Best Filterless Air Purifiers (2022 Review)

If you’ve been shopping for a filterless air purifier, and you’re trying to figure out which is best for you, then you’re in the right spot!

In this proHVACinfo guide, you will learn the following:

  • What are filterless air purifiers? (why filterless purifiers may be best for you)
  • What are the different types of filterless air purifiers? (watch out for this one thing!)
  • How do air filterless air purifiers work? (why they’re different from other purifiers)
  • What do you look for in the best filterless air purifiers? (what separates the best from the rest)

And much more!

Short on time? Below is a quick roundup of our top picks!

ImageProduct
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IonPacific IonBox
  • Good Coverage
  • Completely Portable
  • Dual-Voltage Power Supply
  • Good Coverage
  • Completely Portable
  • Dual-Voltage Power Supply
View on Amazon
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Airfree P3000
  • Nearly Silent
  • Kills Pathogens
  • No Chemicals
  • Nearly Silent
  • Kills Pathogens
  • No Chemicals
View on Amazon
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Germ Guardian Air Purifier
  • Compact Design
  • Effective For Odors
  • Bulbs Last Up To 12 Months
  • Compact Design
  • Effective For Odors
  • Bulbs Last Up To 12 Months
View on Amazon
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HAPHiD Negative Ion Generator
  • User Friendly
  • Comes in 3-Pack
  • Efficient Purificaiton
  • User Friendly
  • Comes in 3-Pack
  • Efficient Purificaiton
View on Amazon
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Airfree T800 Filterless Air Purifier
  • Patented TSS Technology
  • Economic Option
  • Quiet Operation
  • Patented TSS Technology
  • Economic Option
  • Quiet Operation
View on Amazon

What Are Filterless Air Purifiers?

Filterless air purifiers are next generation air sanitizing devices used in homes, commercial spaces, and even some vehicles, to reduce, and in some cases, eliminate harmful airborne particles, contaminants, pathogens, and even odors.

They offer an alternative to traditional filtered purifiers for those who perhaps aren’t great at remembering to change filters, or, who simply don’t want the ongoing expense or hassle of filter replacement at regular intervals.

By choosing a filterless air purifier, you get a one and done purchase, without losing the cleaning power.

This style of air purifier comes in a range of shapes and sizes, and offer cleaning for many room sizes.

What Are The Different Types Of Filterless Air Purifier?

There are a few different technologies in use across the field of filterless air purifiers, each of them working very differently from the others.

Electrostatic Precipitators

Electrostatic precipitators make use of electrodes and electrically charged plates to remove dust and large particles from the air. A high voltage charge is run through the electrodes, which in turn charge the dust and other airborne particles that pass by them. The charged particles are then attracted to the oppositely charged plate, which captures and removes them from the atmosphere.

Ultraviolet Light Purifiers

Ultraviolet, or UV, light is well known and highly regarded for its sanitizing properties. This light can kill harmful pathogens like viruses and bacteria as contaminated air passes through the light. Because it is capable of killing bacteria, UV purifiers can also reduce odors caused by these germs.

Ionizing Air Purifiers

Ionizing air purifiers work by creating positively or negatively charged molecules known as ions. These ions are then sent out by way of a fan into the room, where they attach themselves to airborne particles, weighing them down until they land upon a surface, and thus removing them from the atmosphere.

TSS Thermodynamic Purifiers

TSS stands for thermodynamic sterilization, a technique that involves heating a ceramic core to almost 400 degrees Fahrenheit. When air passes through these purifiers, almost all mold spores, viral particles, or bacteria are almost instantly obliterated, leaving clean air to pass out of the other side.

A Word About Ozone Generators

Ozone generators are sometimes sold as air purifiers. The idea behind these devices is that they absorb oxygen from the air and give it an electrical charge.

This charge rearranges the molecules, adding a third oxygen molecule, effectively turning O2 into O3.

These purifiers push O3, or ozone, into the surrounding air. When the ozone contacts airborne contaminants, it binds to, and destroys them.

However, the effectiveness and even safety of ozone generators has been a long-standing topic of debate between the EPA and vendors that sell them.

The EPA has found that ozone, when inhaled, can be harmful to the lungs.

For that reason, we recommend avoiding the use of ozone generators marketed at air purifiers.

With so many other great options, why risk using a device that could be harmful?

For that reason, none of the products we have reviewed emit ozone when used as directed.

How do Filterless Air Purifiers Work?

Filterless air purifiers avoid the use of MERV, HEPA, and Activated Charcoal filtering media to provide you with air sanitization that doesn’t require replacement or cleaning of filters.

By taking advantage of the high tech cleaning methods listed above, filterless purifiers can remove contaminants, pathogens, and odors from the air as efficiently as purifiers with traditional filters.

What Do You Look For In The Best Filterless Air Purifiers?

When you’re dealing with different technologies, it’s hard to give an apples to apples guide of what to look for, but there are of course some standard “must haves” when it comes to selecting a filterless air purifier

Coverage Area

This is a fairly simple feature to look for, but one of the most important.

Filterless air purifiers should be rated for a certain size of room, measured in square feet, or square meters in some cases.

The greater the area of coverage, the better – provided that it checks the boxes on the other top features to look for.

Energy Efficiency

You may save money on avoiding filter replacements with these purifiers, but if they draw a lot of power, you’ll be spending it in electricity bills.

Models with low energy consumption ratings not only cost you less money over their lifetimes, but can often be plugged into USB outlets, giving you a more flexibility in how you use them.

Noise Levels

The quieter the better! Many of the filterless air purifiers available today are completely silent, thanks to their lack of a fan.

A quiet purifier is more likely to be left running day and night, meaning your air is constantly being cleaned.

Noisy purifiers tend to get turned off at night, but as dirty, contaminated air never takes a break, this is a big factor to bear in mind.

Particle Reduction

An indication of a good purifier is a baseline particle reduction rating of 99%. Think carefully before purchasing anything with a lower rating than that.

Top 5 Filterless Air Purifiers (Reviewed)

Final Thoughts On The Best Filterless Air Purifiers

Filterless air purifiers make sense for many reasons.

While HEPA and MERV 13 filtered purifiers have their advantages, like any device using a filter media, from the first moment you turn it on, it continually loses effectiveness until it’s completely clogged.

Filterless purifiers like those on test in this proHVACinfo guide don’t have that particular issue.

They offer a great way to keep the air in your home clean and odor free, without the inconvenience of having to remember to change filters.

Filterless air purifiers offer unmatched efficiency, and much quieter operation than other types of air sanitizing devices.

Stephen Marks

Stephen Marks

Stephen is an HVAC and home-repair enthusiast. He's here to answer any of your questions about HVAC!

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Stephen Marks

Stephen Marks

Stephen is an HVAC and home-repair enthusiast. He's here to answer any of your questions about HVAC!

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