Household water purifier – 12 of the best air cleaners and “air washer”

The best cleaners and humidifiers for an apartment

Not every inhabitant of the planet can afford to live in harmony with nature somewhere on the shore of a mountain lake. The realities of life in the 21st century are such that most people are “tied” to the city with work, comfort, and kindred roots. And the air purity in a city apartment leaves much to be desired. Despite the fact that doctors, scientists, and the media constantly call for getting rid of dust accumulators in the home, statistics are unforgiving. The number of ticks, invisible fungi and mold, dust and dirt in the room air exceed many times all permissible standards.

What problems does the air purifier solve?

It is not possible for a household vacuum cleaner to clean the apartment of all accumulated dust and dirt, and with them allergens and bacteria and microbes that are harmful to humans. And if the landlord also smokes or contains pets, then the apartment turns into a breeding ground for viruses and diseases. If the issue of the health of family members is important, and the amounts transferred to pharmacies and clinics are off scale, then the acquisition of a high-quality air purifier can not be postponed for a long time.

An air purifier will help get rid of many household problems:

• clean the room from dust;
• kill pathogenic allergens;
• rectify against ticks, fungi and mold;
• remove unwanted odors, including exhaust fumes;
• sanitize and moisten the air.

A household air purifier is designed to clean a specific volume of a room. When choosing a cleaner, it is necessary to take into account the purpose of the room, the degree of its pollution, as well as the possibility of installing its floor or wall version. If it is possible to put a cleaner in each room, then it is necessary to select such a household appliance strictly according to the size of the room. If you plan to move the air purifier from one room to another, then you need to focus on a larger volume. So, in a room with a smaller volume, cleaning will be faster and better.

Types and best models of cleaners

Depending on its purpose – air disinfection, moisturizing and disinfection, ionization and purification, there are several types of air purifiers for an apartment.

• Air washing is the most popular home air conditioning appliance. The principle of operation – under forced pressure of the fan, the air drawn into the apparatus passes through the water filter and is blown out. So, in addition to air purification, it is also moistened.

The most popular models in 2016 are the Boneco U714, Venta LW 25, Sharp KC-A61RW.

• Electrostatic cleaners work on the principle of air ionization. The air stream is quartzized by ultraviolet or microwave waves and passed through charged dust collectors in the form of plates, on which all ionized debris and dust settle. Such cleaners do not need replaceable filters, which is quite convenient in domestic use.

The best models of this type of cleaner in 2016 – Daikin MCK75, FAURA NFC 260, Fanline

• Photocatalytic purifiers are a specialized apparatus for purifying air through a chemical oxidation reaction. Under the action of ultraviolet radiation in the environment of titanium oxide, organic contaminants are catalyzed with oxygen and decompose into carbon dioxide and water.

The most popular models of this type of cleaner are AirComfort AC 03 04, Daikin MCK 75, AIC 256

• Filtering air purifiers consist of a HEPA filter inside the housing, which is a highly efficient sorbent. Cleaning takes place in three stages: with the help of fibers, large types of contaminants are cleaned, medium particles are ejected due to the diverse direction of air inside the filter housing, the smallest particles are deposited on the filter together with air molecules.

Such filters are often used not only in home appliances for air purification, but also in the space industry. The most popular models were presented by BORK, Sharp, Philips.

• Climate complexes are the most advanced, by far, multifunctional air purification devices. Among the functions they perform are ionization, purification, moisturizing, heating, ventilation, and many others, depending on the model.

Air purification in such a complex consists of a number of air purification systems. The more cleaning steps the complex contains, the cleaner the outlet air. Among the advantages of this complex are ease of maintenance, professional cleaning and many additional functions. Unfortunately, such systems are not small in size, so you need to make sure that there is enough space in the house for it. And one more important fact. High-tech complexes are expensive, not every family can afford the purchase of such a device.

The most popular models among climatic complexes are Philips, Neoclima NCC 868, Boneco Air-O-Swiss 2017.

Clean air is easy: selection tips

For the right choice of climate technology, you need to answer a few questions:

• for what purposes is an air purifier purchased;
• how often it will be used;
• where is his place in the house;
• what additional functions should have, in addition to air purification;
• how much are you willing to spend on its maintenance.

