Smog in some towns and villages during the winter period can be a real health threat. Unfortunately, it will also get inside your house, polluting the air you breathe. Which air purifier will best protect you against the harmful effects of smog? What should you pay attention to?
Smog in some towns and villages during the winter period can be a real health threat. Unfortunately, it will also get inside your house, polluting the air you breathe. Which air purifier will best protect you against the harmful effects of smog? What should you pay attention to?
- The best air purifiers – how do they work?
- Which air purifier will be good for allergy sufferers?
- How to choose an air purifier – basic features
- What should you pay attention to when choosing an air purifier?
- Which air purifier will work best in specific rooms?
- Which air purifier should you choose – summary
The best air purifiers – how do they work?
The quality of air is extremely important in any room, and although you cannot see it, you should still look after it. In the summer months you quite probably use a tower fan or air conditioning – however, cooling the air is not enough. In every interior you will also need to remove pollutants, which is where an air purifier will come in handy.
Have you ever wondered how one device is enough to clean the air of all harmful substances? Before you decide which purifier to buy, find out how this type of equipment works!
Filters play a central role in any air purifier – ideally a set of filters should be used to capture very fine contaminants as accurately as possible. The best air purifiers will have a pre-filter, a HEPA filter and a carbon filter – all of this to help you breathe well in your own home. What kind of pollutants can such equipment handle?
- mites,
- viruses,
- bacteria,
- dust,
- animal fur,
- pollen,
- fungal spores,
- Volatile organic compounds,
- microscopic particulates including PM 2.5.
Air purifiers sometimes also use other air purification technologies. In addition to the filters, they can be equipped with an air ionisation function or UV lamps, which also effectively help to clean the air.
Which air purifier will be good for allergy sufferers?
The best air purifiers usually have at least three filters, although this is not always the case. Some are only equipped, for example, with a HEPA filter or only with a carbon filter. The former is responsible for the removal of all kinds of allergens, and therefore is perfect for allergy sufferers who face many inconveniences related to flower blossoming in spring and summer. The carbon filter, on the other hand, is irreplaceable in the fight against smog and pollution during the heating season. Therefore, checking which filters are included with the purifier is vital when looking for the perfect device.
If you suffer from allergies, choosing an air purifier with an ionizer function is a good idea. It will neutralise allergens even faster and more effectively – before they even end up in the purifier!
How to choose an air purifier – basic features
The most recommended air purifiers are multi-functional devices equipped with very practical solutions making them easier and more convenient to use. Which functions should you pay attention to before buying an air purifier, apart from air ionisation?
- Ozone generation function – pollutant and allergen-free air is not everything! Thanks to ozone generation, you will also get rid of unpleasant odours in indoor spaces. This is a great solution in areas where people smoke or simply if there are many people, e.g. in offices.
- Humidification function – while indoor air humidity is usually at an optimal level in summer, it drops drastically in winter, causing skin, breathing and mucous membrane problems. In order to enjoy ideal air humidity during the heating season, choose a purifier with a humidifier – this way you will not need to buy an additional device.
- Air pollution indicator – depending on the model of the air purifier, it may indicate the level of pollution numerically or using coloured lighting – this function will help you choose the optimal level of air purification.
- Filter wear indicator – in order to maintain full functionality and efficiency of the device, the filters should be replaced regularly in order to be sure that the purifier is working properly. A special indicator informs about the need to install new filters in some models.
- Phone app – the best air purifiers can be controlled from your smartphone, letting you manage the device remotely, and in some cases also receive notifications, e.g. about the need to replace the filter.
- Night mode – if you select this function, your air purifier will run at a lower speed and make less noise. In some models, the night mode also turns off the lighting of the display or function buttons – for the sake of peaceful, undisturbed sleep.
- Automatic mode – by using built-in sensors, the air purifier can analyse the level of pollution on an ongoing basis and automatically select the operating mode. You will not have to worry about manually choosing specific settings depending on your needs!
What should you pay attention to when choosing an air purifier?
Not only the functions of an air purifier are important! Check which parameters are crucial to ensure optimal comfort and clean air inside:
- Capacity – this is one of the most important parameters, informing about the size of room that the air purifier can work in effectively.
- Available filters – as mentioned earlier, the filters used in air purifiers are extremely important. In addition to the pre-filter, carbon and HEPA filter, there are sometimes also other filters, e.g. a negative ion or photocatalytic filter (TiO2)
- Noise level – if you do not want to be disturbed when you are trying to relax in the afternoon, pay attention to the noise level when looking for the best air purifier. Otherwise you might end up buying a model that is very loud during operation.
- Price – although the best air purifiers are not cheap, check the price-performance ratio of the device. You can buy a very good device for under a hundred pounds!
Which air purifier will work best in specific rooms?
The choice of air purifier depends on the room it will be used in – by choosing the tight parameters and features, you should be able to choose a purifier best suited to your needs. Check what to pay attention to.
Air purifiers for offices
When choosing a purifier for an office, efficiency will be key. And if your work requires concentration, the noise level will also be important. Also try to choose a model with an ozone generation function, which will refresh the air, so even if several people are in the same room for many hours the air should still be fresh. The ionization function will also prove useful, neutralising positive ions generated by electrical devices, also called electrosmog.
Which air purifier will be good in a restaurant?
For restaurants, you should look for an air purifier that not only provides excellent cleaning of large surfaces, but also matches the design of the surroundings. The noise level will also be important in restaurants. Another task would be eliminating odours coming from the kitchen or neighbouring tables. Remote control can significantly enhance ease of use – to increase the level of intensity, you will not have to manually fiddle with the device, but you can change all the parameters from your smartphone!
Air purifiers for bedrooms
Which air purifier will work best in a bedroom? Here the night mode will come in handy. Capacity will not be so important, because bedrooms are usually not very big. For bedrooms an air purifier with a humidifier will be best – optimal air humidity in the bedroom will directly impact your quality of sleep!
Which air purifier should you choose for the living room?
Everyday family life usually goes on in the living room – therefore the noise level will not be so important. A slightly louder air purifier should not interfere with watching TV or playing with the kids. You can therefore go for a purifier with more capacity, which will be especially beneficial in open spaces, e.g. a living room connected to a kitchen or dining room. Also check if the device has the possibility to block the control panel – this option is useful if you have children, as it will prevent them from accidentally changing the settings.
Which air purifier should you choose – summary
The choice of air purifier should be well thought out, and you should take into account the size and type of room where you want to place it. With this information in mind, it will be easier to choose a model with the right performance and equipped with functions that will help you enhance your level of comfort. Multi-functional devices are worth considering, which apart from cleaning also offer air humidification or ionisation. Look after the quality of the air around you, which will be good for your general well-being! Remember also about thermal comfort – in order to ensure adequate cooling in summer and warmth in winter, it is worth considering which air conditioner will work at home or the office and to know the difference between an air conditioner and an air cooler.
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