A modern apartment does not experience a shortage of domestic “dust generators”; many household items make their “feasible” contribution, from plush toys to books. In addition to “generators,” there are also always plenty of devices and things in the house that attract this dust. A stationary computer, for example, accumulates a monstrous amount of dust inside in a short period of time, and even if you clean it once a month, this is still not enough.

How a typical photocatalytic air purifier works using the Aircomfort/AIC model as an example

To reduce the amount of dust, various electronic devices have been invented that draw this dust into themselves in one way or another. Then the dust can be washed off, cleaned, thrown away with a filter... In general, today we will talk about dust collectors, they are also air purifiers. Go!

⇡ Electrostatic cleaners

The most common option in terms of price/quality ratio are electrostatic air purifiers. They do not have consumables, and the principle of operation is based on Coulomb’s law: the air ionized in the device begins to move and captures dust particles, which at the same time receive an electric charge of a certain sign. The plates, which have the opposite potential, attract particles of dust and gases, thereby purifying the air.

Such devices highly effectively purify the air from fine dust, soot and tobacco smoke (particles smaller than 1 micron), giving as a bonus comfort, freshness and the smell of ozone in the case of a built-in ozonizer. Such an additional device is only beneficial, since in small concentrations ozone performs a bactericidal function, destroying harmful viruses, bacteria and toxins. Ozone also oxidizes phenolic resins, pesticides and unpleasant aromatic compounds.

The bedside table that looks like a computer case is The Design Air Electrostatic Air Purifier

A tangible advantage of such devices is noiselessness (that is, complete - due to the absence of moving elements) and low power consumption (28-40 W). If the first indicator is critical for you, it makes sense to think about purchasing electrostatic cleaners.

Returning to the design of the ionizer, we can say that in itself it is useful without additional options, since the air is initially charged with ions. But passed through any filter, it loses its natural charge and becomes “dead.” It is quite unpleasant for humans and animals to be in such air and is generally unsafe, since it can provoke various diseases. A built-in or separate ionizer corrects this annoying drawback.

The Maxion vertical air purifier is simple, but has both an ionizer and an ozonizer

Now there are quite a few manufacturers of such cleaners, from Korean Maxion and Japanese Daikin to Russian “Super-plus”, Fanline, AIC, Atmos and other semi-famous Russian-Chinese brands. Due to the simplicity of the design, such devices can be easily disassembled for cleaning, and for daily or round-the-clock operation, it is recommended to do this approximately once a week. The procedure is simple: we clean off the accumulated dust and fumes from the plates with a damp sponge or napkin, and, if desired, blow through the open internal parts.

⇡ Electronics and technology

As for control, all dust collectors are quite simple. Power button, power regulator, as well as a separate button for turning on the UV lamp, if present. In the case of more sophisticated models, these may not be mechanical buttons, but touch ones; you can also see an LCD display, a timer, a remote control and filter control.

In general, when choosing a cleaner, either electrostatic or any other, it is hardly worth focusing on electronic bells and whistles. The main thing, we repeat, is the type of filter (or filters) that you ultimately choose, as well as the area of ​​​​the room for which the device is designed.

⇡ Purifiers with replaceable filters

These dust collectors offer air purification using HEPA filters (yes, the same type found in vacuum cleaners), whose advantage lies primarily in the ability to effectively clean the air of particles 0.34 microns in size or less (see above figures for electrostatic cleaners). Therefore, they are recommended and indicated for allergy sufferers and children.

The disadvantages of such systems are more significant, and they lie in the price of HEPA filters, which are recommended to be changed at least once a year. Actually, this is where their description ends, and the advantages of such air purifiers lie only in their low power consumption (desktop models consume about 5 W) and low price (from 1000 rubles).

Due to their high cost, HEPA purifiers are not particularly popular, but they are often used in conjunction with photocatalytic purifiers, and less often with electrostatic purifiers. They are produced by the same vendors who present us with all other types of purifiers. Dust collectors exclusively with a HEPA filter are difficult to find, unless they are old ones, combined only with carbon filters - like the one we know from Boneco humidifiers.