The best solution for an apartment with a lot of dust is an electrostatic cleaner. It is easy to clean, easy to maintain, do not need frequent filter changes.

If people with various asthmatic diseases live in the house, then it is necessary to purchase equipment with a high degree of air purification. In this case, the best solution would be a cleaner with a HEPA filter. Such filters are able to purify air from dust and allergens up to 99%.

In rooms where mold and fungi are noticed, a photocatalytic cleaner must be installed. Such an air purifier will be effective in combating nicotine resins. In the room where the smoker lives, it is just useless to put an air sink – the result will be ineffective.

An air purifier with an ozonizer function will save the room from unpleasant odors. They decompose smoke and odors into carbon dioxide and water. Ozone is 2-3 times more effective than ultraviolet, which means that it will take less time to clean the room.

In a dry place it is necessary to use humidifiers or air washes that will effectively clean and moisturize the room.

All of the above tips for choosing a cleaner and humidifier will help you decide on the selection of the best option for the best climate technology for your home.

Air purifiers for apartments: how to choose? Air purifier for allergy sufferers: reviews, prices

Increasingly, urban living conditions, characterized by gassed air, poor ecology, which leads to poor health and constant depression, are forcing residents of megalopolises to leave everything and move out of town to breathe clean air in the lap of nature and not think about the problems associated with constant vanity.

Another option is to move from a gas-polluted industrial region to a quiet suburb without the noise of cars, trains and factories, with birdsong and a wonderful aroma of lilacs in spring, and in winter with quiet picturesque streets and crackling snow underfoot that you no longer hear in the city.

Air purifier – an indispensable accessory

Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to move out of town. So, then, there is no way to breathe clean, not polluted, health-damaging air?

There is a way out, it will allow you to turn your apartment into an oasis in the big metropolis, fragrant with natural freshness. Yes, now there is an opportunity to improve the conditions and create a good microclimate at home, and without much effort, because the inventors worked for this. Today, modern technology allows you to clean the air of the apartment from harmful impurities. Of course, the device cannot replace the noise of the sea wave or the singing of birds, but it will definitely make the air clean. We are talking about an air purifier for residential premises, and in this article we will help you choose this device.

How does an air purifier work?

An air humidifier cleaner for an apartment is a simple device that is easy to use and does not require special maintenance skills. It kills all microbes in the air, and anyone can use the device. An air purifier for allergy sufferers and those often suffering from colds is a godsend.

The principle of operation of the device with a removable filter is based on blowing air through several special filters, depending on the type of contamination. For example, some of them can remove the gas contamination or smokiness of the apartment, others will clean it from dust, pollen of plants, animal hair. The model of the air purifier uses carbon, mesh, photocatalytic filters. The force of the air flow can be adjusted using the buttons or the switch located on the control unit, or in auto mode.

Which air purifier is better?

The most popular air purifiers with replaceable filters are products of the following brands: Daikin, Boneco Electrolux, Bionaire, Sharp Air, Comfort, Air-O-Swiss, Venta, Toshiba, Bork. In general, the choice is large, and you can find a model that meets all the requirements. Cost – from $ 80 a basic model and up to $ 1,000 elite. The optimal air purifier for an apartment is the price of $ 200-500 (with an additional option of ionization and humidification), which has a multi-stage cleaning system and a control panel.

Premium models represent entire climate systems that connect in one case several devices with different functionality that can work individually or simultaneously.

When choosing an air purifier, focus on your needs, and also take into account the size of the area that needs to be cleaned with the selected model.

Also on sale are air purifiers without replaceable filters, the main purpose of which is to clean by passing air through water. They are also called “air washes.” They cost a little more.

The “air wash” runs it through wet cartridges. Such devices not only carry out the option of purifying the air from pollution, but also increase its humidity to optimal standards for humans – 50-60 percent.

With a high degree of contamination, it is best to use air purifiers for apartments with replaceable filters, and if your main goal is to increase the humidity in the room, then you need to use an air humidifier.

Market leaders in air purifiers

Today, many want to buy the best air purifier for an apartment. A review of the modern market shows that the following brands are the most popular: Boneco (from $ 220), AOS ($ 250-500), Ballu (from $ 180), Venta ($ 250-800). For such a price you can get not just a model that purifies and moisturizes the air, but a universal device with additional options that regulate the noise level. In addition, there is a silver air disinfection function, a remote control is also attached to the model.

