Which air purifier to choose for an apartment or house

Ecology in today's cities leaves much to be desired. In addition to dust, cigarette smoke rushes in the air, bacteria, and heavy smog accumulates. And all this falls into our apartments and offices. Air purifiers help cope with these harmful substances by delaying them. Such devices are urgently needed for allergies, and the rest they do not interfere. Next, we will talk about which air purifier to choose for the apartment, what parameters and functions to pay attention to and what to be guided by when choosing.

Types of air cleaners and their features

Each unit includes a mains powered fan and a filter system. Due to the rotation of the fan wings, the air flow is drawn into the device, passing through the filters. Which can be dry or supplied with a moistening option. In addition, there are models where air ionization is provided (which, by the way, is very beneficial for human health). First, consider what constitutes the choice and characteristics of each type of air purifiers.

Humidifiers and air washes

As is well known, overly dry air is not at all useful for people. Therefore, many use humidifiers. By the way, they at the same time clean the air masses from harmful impurities (mainly, of course, dust, seven tenths of which are dead skin epithelium cells and other traces of human activity).

We bring dust home on dirty shoes and outerwear, it bursts through the vents and windows when the apartment is ventilated or a draft occurs by chance. Those who are prone to allergies may have a hard time from it - for asthmatics, for example, an attack is quite possible.

But buying a regular humidifier does not completely solve the cleaning problem. After all, it is only a side effect: humid air binds dust particles. And they, becoming damp and heavy, fall to the floor and other planes. Leaving the top level where we breathe.

Device of a traditional humidifier.

Air washes are completely different. Their main purpose is contact air cleaning, and humidification is an additional option. The design of the sink is very simple: a plastic container filled with water. In this capacity, plastic discs blown by air from the fan are lowered (not completely). Dust adheres to wet discs and is washed off by rotation.

Sink models all have the same design, differing only in the power of the electric fan, the dimensions of the discs and the external performance. Additional functions may also be present: ionization, filtering.

Air washing device.

Air cleaners with dry filters

The units of this type are characterized by good performance and high power. Therefore, many stop at this option. In the device, the air mass under pressure is passed through a series of filters. An electric fan installed in front of the exhaust grille, with a force sucks in polluted air, forcing it to go through the filters.

A little touch on the main varieties of these filters. There are three of them:

• Pre-filtering devices are a kind of sponge, easily blown. It is able to trap particles of dust and dirt, the size of which is from 1 to 5 microns.
• The filtering system of fine cleaning is a frame inside which there is an accordion-folded piece of special material, dotted with microscopic holes. Such an original design increases the useful working area of ​​the contact. In addition, an electrostatic field arises, allowing additional dust to be attracted. As a result, contaminated particles from 0.1 to 1 micron are retained.
• The HEPA filter can cope with tiny particles (as a rule, these are the most dangerous allergens). It is desirable that such a filter is present in the device - pay attention to this when making a decisive choice.

In principle, a dry pressure suction cleaner (tending to a vacuum) works like a vacuum cleaner, which the British even call a "vacuum cleaner" (originally, "vacuum cleaner"). In other words, if we put a closed chamber in front of the filters, then we get a vacuum cleaner.

Device for air purifier and its filter.

Air Cleaners with Ionization Function

Apparatuses of this type have a circuit designed in the last century by the Soviet scientist Alexander Chizhevsky. Everything happens as during a thunderstorm - the air is electrified and saturated with ozone.

It also turned out that the air, saturated with electricity, is capable of performing useful work. If you take a plate or a frequent metal grating, and then electrify it, then it will be able to attract dust, however small, (which no filter of a modern vacuum cleaner can cope with). That is, to perform the function of the air cleaner.

So, in the ozonizer, the air is not only ozonized, but also successfully purified. And at the same time it is not necessary to drive it under pressure (as in a dry-cleaning air cleaner) - there is plenty of air circulation that is created when people walk around the room or through a draft of a vent. Dust to the lattice itself will be attracted.

