What Does an Air Purifier Actually Do? The 2-Minute Guide to Cleaner Air
This blog will take two minutes to read, but the benefits last all day. In those two minutes, you'll take about 40 breaths. Here's how to make sure each one is cleaner.
The World Health Organization reports that 99% of us breathe air exceeding safe limits, with indoor air up to 5x more polluted than outdoor air.
New research is revealing just how this happens.
When Purdue University scientists studied common household products—air fresheners, wax melts, cleaning supplies—they discovered these items rapidly fill indoor air with microscopic particles that penetrate deep into your lungs. Meanwhile, University of Birmingham researchers found pollution levels inside homes were consistently higher and more variable than outdoor levels.
With people spending 90% of their time indoors, understanding what an air purifier actually does has never been more important.
How Air Purifiers Clean Your Air
Today's top air purifiers work like a sophisticated vacuum for your air. They continuously draw in room air, pass it through multiple filtration stages, then release cleaned air back into your space.
For Airmega air purifiers, the process goes something like this:
- Air enters through intake vents, carrying everything from dust to microscopic particles
- Pre-filters catch the big stuff—pet hair, visible dust, lint
- Advanced filtration technology captures particles in your air
- Clean air circulates back into your room
This cycle repeats several times per hour, progressively removing more pollutants with each pass.
Are There Proven Results from Air Purifiers?
Recent studies confirm real-world effectiveness of air purifiers:
- 76.5% removal of harmful PAHs (the same carcinogens found in cigarette smoke)
- 63.1% reduction in heavy metals (including lead and mercury particles)
- 66.2% decrease in ions (reducing static and improving air freshness)
A 2024 Indoor Air journal analysis found air purifiers significantly ease respiratory symptoms from allergies.
Quick Guide to Choosing Your Airmega
Now that you understand how air purifiers work to clean your indoor air, the next step is finding the right one for your space. The best air purifier for you depends on room size, specific air quality concerns, and your lifestyle needs.
Choose By Room Size:
- Nurseries: Airmega 50 (up to 500 sq ft)
- Bedrooms: Airmega 100 (up to 810 sq ft)
- Living Areas: Airmega 250 (up to 1,860 sq ft)
- Open Concepts: Airmega 400 (up to 3,120 sq ft)
- Whole Home: ProX (up to 4,253 sq ft)
Add Our Custom Filter Options:
- Pet Filter: Enhanced dander capture + specialized odor control for pet households
- Allergen Filter: Ultra-fine particle capture targeting pollen, dust mites, and seasonal irritants
- Intense Smoke+: Advanced filtration for wildfire smoke and heavy odors (350 & 450 models)
Our Latest Innovations: Meet the Airmega 350 & 450
Introducing our newest air purifiers with revolutionary HyperVortex™ filtration:
What Makes Them Different:
- Eagle Vane Design inspired by nature for optimal airflow
- Choose your perfect filter: Fresh Starter+ (general use), Allergen+ (seasonal relief), or Intense Smoke+ (wildfire protection)
- Smart monitoring tracks particles as small as PM 1.0
- Operates at whisper-quiet 20 dB—quieter than a library!
- Sleek cylindrical design that earned prestigious design awards
- Coverage: 350 handles up to 2,640 sq ft and 450 covers up to 3,285 sq ft.
Take Control of Your Indoor Air
With over 1 billion people exposed to unhealthy wildfire smoke indoors annually, air purifiers have become essential home appliances. The right model depends on your space, specific air quality challenges, and lifestyle needs.
Explore Coway's complete range to find your perfect air purification solution.
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 50, 100, 150, 160, Tower AP-1216L, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