Brands such as Sharp and Daikin, a good Aic air purifier, deserve special attention on the quality of products among air purifiers, and most importantly, the money requested for them. The products of these brands, first of all, purify the air, and the humidification function is optional, which does not prevent them from coping simply perfectly with their tasks. There are no differences in the model range in the quality of humidification, only cleaning systems differ.

The best air purifiers for Sharp apartments are equipped with the classic HEPA filter, ionizer and deodorizing filter, while Daikin has the proprietary Flash Streamer system, which allows not only to eliminate dust, unpleasant odors and allergens, but also to effectively destroy viruses, including the virus swine flu.

The best manufacturer of professional air purifiers is the Swiss company IQAir. Household air purifiers from this company have HyperHEPA filters, which are 100 times more effective than conventional HEPA filters.

Filters in the air purifiers

A filter is a key part of a cleaner device. The degree of purification and the productivity of the equipment depend on its type. Let us consider in more detail what types of filters are used for what, which of them are better. Let’s start with coarse filters that clean large mechanical particles. They are a simple fine mesh. Such a filter is needed to clean large particles of wool, sand, poplar fluff, hair. Also, this filter protects the device itself from getting these particles inside. As you use the mesh, you need to clean or blow it, then it can be used repeatedly. For the normal functioning of the equipment, the mesh needs to be cleaned once every 3 months.

Coal Adsorption Filter

This filter contains activated carbon, which is an adsorption element that is often used to combat toxins. Coal adsorption filters successfully neutralize the bad odors in the air. But, unfortunately, they do not protect against nitrogen oxides contained in urban air, so they are used only as additional ones.

Carbon filters absorb impurities. Therefore, they must be changed periodically. Their service life is from 3 months to one year, the cost is 30-40 dollars.

Electrostatic filters

These filters are used for a more advanced and deeper air purification, which is performed as follows: air is driven through the positive electrode, which is represented by a positively charged grid, and the contaminants remain on the negative electrodes. These are reusable filters that are sufficient to rinse with water for reuse. Their main disadvantage is the release of ozone during their work. This is a highly toxic gas, despite all its disinfecting and healing properties.

HEPA Filters

These filters are a guarantee of effective and deep cleaning, which in addition to household use are also used in medical devices, medical laboratories and institutions. These filters have earned many positive reviews. They capture up to 97% of allergenic particles larger than 0.3 microns and various pollutants. HEPA filters are disposable, their service life is 1 year, after which they must be replaced. Cost – 25-35 dollars.

Power and noise level

One of the advantages of air purifiers is a small power consumption, usually 50-70 watts, and for inexpensive models that are in consumer demand – 20-35 watts.

It is also worth noting the low noise level, which is important, since many air purifiers work without interruption, including in the bedroom at night. As a rule, a fan is noisy in any cleaning device, and manufacturers took this into account by creating units with night mode, when the number of fan revolutions is reduced to a minimum, and the volume is 37 dB. This noise level is not distracting and does not interfere with sleep. In addition, it may depend on the type of filters used.

For example, in order to run the air through the HEPA filter, you need a fan of greater power, which means more noisy. Nevertheless, manufacturers claim that the noise level is not higher than the standard value. There are air purifiers for an apartment with almost silent operation at night (in the “Sleep” mode). The volume at the same time is only 16 dB.

Where to place an air purifier for an apartment?

Customer reviews say that most often cleaners are installed on the windowsill, floor, table, nightstand, etc. Some devices can be hung on the wall.

Additional options and functions

Here are some additions that we promised to write about at the beginning of the article. Thanks to them, the use of the unit for air purification becomes convenient and enjoyable:

• Timer – used to turn off devices such as air purifiers for the apartment, and set the periods of work.
• Remote control – needed to switch the operating modes of the device.
• Setting the fan speed – this option is used to switch the air purifier modes, for example, to night mode, as a result of which the speed and the level of noise produced are reduced to a minimum value. There are modes “Sleep”, “Turbo”, etc.
• Contamination detectors – are installed in some models, for example, on an air purifier for allergy sufferers, are used to determine the degree of air pollution by dust or gases. If the set level of harmful substances is exceeded, the unit automatically turns on in the field of view of the detector. The dirt detector also controls the intensity of the fan, reducing or increasing its speed
• Display. Most air purifiers are equipped with a liquid crystal display, which displays data on the modes and time of operation of the device;
• Indicators. Sometimes apartment air purifiers have additional indicators that are designed to display important information about the operation of the device. These devices are often equipped with premium climate systems.
• Aromatization. The aromatization option is available in air purifiers of various classes. Devices can be equipped with an additional flavor, although its presence is not necessary. You can add aromatic substances to the water yourself, unless, of course, the purifier device allows them to be used.

