Benefits of Air Purifiers
Air purifiers process indoor air using filtration or other air-cleaning technologies, helping to address airborne particles, certain odors, and gaseous compounds depending on the equipment. Depending on the type of air purifier, the equipment may use mechanical filters, electronic air-cleaning technology, activated carbon, or other components.
Air purifiers are available in portable models designed for individual rooms and whole-home systems that work with compatible HVAC equipment. Understanding the different types of air purifiers and their functions can help you determine which option may be appropriate for your home, whether that's a cabinet filter upgrade, a carbon-and-UV system, or a high-efficiency whole-home purifier like those in Carrier's lineup.
What Is the Purpose of an Air Purifier?
The purpose of an air purifier is to process indoor air using one or more air-cleaning technologies. For example, a mechanical air purifier passes air through filter media designed to collect airborne particles.
Other air purifiers may incorporate activated carbon, electronic air-cleaning technology, or other components. Because these technologies perform different functions, the right air purifier depends on your home, HVAC equipment, and what you want the equipment to address.
4 Benefits of Air Purifiers
What are air purifiers used for? The answer depends largely on the technology inside the equipment.
Four practical reasons homeowners may consider an air purifier include:
- Collecting airborne particles
- Providing filtration for individual rooms or a whole home
- Incorporating activated carbon for certain odors and gaseous compounds
- Offering different filtration options based on the home's HVAC equipment and air-cleaning priorities
Let's look more closely at each.
1. Air Purifiers Can Collect Airborne Particles
Air purifiers that use mechanical filters are designed to collect airborne particles as air passes through the filter media.
Different filters are designed to capture particles of different sizes. Depending on the filter and application, airborne particles may include dust, pollen, and pet dander.
Whole-home air purifiers process air moving through compatible HVAC equipment, while portable air purifiers process air within the room or area where the unit operates.
When comparing filtration options, homeowners should review specifications such as the filter type and MERV or CADR rating, when applicable. For example, Carrier's Comfort™ EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter (EZXCAB) uses a MERV 10 filter that captures up to 65% of particles sized 1.0–3.0 microns, with an optional upgrade to MERV 13 for finer filtration, while the Infinity® Air Purifier (DGAPA) uses a MERV 15 filter that traps up to 95% of particles in the same size range—illustrating how particle-capture performance can vary significantly between products.
2. Activated Carbon Can Be Used for Certain Odors
Some air purifiers incorporate activated carbon or other adsorbent materials.
Activated carbon uses a process called adsorption, in which certain substances adhere to the surface of the carbon material as air passes through it. This makes activated carbon different from mechanical filtration used primarily for airborne particles.
If odors are one of your primary considerations when shopping for an air purifier, look at whether activated carbon or another adsorbent material is incorporated into the product. Carrier's Performance™ Carbon Air Purifier with UV (UVCAP) uses an activated carbon core specifically to diminish unpleasant odors and help minimize volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while reducing ozone levels in recirculated air.
Filters containing activated carbon should be maintained or replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. On the UVCAP, this means replacing the carbon core annually and the UV bulb every two years.
3. Air Purifiers Offer Different Air-Cleaning Technologies
One benefit of today's air purifier options is the ability to choose among different technologies and configurations.
Depending on the product, air-cleaning equipment may incorporate:
- Mechanical filtration
- High-efficiency filter media
- Electronic air-cleaning technology
- Activated carbon
- Portable or whole-home configurations
Some HVAC systems may also incorporate UV-C lights. UV-C lamps are typically positioned near the indoor evaporator coil to expose illuminated HVAC surfaces to UV-C light, including surfaces where mold (Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus niger¹) may be present. Carrier's UVCAP pairs this UV-C approach with an activated carbon core: the UV light is positioned to help reduce the growth of mold on the cooling coil, which can otherwise block heat transfer to the refrigerant, while the carbon core addresses odors and VOCs in the circulating air.
Because these technologies serve different functions, homeowners should compare the specific features and specifications of individual products rather than assuming all air purifiers work the same way
4. Air Purifiers Provide Portable and Whole-Home Options
Another benefit of air purifiers is the ability to choose between portable and whole-home configurations.
A portable air purifier is designed to operate within an individual room or area. Portable models can be considered for spaces such as bedrooms, home offices, and family rooms.
A whole-home air purifier works with compatible central HVAC equipment and processes air as it moves through the heating and cooling system. All three Carrier air purifiers referenced in this article—the EZXCAB, UVCAP, and DGAPA—are whole-home solutions designed to integrate with existing HVAC equipment rather than operate as standalone, portable units.
The appropriate configuration depends on factors such as the space you want to serve, your existing HVAC equipment, installation requirements, and maintenance preferences.
Are Air Purifiers Worth It?
Whether an air purifier is worth considering depends on what you want the equipment to address, the size of the space, and whether you prefer a portable or whole-home solution.
Air purifiers also have ongoing considerations. Filters may require periodic replacement or maintenance, and whole-home products must be compatible with the HVAC equipment.