⇡ Photocatalytic cleaners

Today, this type of air purifier is considered the most effective - but at the same time the most expensive in terms of electronics. Photocatalytic air purifiers purify and disinfect the air through the interaction of UV light and a catalyst. Ultraviolet light hits the surface of the catalyst (usually titanium dioxide), and natural substances with high oxidizing power (ozone and higher oxides) are formed. They decompose all pollutants that fall on the surface of the catalyst, and the size of the destroyed particles is about 1 nm (a value comparable to the size of molecules), which allows us to speak of them as the most effective types of air purifiers.

Photocatalytic cleaners also decompose toxic chemical compounds (odors, smoke) into harmless substances (mainly water and carbon dioxide) and destroy microorganisms. The breakdown occurs at the molecular level, so the photocatalytic purifier does not accumulate anything anywhere: there is no need to change the filter, and the air becomes clean in a completely natural way.

Another significant advantage of photocatalytic purifiers is the long service life of the filter element: over time, only the UV lamp will need to be replaced, but its service life can be either a year or 3 years, it all depends on the model.

Very often, this type of air purifier is combined with ozonizers and an electrostatic or carbon filter to retain larger particles (we remind you that for electrostatic filters this figure is less than 1 micron). It is clear that all this increases the price, and before choosing photocatalytic purifiers, it makes sense to think about the set of additional functions that are really necessary.

Photocatalytic filter from the Russian manufacturer Atmos is combined with HEPA filters

The disadvantage of photocatalytic purifiers can be a high noise level. This especially applies to inexpensive models costing about 4-6 thousand rubles; their noise can reach a level of 55 dB.

Another disadvantage of photocatalytic purifiers is their higher energy consumption compared to electrostatic models: it can reach 65-80 W. Photocatalytic air purifiers are sold by all and sundry in Russia: the same AIC, Daikin, NeoClima, Ballu, Panasonic, Timberk, Atmos, REDMOND, Zenet and others.

⇡ Air washing

We have already briefly mentioned the combination of an air purifier and a humidifier in the article about humidifiers, and now we will once again mention these very expensive (on average 15-20 thousand rubles), but space-saving devices. They humidify the air and at the same time purify it: water is used as a filter.

The principle of operation of such a system is simple and effective: dirty air blows over a grounded water surface, dirt particles “stick” to the water surface under the influence of electrostatic forces, and then dissolve (settle) in the water.

Among the disadvantages of such a system (in addition to the high price), one can note lower quality cleaning compared to photocatalytic and HEPA filters, as well as high time costs: since an air humidifier is an integral part of the device, the water must be changed periodically (every 1-2 days) and top up.

There are options when the air washing design is not limited to a combination of a humidifier and a purifier. To this may be added multi-stage air purification (mechanical, electrostatic, and the actual “wash”), the presence of a room disinfection operating mode and a temperature regulator. And also everything else that comes to the mind of the manufacturer. And there are many of them: Electrolux, Daikin, NeoClima Panasonic, Polaris, Stadler Form, SUPRA, Atmos, Fanline, Venta, Boneco, BORK and other popular manufacturers of household appliances.

⇡ Conclusion

No matter what type of air purifier you choose, having one at home is better than not having one at all. They clean the air excellently (the degree of superiority is determined by the size of the captured particles, which is indicated for each type, and the amount you are willing to spend on them), so purifiers are an obvious and unambiguous must-have category for both smokers of all stripes and candle lovers , aromatic and others. The author’s practice shows that so much soot accumulates on electrostatic plates after an evening with candles that they need to be cleaned the very next day. Imagine if it all settles in your lungs and you have to breathe it in!

The issue of price here, in fact, is secondary, because most of these cleaners are in the price range from 3 to 10 thousand rubles, with rare exceptions.

We will talk about combine number zero - an air conditioner with a dust collector - in one of the following materials about air conditioners in general, and split systems in particular. Moreover, summer is almost here, and for residents of large cities such a thing is becoming more than relevant.

