What is CADR and Why It Matters?

Unless you are in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning business, you may not be familiar with CADR, but it’s an acronym for Clean Air Delivery Rate. It’s the standard rating for how well an air purifier cleans the air in a given room. If you’re concerned about the quality of air in your home or workplace, read on to learn more about what CADR is and how it’s used.

What is CADR?

Both residential homes and businesses use air purifiers to keep the air clean and healthy for building occupants. CADR is an indicator of how well they work. In short, the clean air delivery rate shows how fast a device cleanses the air. It’s the number of times that all of the air in a room cycle through the device in one hour. The higher the CADR number the more air it can clean. For example, an air purifier with a 400 CADR means it provides three AHCs (Air Changes Per Hour) to a room of 1,000 square feet and 8,000.

CADR is set by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)/ This independent third-party organization represents the makers of household appliances such as air purifiers. 

CADR and Allergens

The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ), of course. It also created interest in air-cleaning technology such as portable air purifiers. These devices are an effective way to limit the spread of viruses indoors. They remove other pollutants from the air as well. This includes allergens such as

• Pollen
• Mold
• Bacteria
• Dust
• Pet dander
• Smoke

The filters used in air purifiers also trap the volatile organic chemicals released by cleaning agents, paints, varnishes, building materials, and office equipment. They are effective in removing viruses like SARS-CoV-2 that cause COVID as well as those that cause cold and flu symptoms. That said, these devices by themselves are not enough to prevent virus transmission, but are an additional and important tool in preventing their spread.

Choosing an Effective Air Purifier

If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from allergies and asthma, you need an effective air purifier that traps pollutants and prevents them from circulating. Air purifiers work in homes and offices, but also in classrooms, waiting rooms, and commercial spaces. Look for a model that uses a True HEPA filtration system as well as a carbon filter. True HEPA traps up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns while the carbon filter removes odors and VOCs.

For the Home

Choose a model that is right for the room. An Aeramax 290 Air Purifier works great in rooms from 300 to 600 square feet. It features ultra-quiet operation and uses an AeraSmart™ sensor that detects air quality so it can adjust the fan’s speed according to room conditions. It’s great for bedrooms. The Aeramax 290 keeps you safe during cold and flu season too thanks to the Aera+ Mode feature which reduces 99.97% of the influenza A virus.

At the Office

A wall unit like the AeraMax Professional AM II is a good choice for offices, restrooms, waiting rooms, and small classrooms. It cleans the air in spaces up to 300 square feet. It also mounts on the wall so it saves space. A 4-stage filtration system keeps the air clean and safe for workers.

CADR and Air Purifier Placment

Both CADR and HEPA are important considerations when choosing an air purifier for the home or office. However, other factors are important too. For example, the placement of the device in a room affects its ability to clean the air. A portable air cleaning device should be kept off the ground. It shouldn’t be placed in a corner or in an area that prevents the proper flow of air. A shelf or countertop is ideal. It’s also necessary to replace the filter as recommended. That’s annually for the HEPA filter and quarterly for the carbon filter. 

What CADR Is the Right Device for Your Space?

We hope this article answers your questions about what CADR is and how it’s used. To determine what CADR is right for your home or office, give us a call at 727-572-4550. If you’re concerned about what allergens exist in your home or workplace, consider using a DIY screening kit. These test kits are affordable, easy to use, and get fast results.