How FreshAirReview reviews indoor air products
Every product is scored 0–10 across five weighted criteria. We test in real bedrooms, basements, and nurseries — not in lab chambers — and we verify with calibrated air quality monitors over 30+ days.
The five-criteria scoring rubric
For FreshAirReview specifically, we add a hard ozone gate: any product that produces detectable ozone at consumer-use levels (whether via intentional ionization, PCO, or as a byproduct of UV-C) is flagged as non-recommended regardless of other criteria. Ozone is a respiratory irritant; this is non-negotiable.
What our sources are
- Vendor documentation, CADR ratings (AHAM Verified where available), HEPA classification
- Hands-on testing with calibrated Airthings View Plus and Awair Element monitors over 30+ days per product
- r/HomeImprovement, r/HVAC, r/AskScience threads for context
- Trade press: ASHRAE Journal, Indoor Air journal, EPA IAQ publications
- Anonymous interviews with BPI-certified building analysts and CIH-credentialed industrial hygienists
What we test hands-on
Every air purifier we recommend: 30+ days in a real bedroom with continuous PM2.5/VOC monitoring. Every humidifier: 30+ days in winter conditions with calibrated humidity tracking and bacterial growth observation. Every dehumidifier: 30+ days in actual damp basements (not artificially humidified test chambers).
How we handle anonymized expert input
For pillar articles requiring domain expertise (HEPA classification interpretation, ozone production at consumer-product UV levels, mold remediation guidance), we interview real BPI-certified building analysts and CIH-credentialed hygienists. We verify credentials before quoting and pay industry-standard interview rates.
Affiliate relationships
FreshAirReview participates in affiliate programs (Amazon Associates, vendor-direct). We disclose at the top of every article that contains affiliate links, per FTC guidance.
Independence policy:
- Commission rates have no bearing on scoring or ranking.
- Ties are broken on the lower commission — bias against pay-to-play.
- We do not accept paid sponsorships or vendor-paid placements.
- Vendors do not review articles before publication.
Update cadence
- Pricing changes monitored monthly.
- Filter availability changes tracked quarterly (consumable supply chain matters for ownership cost).
- Recall or safety notices trigger article updates within 48 hours.
Corrections
Errors corrected in-line with a visible (Updated: YYYY-MM-DD) note. Substantive corrections logged on our corrections page.