Almost every day, from advertising or the Internet, we hear about the emergence of a new “miracle” in the friendly family of climate control technology. The common man is confused by the abundance of functions, various bells and whistles, and names. And every time it’s the same: It’s ours, the best, the most useful, etc. But are they really that useful, or are they all advertising steps with which unscrupulous sellers are trying to extract as much money from us as possible? This is what we will try to figure out with you in this article.

The choice of an air purifier depends on several main points: purpose and quality of cleaning, performance and noise level, cost, and, oddly enough, design. It is by these criteria that we will evaluate some of the most popular versions of air purifiers from major manufacturers.

You can also pay attention to climate control systems that already have cleaning and humidification functions. .

Aerotek cleaner

Our opinion: Being lightweight, the Aerotek AVP-300 air purifier can be easily moved to a new location, and thanks to the low noise level of 23 dB and the “comfortable sleep mode”, this unit can even be placed in a room with a baby.

Panasonic purifiers

Our opinion: a good unit for a city apartment, asthmatics and families with small children. But, this device is equipped with a “bunch” of additional functions that greatly affect its price.

Our opinion: Air purifier, ionizer, and humidifier in one package, bought it and forgot about it. But it cannot be called affordable, since the average retail price is around 30 thousand rubles.

Results:
Panasonic F-PJD35 is the best option for use in city apartments. The excellent filtration system makes it indispensable in apartments where small children and people suffering from allergies, asthma and various diseases of the respiratory system live.

Phillips in the modern market

Our opinion: The device has a not very good function integrated into it - automatic blocking of the air purifier when one of the filter elements is dirty. The cost of the device fluctuates around 11-12 thousand rubles.

Our opinion: At maximum power, the Philips ac4086/01 air purifier began to produce a little more noise, so it should not be used in bedrooms. In addition to changes in functionality, its cost has also changed. Today it is from 19 to 20.5 thousand rubles.

Results:
All presented models are very similar to each other in their characteristics, and therefore Philips ac4086/01 is the most preferable for purchase due to the integrated humidifier.

Venta cleaning systems

Our opinion: The fact that it does not require filter replacement is very tempting. What’s especially nice is that the manufacturer’s warranty for this device is 10 years.

Results:
Venta LW-45 is a good device, equipped with basic functions, with a good warranty and minimal maintenance. Will help people with allergic reactions to dust and various mechanical contaminants.

Brand Ballu

Results:
Ballu AR 420F7 is the most interesting model, but according to our observations, it is somewhat noisy and cumbersome.

Climate technology Bork

Important!
We were surprised that with such a low power and relatively low cost, this modification of the purifier included so many functions. After contacting several buyers, we found out that the majority of those who bought this device were unhappy. This air purifier does not perform the stated functions!

Results:
According to customer reviews, all BORK air purifiers are quite noisy. If you do not pay attention to this, then in our choice, we vote for the Bork A 700 purifier model. In our opinion, this is an ideal ratio of price and quality.

Daikin air purifiers

1. Air purifier Daikin MC70LVM. A photocatalytic filter is integrated into the device. The main advantages include: huge air exchange, which is 420 cubic meters. per hour, the presence of a fully automatic silent operation mode. Its level is only 16 dB. at maximum power. This version of the cleaner effectively neutralizes: dust, pollen, dander, pet hair, as well as mold, fungal spores and tobacco smoke. Its cost today ranges from 500-550 dollars.
2. The Daikin MC707VM-S purifier has a 7-stage cleaning system and is additionally equipped with an ionizer, thanks to which the room air is filled with charged air ions. The area that this device can serve is 42 sq.m. This technique will be a real gift for people with allergic reactions and upper respiratory tract diseases. The cost of the device ranges from 550 – 650 dollars.
3. Daikin MCK75J URURU is easy to operate and will cope perfectly with all types of contaminants, thanks to the simultaneous combination of functions: ionizer, ozonizer, humidifier and air washer. Can work on an area of ​​46 sq.m. and moves through itself 450 cubic meters of air per hour, destroys bacteria and viruses, neutralizes tobacco smoke and purifies the air by 99.99%. The cost of this device fluctuates around 850-900 dollars. in different stores across the country.