Rather than looking for a single best air purifier, compare products based on their technology, specifications, intended application, maintenance requirements, and cost. Learn more about do air purifiers work?
What Are the Benefits of a Whole-Home Air Purifier?
A whole-home air purifier is designed to work with compatible central HVAC equipment and process air as it moves through the system.
For homeowners considering this type of equipment, practical benefits of the whole-home format include:
- Integration with compatible central HVAC equipment
- Air cleaning within the HVAC system rather than relying on individual portable units
- Different filtration technologies and configurations depending on the equipment
- Centralized filter maintenance
Before adding a whole-home air purifier, an HVAC professional can evaluate your existing system and discuss compatible options.
Which Carrier Whole-Home Air Purifier Is Right for Your Home?
The right whole-home air purifier depends primarily on your household's air-cleaning priorities—particle filtration, odor and gas reduction, or coil protection against mold growth—along with your budget and existing HVAC setup.
- Comfort™ EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter (EZXCAB) is better suited for homeowners who want an affordable, straightforward upgrade to their existing filtration, with a MERV 8, 11, or 13-compatible filter that captures up to 65% of particles sized 1.0–3.0 microns, a low-pressure-drop design that helps reduce the risk of coil freeze-ups, and an insulated cabinet to help maintain thermal comfort.
- Performance™ Carbon Air Purifier with UV (UVCAP) works best when odors, VOCs, and coil mold growth are primary concerns, since it combines a UV light near the evaporator coil—shown in third-party testing to reduce select mold, bacteria, and virus surfaces¹—with an activated carbon core that diminishes household odors and gases.
- Infinity® Air Purifier (DGAPA) is designed for homeowners prioritizing premium particle filtration, using a patented MERV 15 filter that captures up to 95% of particles sized 1.0–3.0 microns² to help protect against dust, dander, and pollen throughout the home.
All three products are backed by Carrier's Consumer Choice Warranty, which offers eligible, timely-registered equipment either a 10-year parts-only limited warranty or a 5-year parts plus 3-year labor limited warranty.³
Connect With a Carrier Dealer About Air Purifier Options
If you're considering a whole-home air purifier, your local Carrier dealer can review your existing HVAC equipment and discuss compatible air-cleaning options for your home.
A dealer can also explain product differences, installation considerations and filter maintenance requirements to help you compare available options.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may benefit from an air purifier if your home has noticeable dust, lingering odors, pet dander, smoke, or other airborne particles. An air purifier can help reduce certain airborne contaminants and support better indoor air quality, especially when used alongside proper ventilation, filtration, and regular cleaning.
Air purifiers require ongoing maintenance, including cleaning or replacing filters, and they add some energy use and operating cost. They also do not address every indoor air quality issue, such as pollutants originating from an active source, so source control and ventilation may still be important.
Air purifiers are designed to filter air while they are operating, so regular or continuous use can help maintain more consistent indoor air quality. For best results, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for operation, filter cleaning, and filter replacement.
1 When positioned to represent the maximum distance above the bottom of a Carrier cooling coil, in laboratory testing, the UV lamp solution demonstrated reductions of molds penicilium citrinum and aspergillus niger on an aluminum surface in just 4 hours of 99.99% and 99.9% respectively. Similarly in the laboratory, bacteria testing was completed on staphylococcus epidermidis and escherichia coli with reductions of 99.9999% and 99.9% respectively. These tests were conducted at an independent laboratory according to ASTM E3135-18 Standard Practice for Determining Antimicrobial Efficacy of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Against Microorganisms on Carriers with Simulated Soil.
2 MERV is a filter efficiency standard ranging from 1 to 16 (higher MERV = higher efficiency). The Infinity air purifier achieves a MERV 15 rating based on third-party testing (2012) showing 95% of particles size 1.0 to 3.0 microns captured and 85% of particles size 0.3 to 1.0 microns captured.
3 To the original owner on eligible equipment for eligible residential applications. Warranty period is 5 years if not registered within 90 days. Jurisdictions where warranty benefits cannot be conditioned on registration will automatically receive a 10-year parts limited warranty, which can be changed to the 5-year parts, plus a 3-year labor option on eligible equipment within the first 90 days after installation. The 5-year parts, plus 3-year labor warranty option is available only if the installing dealer/contractor has elected to participate in the Consumer Choice warranty program and has accepted the Consumer Choice dealer terms and conditions.
About The Author: Ryan Mayes is a Senior Digital Brand Marketing Manager at Carrier who focuses on creating clear, helpful resources on HVAC topics. Ryan’s goal is to guide readers toward smart, confident decisions about their indoor comfort.
About The Expert Reviewer: Chrystal Jolliffe is a Product Manager for Residential Indoor Air Quality at Carrier Corporation, where she focuses on developing innovative indoor air quality solutions that help homeowners create healthier, more comfortable living environments. Chrystal's goal is to help consumers better understand indoor air quality products so they can make informed decisions about improving the air inside their homes.