Air Purifier Operating Rules

Manufacturers of air purifiers recommend timely filter replacement for the full operation of the device.

In case of unpleasant odors, replace the filters before the end of their use. If the air contains a lot of impurities, then you need to wash or change filters more often.

Even the most modern and powerful air purifiers, unfortunately, do not saturate the air with oxygen, so you need to regularly air the rooms.

How to choose an air purifier for an apartment and a private house

In the contaminated air environment of large cities and towns that are satellites of large enterprises, the problem of respiratory diseases, as well as serious diseases such as allergies or asthma, is especially acute. To get rid of many harmful and dangerous substances and microorganisms contained in the city air and causing diseases, household appliances with various functions of cleaning the air in the house should be used. We will figure out how to choose an air purifier from a wide range of products offered in accordance with our needs.

Recommendations for choosing air purifiers

The selection process depends on many factors that must be considered before going to the store. The fact is that different types of filter elements are produced for air purification, each of them is designed for a certain type of harmful inclusions. Therefore, in order to choose the right purifier from these inclusions, you need to figure out what type of hazard it should protect us from before buying the device. The air environment of the apartment may contain the following harmful inclusions:

• fine dust;
• plant pollen;
• various allergens;
• mold spores;
• unpleasant odors;
• bacteria and viruses;
• dust mites;
• fine pet hair;
• cigarette smoke;
• formaldehydes.

Part of this list falls into our house from the street, another part is formed as a result of the life of people and pets. If you plan to allocate a significant budget for protective measures, then the best air purifier is, of course, a climate complex with multi-stage purification and humidification. The number of purification steps in it can reach 7, while 99.9% of all the hazards presented in the list are delayed in the filter elements. In addition, at the outlet, the air stream is ionized and saturated with moisture. The scheme of the cleaner is presented below in the figure.

Attention! When purchasing multi-stage purification plants that top the rating of air purifiers, it should be borne in mind that their maintenance and replacement of filter elements will require additional constant financial investments.

The first stage of rough cleaning captures almost all animal hair and more than 90% of dust. At the second stage, 99% of dust, allergens, pollen of plants and other harmful substances, with a size of at least 0.3 microns, are retained. The third and fourth steps rid the air of unpleasant odors and chemical compounds, as well as tobacco smoke. At the fifth stage, the remains of various harmful substances decompose into neutral components under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, spores, viruses and bacteria die there. After irradiation in the sixth stage, the air passes moisturization, ionization and is fed into the room.

Such an integrated approach to air purification is the best option, in this case the room environment will be comfortable for humans. But even the best cleaners are not without flaws, here it is the high cost of equipment and supplies.

There are various models of air conditioning systems, where fewer cleaning steps are introduced, respectively, the cost of the product is lower. The main thing is that the device contains filter elements that are important for your home.

Additional factors to consider

In order to make the right selection of air purifiers for the home and not overpay with the extra money, you must consider all factors. The first of them is the area of the room, it must be known in advance, since each device is designed for a certain serviced quadrature. If we are talking about the whole apartment, then you need to understand if you want to transfer one air purifier from room to room or buy a separate device in each room. This is most likely a budget issue.

The most important factor influencing the choice of an air purifier is the accurate determination of the types of hazards that you are going to get rid of. This directly affects the cost of the device, so we will deal with this issue in more detail. For example, the capture of large amounts of dust is often required. Here, by the way, there will be devices with electrostatic precipitators, HEPA – elements or ionizers. The former retain pre-charged dust particles and have high performance, but the degree of purification reaches only 90%. HEPA – filters are not so productive, but they capture 99% of dust particles. Ionizers cause dust to settle on horizontal surfaces, after which it must be removed manually.