Results:
In our general opinion, Daikin MCK75J URURU is the best air purifier presented on the modern climate control market, in terms of characteristics - price - quality - reviews.

Air purifiers: who needs them?

To provide homes with fresh, clean air in poor environmental conditions of the city, household air purifiers were created. In a short period of time, the developers equipped air purifiers with a huge range of different filters capable of high-quality filtering of air. It seems that if you think about it, is a household air purifier really so necessary for people?

Cities and towns are constantly being landscaped, thousands of trees and shrubs are being planted, and flower beds are being planted. Logically, the atmospheric mixture should be clean. But statistics stubbornly claim that the number of allergy sufferers is growing every year. The reason is not only poplar fluff, but also major contamination - animal hair, dust, viruses, bacteria, unpleasant odors.

Why purify indoor air?

The environment around us, the air we breathe, concrete walls heated by the sun, smog - contain many harmful substances. Their content in the atmospheric mixture is an order of magnitude higher than the permissible standards for normal human existence. Caring about the condition of the air we inhale, the health of children, and maintaining immunity, we strive to protect ourselves and our environment by purchasing a room air purifier. This compact desktop device, which is very inexpensive, will help you avoid many health problems.

Everyone knows that near highways and residential buildings the level of pollution with nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide exceeds its norms by 10-15 times. The atmospheric gas that surrounds us contains an incredible amount of harmful substances. Their large list includes skin scales and hairs, particles of ordinary dust, fungal spores, eggs and dust mite particles. A home air purifier can be useful in literally every apartment.

Without thinking, people fill their apartments with materials such as MDF, chipboard, various paints and other similar things. Artificial products made from mass-produced waste wood are directly responsible for the smell of “newness” after renovation, because they fill the air with toxic pungent fumes, filtered by an air purifier. If you do not purchase a purification device, then the air in a residential building becomes unsafe for human life, and even more so for allergy sufferers. It's up to you to decide which air purifier to choose, and the fact that it is necessary is obvious.

Offers for air purifiers from the company website

Our online store has a wide range of air purifiers available. Premium and economy class devices from trusted developers are at your service. It is difficult to choose the best brands from them, since all these brands have earned good user reviews:

• Neoclima,
• Airfree
• Ballu,
• Timberk,
• Atmos,
• Daikin,
• Boneco,
• Stadler Form,
• Dyson
• Faura,
• Hisense,
• Hitachi,
• Termica.

Among them, everyone will be able to choose and buy the most suitable model, especially since many devices have a price that is affordable for a wide range of consumers. If you live in Moscow, the product will come directly to your home, and a company specialist will install it and tell you how to use this device.

If you opened this article, then you probably no longer have the question Why do you need an air purifier? But how to choose an air purifier that will last for many years, will purify the air in the room, solving all problems associated with air pollution, and will not break down or make a lot of noise is not an easy task. There is such a quantity of climate control equipment on the Russian market today that even a professional will not always immediately understand, and it is quite easy for an ordinary person who has not previously been interested in air purifiers to get confused. We don’t want to leave you alone with the problem of choosing an air purifier, and we will honestly tell you about all the advantages and disadvantages of different devices. Here are our tips:

1. Each air purifier is designed for a certain area of ​​the room, so you first need to decide on the size of the room.

Are you ready to buy an air purifier for each room or will you carry it with you when you are in one of the rooms for a long time?

• If for each room, then choose clearly in accordance with: the area of ​​your room - the service area of ​​the air purifier.
• If you plan to move, then focus on the area of ​​the largest room in your apartment (house, office). It is better to choose an air purifier model that is designed for a slightly larger area - the air will be cleaned faster and with better quality.
• If the room is very small, then you can choose a car air purifier, which can also be used in the room, and purify the air with one device both at home and in the car.