If the device was invented now, the word "nanotechnology" would certainly be mentioned. So effectively he copes with the task, having only an electric field in service. While holding dust particles of any size. Using the device in tandem with other devices, they create a stream of air saturated with ozone, capable of both neutralizing water and clearing products from "chemistry".

Choose a cleaner in accordance with the problems that need to be solved

We cope with the abundance of dust

You should pay attention to the following devices:

Allergy sufferers who do not tolerate dust

In this case, the threat is represented by very small particles that cannot be seen with the eye. Allergy sufferers from them also flow from the nose, skin rash and sneezing attacks appear. And what's even worse - people with asthma (which are increasing every year) can have a serious attack.

Let's look at what devices are best able to help allergies:

It is worth knowing that the cause of allergies may go deeper. Often it's not the dust itself, but the dust mites that inhabit it. There may also be mold allergies, as well as fungi. Eliminating them completely, you can destroy the root of evil. For this purpose, air purifiers with the option of ozonization, as well as photocatalytic type purifiers are successfully used. However, they certainly must be present and functions of dust removal - it is necessary to get rid of it in the first place.

Photocatalytic air purifiers, based on symbiosis of ultraviolet radiation and a catalyst. This is detrimental to harmful microorganisms and chemical compounds that are effectively and rapidly destroyed.

As for the air purifiers of ozonizers, they have their powerful weapon - ozone, which also effectively destroys microbes due to oxidative properties. Such devices can not be used in the presence of people. Including them, you must leave the room.

We fight tobacco smoke

Getting rid of unpleasant odors

Disinfecting the air

When an epidemic walks around the city, children or adults are ill, it will not be superfluous to clean the air of bacteria and viruses. And in children's institutions this procedure should be carried out regularly.

If the air is too dry

Here, deciding how to choose a cleaner and humidifier for an apartment, you can choose two options.

Financial side and ease of maintenance

Before choosing a particular model, it makes sense to ask yourself a few questions. Let's voice them.

Are the additional maintenance costs

important to you? If so, then you can pay attention to ozonizers, ionizers, air washers, photocatalytic models. That is, those devices where there are no filters. If the subsequent costs are not scary, you can take a powerful model equipped with a filter system. It is often more effective.

Time spent on maintenance - do they mean a lot to you

In order for the device to serve you faithfully, you need to take care of it: clean, rinse, change filters. If this is not critical at all, and you are ready to service the device at least every day, then there will be no problems with air washing or a humidifier (after all, they need to be poured regularly, changing it every three days).

Do you want to approach the unit no more than once a week? Then you can look at the plasma models. Their electrostatic plates need to be washed just weekly.

Well, and if the best option is to take care of the device on a monthly basis, then you can recommend several types of devices at once. For example, photocatalytic devices, ionizers, ozonizers. A cleaner equipped with HEPA filters will do - they need to be vacuumed monthly.

Often or rarely you will use the device

In fact, it is best that the device is constantly in operation, coping with contamination. Breathing fresh air, the inhabitants of the housing will feel better and less likely to get sick.

And if you plan to - turn on the air purifier round the clock - then pay attention to the power consumption. Choose more economical devices.

And deciding to use a cleaner from time to time, you should not stop at washes with humidifiers. If they are left off, the water will turn sour. However, this is not a problem if desired. It will be necessary every time to drain the water and dry all the details.

The most important characteristics

Popular manufacturing firms

Characteristics are important, of course, but the brand is also of considerable importance. In order not to be disappointed in the purchase quickly enough, you should pay your attention to the product manufacturers, well-established in this sector of the market. Air cleaners which will last a long time, without breaking and not requiring constant repair.

Here are all the basic recommendations. And then decide for yourself. In any case, make a start from the tasks set, as well as from the specificity and size of the room in which you want to clean the air.

Video: How to choose a cleaner or humidifier

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