Another thing is an air purifier for allergy sufferers, in which case it will be useful to know what exactly causes an allergy in a person. If there is no such information, then comprehensive measures should be taken to remove everything that provokes an exacerbation: dust, allergens, microorganisms, and plant pollen. Accordingly, the device must have filter elements for all these harmful components. HEPA filters in combination with ultraviolet lamps (photocatalytic cleaners) or titanium oxide elements decomposing the smallest organic and inorganic pollutants will be appropriate here. When there is no reaction to dust during allergies, an electrostatic precipitator or an air cleaner can be installed instead of the HEPA element as the first stage.

Separately, it should be said about cigarette smoke containing nicotine resins. Air washers or fine elements are not suitable here. In this case, the best air purifier is with an electrostatic precipitator as the first stage and a photocatalytic element in second place. Additionally, you can use cleaners – ozonizers that decompose smoke.

Such a set of elements is very useful in areas where peat bogs often burn or forest fires occur. The cleaner will allow you to breathe freely within your home if you keep the windows closed.

In a situation where there are constant colds in children, you need to pay attention to devices that disinfect the air environment. These are all the same photocatalytic air purifiers and ozonizers that well destroy pathogens using ultraviolet radiation and the oxidation reaction.

Operation and maintenance

If you plan to constantly maintain the cleanliness of the air in the apartment or house at a high level, then the air purifier will operate around the clock. This means that when choosing, you should pay attention to the power consumption of the device. On the other hand, devices with the humidification function should not be left off for a long time, since the water in them will begin to stagnate and sour, as a result of which constant washing of the humidifier parts will be required.

Be sure to think about whether you will have the financial ability to change the filter elements of the device. If additional costs are undesirable during the operation, it is better to choose air purifiers for the apartment, in which there are no replaceable filters. These are devices with electrostatic precipitators that lend themselves to washing, photocatalytic elements and ozonizers, as well as air washing. The latter must be washed at least 1 time per week, but it does not require any costs.

It does not hurt to think in advance what functions of the device will be useful to you during operation. There are a lot of various functions in modern products, for example, a timer for automatically processing the air at a set time, a hygrometer, filters clogged sensors from dust and air temperature, and so on. All these “bells and whistles” cost money, so it’s better to initially understand what you need and what not.

Conclusion

Each model of the device has its own design and cleaning technology, which can better cope with one type of pollution, and worse with another. That is, for a specific purpose, it is necessary to choose the appropriate device, for this reason it is not advisable to conduct any comparison of air purifiers. It is better to choose them according to your needs.

Candidate of Technical Sciences. Head of the Center for Educational Standards and Programs, Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (NRU “MGSU”).

How to choose an air purifier? Selection tips!

Being dissatisfied with the air quality in our apartment, each of us decides to find ways to improve it. For this, there is a mass of climate technology, among which air purifiers occupy an honorable place. Such devices, due to the great demand for them, are constantly improving, gaining new functions, and that is why it is difficult for a user who is not completely experienced in this matter to come to the store to decide what is needed in his case to solve specific problems. Our tips will help you deal with this and find the answer to the question of how to choose an air purifier for an apartment.

No. 1. Room Area

You need to decide in advance where you plan to use the air purifier. If it is designed for a specific room, then you need to choose it based on the area of a particular room. If you plan to sometimes transfer it from room to room, then it is better to purchase a device with a capacity designed for the largest room. If you need an air purifier for a very small space, you can use the car option, in which case the device will provide clean air both in the car and at home.

No. 2. What problem do you need to solve?

For potential buyers of air purifiers, the reasons for the need for such a device may differ, and sometimes to a large extent. Accordingly, the parameters of the device will vary depending on the requirements for it. Consider which devices are most suitable for solving basic problems.

The presence of a large amount of dust in the air

• air cleaner with plasma filter. Dust is attracted by an electric charge. Such filters are easy to clean, but they only clean 90% of contaminants from such a device. If at home there are children, allergies or asthmatics, then it is better to choose another option;
• an air purifier with a HEPA filter allows for fine and highest quality air purification from dust. Even the smallest speck of dust or bacteria will not slip through the microscopic pores of the filter; therefore, only clean air is at the outlet. Filter maintenance is simple, they need to be vacuumed once a month, and once a year to change;
• ionizer air cleaners clean the air of dust by depositing it on horizontal surfaces: you don’t have to change filters, the air is saturated with ions, but objects in the room will still need to be cleaned from dust.

