Radon gas is a dangerous substance that is invisible to the eye. Radon can even causes lung cancer after prolonged exposure. Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. In this article we will discuss some of the best air purifiers for radon gas
It is important to note that while an air purifier can help to trap some radon, they are not as effective as other radon reduction systems or soil depressurization systems and a radon specialist should always be consulted. Please note that the “EPA does not recommend air cleaning to reduce the health risks associated with radon.”
Best Air Purifier for Radon Comparison
Best design
- Reduces Radon Gas
- Uses H13 True HEPA Filter
- Quiet operation
- Top performance for a great price
- Great for odor, allergies, and more
Best performance
- Reduces radon gas
- Remove toxins/gases, odors, allergies, and more
- Eliminate bacteria and viruses
- Extremely powerful
Highest power
- Reduces radon gas
- Reduce viruses, dust, mold, allergies, and more
- Affordable
- Certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Best Air Purifier for Radon Review
Best design: Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifier for Radon
We loved the sleek design of this air purifier and saw a noticeable improvement in air quality after only a few hours of use. With its affordable price tag and use of H13 True HEPA filters, the Alen BreatheSmart was a no-brainer.
The Alen BreatheSmart is the best air purifier for reducing radon gas and similar toxins in your home. The reason this air purifier is effective is that it has massive amounts of activated carbon to absorb airborne chemicals and gases.
This purifier has 2.7 lbs of activated carbon and a HEPA-FreshPlus filter to absorb and capture a wide variety of harmful airborne substances. These include dangerous VOCs, fumes from chemicals and aerosol sprays, cigarette and wildfire smoke, dust, pet fur and dander, allergens, and odors.
Using the Alen BreatheSmart, you can protect your home from indoor pollution, gases, and radon with its ultra-absorbent carbon filter set-up. Covering up to 1100 sq. ft., the medical-grade filtration H13 True HEPA filter removes up to 99.99% of airborne particles, including bacteria, aerosolized virus, and particulates larger than .1 micron.
You can quickly clean the pre-filter on this device using your vacuum, which will help extend the life of the True HEPA filter inside.
As a way to inform you of the air quality within your home, the Alen BreathSmart has an Air Quality Sensor Light that uses different colors to share with you this vital information. These three colors of lights (Blue, Orange, Red) will let you know when the air is clean and how well the machine is doing.
Running this unit on Auto Mode is a more energy-efficient way to clean the air, with the built-in sensor adjusting the speed of the fan as needed. The Alen BreatheSmart cleans 1100 sq. ft. every 30 minutes and is tuned to generate “pink noise” which is a soothing frequency that promotes restful sleep. The display lighting also darkens completely for uninterrupted rest.
Pros:
- Uses an H13 True HEPA filter
- Designed by NASA airflow engineers
- Has an Air Quality Sensor Light
- Uses a frequency that does not interfere with sleep
Cons:
- Is a large unit, at 3′ x 2′
- Replacement filters can be expensive
Trial Results
Best performance: IQAir Medical-Grade Air Purifier for Radon
The IQAir Medical-Grade Air Purifier is the powerhouse air purifier on our list. It features easy-to-use functions, strong scrubbing power, 320-degree clean air exhaust, and rave reviews across the board.
This air purifier uses a MultiGas filtration and an advanced filter design to provide exceptional protection against gases, odors, and chemicals. Able to filter even ultrafine particles, this air purifier boasts the best filtration out of all the others on our list. A
With its high-quality filters, it is able to block particulates that are as small as .003 microns. Not only does this clean the air of dust, dander, and allergens, but also bacteria and viruses.
The IQAir Medical-Grade Air Purifier is rated to be used in rooms up to 1125 sq. ft., and runs at only 27 watts at its lowest speed, making it incredibly energy efficient considering the thorough cleaning job that it does.
Using four disposable gas-phase filter cartridges, the IQAir air purifier has 12 pounds of activated carbon and alumina pellets which remove even formaldehyde from the air. The airflow is evenly dispersed at 320 degrees which makes for an even distribution of clean air.
Pros:
- Quiet at low settings
- Filters air particles as small as .003 microns
- Removes many different particles from the air
Cons:
- High price tag
- Some users report a strong smell from the carbon filters at the beginning of operation
Trial Results
Highest power: Airpura T600 Air Purifier
This air purifier made our list of best air purifiers for radon gas not only because of its performance but also because of its power. The Airpura cleans up to 2,000 square feet, making it the perfect air purifier for the entire house. As the air purifier with the largest air cleaning footprint, this is a great bargain for your buck.