2. Decide what problems you are going to solve with the help of an air purifier.

Its price will depend on this. There are many air purification technologies, each of which solves some problems better than others. The cost of the air purifier will depend on how many cleaning technologies the selected air purifier model uses.

• Large amount of dust.
  1. Air purifiers with electrostatic (plasma) filters : These filters attract dust using an electrical charge, are easy to wash, and you don’t have to constantly order replacement filters. But if there is really a lot of dust, then the device will not be able to cope with it. Also remember that electrostatic cleaners can remove no more than 90% of dust. If higher quality cleaning is required (there are children, allergy sufferers, asthmatics in the house), then it is better to choose the next option.
  2. : the filter is easy to care for: vacuumed once a month and changed every six months to a year, depending on the degree of air pollution. A HEPA filter is the most effective means of removing dust, because... form a continuous barrier in the path of moving air, and even a microscopic speck of dust or bacteria will not be able to fly past, lingering in the pores of the filter. When a high degree of dust removal is required, an air purifier with a HEPA filter is the best choice.
  3. deposit dust flying in the air onto horizontal surfaces, thereby purifying the air. They do not collect dust inside the air cleaner housing; you do not have to wash or change the filter. Therefore, such air purifiers are suitable for those who want to avoid additional costs for maintaining an air purifier, but are willing to more often collect dust from surfaces with a vacuum cleaner or rag.

• 

  The main problem here is the smallest dust invisible to the eye; it is this that causes sneezing attacks, redness of the eyes and allergic runny nose in allergy sufferers. Your choice
  1. Air purifiers with HEPA filters - removes the smallest specks of dust from the air, cleaning efficiency is up to 99.9%. The best way to prevent allergies has not yet been invented.
  2. Air purifiers with electrostatic filters - less effective than with HEPA filters, because dust is attracted to the plates only due to an electric charge, and the plates are located at a certain distance from each other, i.e. Some of the dust flies past. Cleaning efficiency 81-90%.
  3. Air washers - purify the air by driving it through a sprayed suspension of water. Water washes away the smallest particles of pollutants, leaving no chance for them to return to the air in the room. Air washes with pre-ionization are the most effective, because... charged dust is better attracted to the drum plates. Cleaning efficiency - 80-95%.
  4. Air purifiers and humidifiers - humidify using an evaporation filter located in the water or water sprayed inside the apparatus itself. Cleaning is also carried out using a water suspension. Cleaning quality 80-90%.
  5. Air purifiers - ionizers with remote ionization, producing a large number of ions around the air purifier, are able to remove a maximum of allergens from the air, depositing them on the surface.
  It is important to remember that allergies are caused not only by the dust itself, but also by the dust mites, mold, and fungus contained in it, and by destroying them, you will eliminate the very cause of the allergy. Photocatalytic air purifiers and air purifiers - ozonizers will help to cope with dust mites and mold, but photocatalysis and ozonation in the selected air purifier must be supplemented by one of the previous cleaning options - a filter that removes the dust itself.
  1. clean and disinfect the air due to the interaction of UV light and a catalyst, decompose toxic chemical compounds, and destroy microorganisms.
  2. - ozone also decomposes toxic substances, kills microorganisms and germs due to its powerful oxidizing properties. Ozonizers can be used when there are no people in the room.
• Tobacco smoke, any other smoke. Your choice
  1. Photocatalytic air purifiers - ionizers , it is better if they have an electrostatic filter, because it is easier to wash it from precipitated nicotine resins. If you choose a HEPA filter, you will have to change it quite often. Photocatalysis breaks down the toxic elements of tobacco smoke, ionization disperses the smoke, and the electrostatic precipitator precipitates tar and purifies using microdoses of ozone.
  2. Air purifiers - ozonizers decompose smoke into harmless carbon dioxide and water.
  3. Air washers - less effective, because they do not have time to capture most of the smoke rapidly rising upward, and water itself is not so effective against smoke.
  4. - also do not have a high degree of efficiency, since it is quite problematic to quickly drive smoky air through the air cleaner body (so that smoke particles are adsorbed by the filter).
• Unpleasant odors (car, industrial emissions from windows, kitchen smell, burning, rot, from pets, finishing materials, office equipment, etc.)
  1. Photocatalytic air purifiers - decompose any odors in the presence of people.
  2. Air purifiers - ozonizers - oxidize and break down any chemical and organic components in the air, including odors.
  3. Air purifiers with carbon filters - odor molecules are adsorbed in micropores on the surface of coal granules, but the efficiency of a carbon filter will be several times lower than a photocatalytic one.

