Cleaner air at home, without the guesswork.
Plain-language guides to purifiers, filters, detectors, and humidity. Every claim links to its source, and we tell you when the evidence is thin.
Started by Will after a Colorado wildfire took his family's home of 30+ years. Read his story
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Answer three questions and get the smoke CADR your room needs, the filter type that fits your problem, and the guides to read next.
Topics
We cover one topic in depth before moving to the next. Wildfire smoke is live; the rest are being researched now.
Wildfire smoke
What purifiers really do during smoke events, how to size one, and the cheap DIY option.
- Do air purifiers work for wildfire smoke?
- What size air purifier do you need?
- HEPA vs. carbon filters for smoke
- DIY box-fan cleaner vs. a store-bought purifier
- Air purifier standards around the world
HVAC and furnace filters
MERV ratings, what your system can handle, and how often to replace them.
1 guide publishedBasements
Moisture, mold, and musty air: what a dehumidifier fixes and what a purifier cannot.
Coming soonRadon tests and monitors
How to test, how to read results, and why filters do not remove radon.
Coming soonCarbon monoxide alarms
Where to install them and when to replace them. Purifiers do not remove CO.
Coming soonHumidifiers and dehumidifiers
Target humidity, sizing, and keeping the units clean.
Coming soonBabies and kids
Nursery air, quiet operation, and devices to avoid around infants.
Coming soonOlder adults
Simple equipment and protecting higher-risk people during smoke events.
Coming soonAllergies, pets, and cooking
Pollen, dander, and kitchen fumes: matching the fix to the problem.
Coming soonWildfire smoke guides
Each guide opens with how strong the evidence is, then links every source.
Do air purifiers work for wildfire smoke?
What field studies show about PM2.5 reduction, and what is still uncertain.
What size air purifier do you need?
The smoke CADR rule, with a room-size table.
HEPA vs. carbon filters for smoke
Particles, gases, and how much to trust the marketing claims.
DIY box-fan cleaner vs. a store-bought purifier
What EPA lab tests found, plus noise, safety, and filter changes.
Air purifier standards around the world
HEPA grades, CADR units, China's CCM rating, and research from Canada, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
Guides and resources
Not sure where to start? Every guide is free, plain-language, and linked to its sources.
Wildfire smoke resources
Does it fit your room, and what will it cost?
Move the sliders to check room coverage and the 5-year cost of purchase, filters, and electricity. Specs are manufacturer-reported and not yet verified by us. Coverage uses the EPA and ENERGY STAR rule: smoke CADR at least two-thirds of floor area, 8-foot ceilings.
5-year total = price + 4 years of filters (the first set comes with the unit) + electricity at typical power draw.
Sources on every page
Guides cite peer-reviewed studies, public health agencies, and published standards, with links you can check.
Evidence ratings, not hype
Each guide rates how strong the evidence is for its main claims, including where it is weak.
No paid rankings
Commissions never change what we recommend. Our own testing program is being set up, and we will publish the method first.
Why I started IndoorAirLab
A wildfire took my family's home of more than 30 years in Colorado. In the summers since, smoke from fires in the Rockies, Canada, and beyond has kept rolling in, and as someone with asthma, I started digging into how to actually protect my family's air. I found plenty of marketing and very few straight answers.
IndoorAirLab is the resource I wish I'd had: plain-language guides built on research, every source linked, and honest about where the evidence is thin.
Common questions
Will an air purifier fix a musty basement?
Usually not on its own. Musty air generally comes from moisture, so the fix starts with finding the water source and controlling humidity. A purifier can help with airborne particles once moisture is under control.
Does a HEPA filter remove radon or carbon monoxide?
No. Both are gases that HEPA filters do not capture. Radon calls for testing and, if levels are high, professional mitigation. Carbon monoxide calls for working CO alarms and well-maintained fuel-burning appliances.
Do I need a bigger purifier than my room size suggests?
If you have smoke, pets, or allergies, more CADR cleans the air faster and lets you run the unit at a quieter speed.
Why is this a .org if you earn commissions?
We chose the name for the mission, not to suggest we are a charity. IndoorAirLab.org is an independent, for-profit site funded by affiliate commissions.