The Airpura T600 air purifier features an extra-deep, bucket-Esque, carbon bed full of activated carbon, used for eliminating radon as well as other chemicals, toxins, and smoke. The Airpura air purifier for radon also has a car barrier pre-filter that helps to further capture any dangerous air pollutants.
For those with allergies and respiratory conditions, it can clean a 575 sq. ft. room 6 times per hour. This ability to scrub the air makes it a great use during allergy and cold season, as it will quickly and efficiently pull out the pesky dander and allergens that have your nose running.
The Airpura T600 has a 360-degree air intake and outflow, which contributes to a more evenly distributed clean air output. Seated atop 4 caster wheels, it is easy to maneuver this unit around your house, and with its low noise levels, you can run it while sleeping without any disturbances.
Pros:
- Has a 360degree airflow intake and outflow
- You can change the filters separately
- 26 lb carbon filter for deep cleaning
Cons:
- Noisy at higher speeds
- Customer service is lacking
- Not the best-looking design
Trial Results
What is Radon?
Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Radon forms from the decay of radioactive elements in the earth’s crust. For example, as uranium decays, radioactivity is released. Some areas have a higher density of radioactive elements in the surrounding soil and rock. As these elements begin to decay over the course of many years, radon is slowly released from the ground.
As radon is released from the soil and rock under someone’s house, it can infiltrate the air and water of a home. Although radon can be found in low levels outdoors, the radon levels intensify when trapped in water or the air of someone’s home.
Radon often attaches to water particles, dust and other airborne particles in your home. These particles are subsequently breathed through the mouth or nose and enter the lungs. This brings us to our next point, the dangers of radon.
How is One Exposed to Radon?
Most people are exposed to harmful amounts of radon indoors. This includes homes, offices, schools, and other similar buildings. The level of radon in one’s home, office, or school often depends on the type of rock and soil in the area. As a result, there are some areas of the US that have much higher radon levels than others.
The average home has a radon level of around 1 picocurie per liter. If your home has 4 picocuries per liter or more, then action should be taken. On average, around 1 of every 15 homes in the US have radon levels that are above this threshold.
Is Radon Dangerous?
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. As explained above, radon often attaches to particles in the air. People then inhale these particles. Being exposed to enough radon will lead to lung cancer. Not only does radon cause lung cancer, but also studies show that it can also cause other types of cancer such as leukemia.
Testing for Radon
Radon tests come in two types: short-term test kits or long-term tests.
A short-term test is a great way to quickly see if your home has high radon levels before spending more money on a larger test. The quick test kits are actually recommended by the EPA for a preliminary assessment. The tests with short term kits take about two days to complete.
Short-term test kits can be a great way to see if you have high levels of radon in your house, but the best way to test for radon is to do a long-term test. The reason that a long-term test is more accurate than the short term is due to fluctuations in the radon levels. Some days may have a higher radon level than others. With a long-term test, you will get an average of the radon levels in your home and a great estimate of the year-round radon exposure.
How to get rid of Radon in your home?
If the short-term test indicates that there are high levels of radon in your house or you have reason to believe that you have a radon problem, then action should be taken immediately.
Step 1
Hire a certified radon specialist to come out to your home, office, or other building and further investigate your radon problem.
Step 2
Invest in a radon-reduction system. These systems include radon air purifiers, radon fans or soil depressurization system.
Step 3
Caulk all the cracks in your home’s foundation.
Step 4
Open the windows of your home (if possible with the outdoor temperature).
Air Purifiers that Reduce Radon Levels
An air purifier works to make the air in your home cleaner and safer to inhale. These machines are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases, and chemicals including radon.
The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon uses extreme levels of surface area to absorb anything from mold spores to VOCs, pollutants, and radon.
It is important to note that while an air purifier can help to trap some radon, they are not as effective as other radon reduction systems or soil depressurization systems and a radon specialist should still be consulted. Please note that the “EPA does not recommend air cleaning to reduce the health risks associated with radon.”
Also check out the best air purifier for chemical sensitivity.
| Alen BreatheSmart | IQAir | Airpura T6000 |
|---|---|---|
| Best Design | Best Performance | Highest power |
Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.