Wildfire smoke: 11 best AHAM-certified air purifiers you can buy in Canada, starting under $100
According to Health Canada, an air purifier is one way to protect your indoor environment from wildfire smoke.
As wildfires continue to rage throughout British Columbia and Alberta — as of Friday, July 26, there are more than 950 active wildfires in Canada — millions in the surrounding areas face hazardous air quality conditions.
Following the out-of-control wildfires that devastated Jasper, Alta., the Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index forecast 10+ or "very high risk" on Thursday morning for nearly the entire province.
On days with poor air quality, people are more likely to experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and coughing or wheezing — especially if they have a chronic respiratory disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The small particles in wildfire smoke can get into your eyes and bloodstream, and if you have a heart or lung problem, you may experience problems earlier and at lower smoke levels.
According to Health Canada, using a portable air purifier that can filter fine particles is one way to protect your indoor environment from smoke pollution.
Air purifiers, also known as air cleaners, can improve indoor air quality by removing small contaminants that can harm your health.
According to the health authority, you should prioritize the following when choosing an air purifier:
Look for a device certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).
Choose an air purifier sized appropriately for the room you want to put it in.
Consider the clean air delivery rate (CADR) for the room size. The CADR describes how well the device reduces tobacco smoke, dust, pollen and wildfire smoke. To reduce fine particles, select a device with the highest CADR.
Choose an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
Avoid devices that produce ozone.
Best air purifiers for wildfire smoke
Not all air purifiers are made equal. Following Health Canada's recommendations, we've listed 11 AHAM-certified air purifiers and included information about recommended room sizes and CADR ratings.
Best air purifiers under $100
Room Size: 47 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 30
Dust CADR: 41
PM2.5 CADR: 35
Pollen CADR: 52
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Room Size: 144 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 93
Dust CADR: 112
PM2.5 CADR: 107
Pollen CADR: 118
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Best air purifiers under $200
Room Size: 108 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 69
Dust CADR: 84
Pollen CADR: 102
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Room Size: 201 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 112
Dust CADR: 112
Pollen CADR: 112
Volts / Frequency: 100V / 50Hz | 240V / 60Hz
Room Size: 100 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 70
Dust CADR: 50
Pollen CADR: 50
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Room Size: 206 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 133
Dust CADR: 141
Pollen CADR: 145
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Best air purifiers under $300
Room Size: 360 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 232
Dust CADR: 243
Pollen CADR: 246
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Room Size: 250 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 161
Dust CADR: 160
Pollen CADR: 170
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Room Size: 358 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 231
Dust CADR: 240
PM2.5 CADR: 236
Pollen CADR: 259
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Best air purifiers under $1,000
Room Size: 250 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 161
Dust CADR: 160
Pollen CADR: 170
Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Room Size: 418 ft2
Tobacco Smoke CADR: 270
Dust CADR: 275
Pollen CADR: 280
Volts / Frequency: 100V / 50Hz | 240V / 60Hz
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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