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Choosing an air purifier or HVAC filter: CADR, MERV and ozone

Air cleaners and HVAC filters reduce indoor pollution but cannot remove everything. Ask the assistant how to compare ratings for your room and system.

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Answers are written by a language model solely from this base's documents, with numbered sources. They can be wrong and aren't legal, medical or financial advice: check the sources before any important decision.

Portable air cleaners: reading the CADR

EPA's Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home says to pick a portable air cleaner whose clean air delivery rate (CADR) fits the room. Its chart, based on an 8-foot ceiling, suggests a minimum CADR of 65 cfm for 100 square feet, rising to 390 cfm for 600 square feet.

CADR covers particles only. For small particles, look for a high CADR for tobacco smoke; HEPA filters often deliver this. For gases, choose an activated carbon filter or another gas filter.

Furnace and HVAC filters

Furnace and HVAC filters only work while the system runs, usually less than 25% of the time in heating and cooling seasons. If you upgrade, EPA recommends at least MERV 13, or as high as your fan and filter slot can accommodate. Manufacturers typically recommend replacement every 60 to 90 days.

EPA does not certify or recommend specific brands or models of air filters or portable air cleaners.

Frequently asked questions

Are ozone-producing air cleaners a good idea?

No. EPA advises avoiding air cleaners that intentionally produce ozone, a lung irritant. Ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, plasma units and some UV lights may also emit ozone.

Do air purifiers help with health?

Several studies with portable HEPA air cleaners showed small improvements in cardiovascular and respiratory health, but filtration does not replace source control and ventilation.

Can an air cleaner reduce radon?

EPA does not currently recommend it: air cleaners only partially remove radon decay products and do not reduce the radon entering the home.

For developers and agents

Embed / API / MCP

Connect this base to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT or your own app. Each API or MCP request costs €0.10, charged to your Kopik credit (not charged if nothing is found). You need an API key: create one from your dashboard.

MCP for your agents

This base's MCP server URL (tools ask_base and search_base):

MCP URL
https://kopik.io/api/mcp?base=us-epa-indoor-air-quality-guidance
Claude Code, Cursor and other clients
Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport http kopik-us-epa-indoor-air-quality-guidance "https://kopik.io/api/mcp?base=us-epa-indoor-air-quality-guidance" --header "Authorization: Bearer kpk_…"
JSON config (mcpServers)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kopik-us-epa-indoor-air-quality-guidance": {
      "url": "https://kopik.io/api/mcp?base=us-epa-indoor-air-quality-guidance",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer kpk_…"
      }
    }
  }
}

REST API for your apps

mode is "answer" (written answer + sources) or "passages" (raw passages only). Add an optional maxPriceCents to cap the price: if the base costs more, the call is refused and nothing is charged.

curl
curl -X POST https://kopik.io/api/v1/bases/us-epa-indoor-air-quality-guidance/query \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer kpk_…" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"question": "Your question here", "mode": "answer"}'

Getting started

  1. Create a key in your dashboard and top up your credit.
  2. Replace kpk_… with your key.
  3. Full details (responses, errors, JS and Python examples): developer docs.