Research standards
How AirVerdicts evaluates indoor-air products
Our default hierarchy is primary-source documentation first: manufacturer product pages, manuals, filter documentation and recognized performance metrics such as CADR when available.
1. Define the job before the product
We separate particle filtration, gas/odor adsorption and moisture removal because they are different technical jobs. A purifier is not a dehumidifier, and a HEPA-style particle filter is not a substitute for meaningful gas-phase media.
2. Normalize room sizing
Marketing room-size claims can use different air-change assumptions. We prefer published CADR and calculate airflow from room volume and target air changes per hour so products are compared on the same basis.
3. Verify model-specific claims
Exact-model comparisons use current manufacturer specifications where possible. When a specification cannot be verified, we avoid inventing it and frame the decision around what can be documented.
4. Include ownership friction
Purchase price is only part of the decision. We consider replacement-filter availability, expected service intervals, electricity, drainage, maintenance access and other recurring costs where relevant.
5. Keep commercial relationships separate
Affiliate status does not make a product better. Pages should remain useful before a merchant is approved, and tracked links are added only after the relationship and destination are verified.