In this case, you need to clean the air from the smallest dust particles, so such devices are suitable:

• HEPA filter air cleaner that removes 99.9% of dust;
• humidifying air purifiers that remove dust due to water suspension. Such devices manage to clean 80-90% and at the same time saturate the air with moisture. Among this category with the device Venta humidifiers purifiers are recommended in the best way ;
• air washers also purify the air by passing it through a suspension of water. The difference from previous devices is enhanced functionality and the presence of air ionization ;
• ionizing air purifiers are capable of removing a maximum of allergens from the air, therefore they are also used by allergy sufferers;
• photocatalytic cleaners act on the passing air with UV rays and catalysts, thereby eliminating all toxins and microorganisms, which also often cause allergies;
• ozone cleaners due to the effects of ozone are harmful to many toxic substances and microorganisms, but such devices can only be used when there are no people in the room.

If it is necessary to clean the air of smoke, incl. tobacco, the choice can be stopped at:

• ozonizer cleaners that decompose smoke into carbon dioxide and water;
• photocatalytic cleaners with ionization function;
• air washers and a charcoal cleaner are less effective at controlling smoke.

From unpleasant odors (from the kitchen, from animals, from the street, from finishing materials) will help:

• photocatalytic cleaners that decompose any substance – causes odors;
• ozonizer cleaners;
• carbon filter cleaner that adsorbs molecules of particles that have an unpleasant odor. The effectiveness of such cleaning is slightly lower than the previous two.

If it is necessary to decontaminate the air:

• photocatalytic cleaners;
• ozonizer cleaners.

Number 3. Filters and extra spending

The work of most types of air purifiers is associated with the constant replacement of filters, and if you are ready to regularly spend money on new supplies, then your choice of a device with a HEPA filter that provides a high degree of purification. If regular spending is not included in your plans, then it is better to opt for ozonizers, ionizers, photocatalytic cleaners, the cost of which is initially higher.

By the way, in cleaners with a filter there must be an ionization function, because the air passing through it loses its charge, and this is undesirable. That is why ionization is necessary in order to return beneficial qualities to the air.

Number 4. Time to leave

Before buying an air purifier you need to honestly answer your question, and how much time you can spend on caring for it. Depending on the answer, the choice will be different:

• air purifier-humidifier – a device for those who are ready to add water to the device every two to three days;
• The electrostatic air purifier is suitable for those who are once a week ready to take the time to vacuum the filter and get rid of the accumulated dust;
• A photocatalytic purifier, ionizer, ozonizer or purifier with HEPA filters need to be cleaned once a month, but at the same time they purify the air efficiently.

No. 5. Regular use

Many people plan for the purifier to work continuously, freeing air from contaminants. In this case, you need to pay attention to the power consumption parameter and the power of the device so that its operation does not ruin the family. By the way, humidifier cleaners and air washers are designed for such a constant operation, and it is harmful to leave them with water inoperative. If you plan to periodically turn on the device, then cleaners of this type are unlikely to work, because they will require more careful care.

No. 6. The need for additional features

The purifier may have a minimum of capabilities, for example, only a few speeds, the presence of intensive or background air purification. If this is not enough, then there are a lot of models on the market with all kinds of tricks: a shutdown timer, a backlight, a built-in hygrometer, an air disinfection function, an air pollution sensor, and automatic cleaning in the required mode. Naturally, you have to pay for all this, so you need to decide before buying whether all these features are necessary and whether you will really use them.

Number 7. Noise level

If even a siren howl doesn’t wake you at night, and the whole family can boast of such a sound sleep, then you can ignore the noise indicators of the air purifier. Otherwise, you need to choose a device with a night mode in which the noise is much lower, or a device that works almost without noise, and this is a photocatalytic cleaner and ionizer.

Number 8. Where to put?

It is important to answer this question before going to the store, because the choice of a specific model will depend on this. There are cleaners that work at a height of about 1.8 m, there are models that require floor installation, and many devices should be 10-50 cm away from the wall. Consider where it is better to put the cleaner so that the new device does not remain unused.

Finally

We hope that our tips will help you make the right decision in choosing an air purifier for your own home or apartment.