size of a particular room. Keep in mind, the higher the CADR rating, the better the performance of your air sanitizer.
That being said, stay healthy and enjoy your life! See you next time!