• 

  Air disinfection(if children or you yourself often get sick, during epidemics of viral diseases, in children's institutions, etc.). You better choose
  1. Photocatalytic air purifiers - disinfectants, disinfecting the air using ultraviolet light and photocatalysis reactions, in which most microbes, bacteria and viruses die.
  2. Air purifiers - ozonizers - the best choice, because Ozone is 2-3 times more effective than ultraviolet radiation, i.e. It will take much less time to process. In standard mode, such devices are capable of disinfecting air using ionization.
• Significant dryness of the air in addition to its pollution.
  1. Air purifiers-humidifiers - humidify and purify the air through filtration.
  2. Air washers - purify the air with water and at the same time humidify it.
• Poor health, lethargy, fatigue, poor sleep, frequent illness. You should choose
  1. Ionizer- ionization improves the general condition of the body, strengthens the immune system, and improves mood.
  2. Air purifier - ozonizer - ozone in small doses is very beneficial for health and is a natural immunostimulant.

3. Decide whether you are ready to incur additional costs for maintaining the selected air purifier or whether you want to buy it now and in the future spend a minimum of money on maintaining clean air.

If spending doesn’t bother you, you can safely choose air purifiers with filters; they have the highest degree of air purification, because... Several stages of air purification are better in any case. If additional costs are burdensome for you, then choose: air purifiers - ionizers, ozonizers, photocatalytic, electrostatic (plasma), air washers.

4. Very important point! If you choose an air purifier with replaceable filters (not photocatalytic, not electrostatic or plasma), be sure to make sure that it has an ionization function.

Air passed through any filter loses its natural charge and becomes absolutely “dead”; it is unsafe for humans and animals to be in such air, because its inhalation leads to various diseases. All air purifiers presented in our online store, which purify the air using filters, are ionizers. Therefore, when choosing an air purifier from us, you can be absolutely calm about your health. This advice will only be useful to you if you decide to purchase an air purifier elsewhere.

5. Answer yourself honestly how often and how much time you can devote to your air purifier.

It cleans the air for you, but you, in turn, must clean it, otherwise it simply will not be able to work and will break.

• If you are ready to use it every day, choose an air washer or an air purifier-humidifier - you will have to change the water in them every three days and add water when it runs out.
• If it is not burdensome for you to take care of your air purifier once a week, your choice is an electrostatic (plasma) air purifier. About once a week you need to wash the electrostatic plates (filter) in it.
• If you want to spend a minimum of effort and remember to clean the device only once a month, then you should choose an air purifier - ionizer, photocatalytic purifier, air purifier - ozonizer or a purifier with replaceable filters (usually HEPA filters), which only need to be vacuumed once a month.

6. Consider how often you plan to use the air purifier.

It is optimal that it always works, and that the air in the room is always clean and has high quality indicators necessary for your health.

• If you plan to operate the air purifier around the clock, and savings are important to you, choose an air purifier with low energy consumption (see the parameter - power consumption).
• If periodic use of an air purifier is optimal for you, then air washers or air purifiers-humidifiers, which cannot be left idle for a long time with water filled with water, are unlikely to suit you. it may turn sour. If you are ready to drain the water every time, disassemble the air purifier and dry the parts, then the choice of air washers or air purifiers-humidifiers should not scare you.

7. Decide what features you need and who in your family will control the air purifier settings.

Do you need several fan speeds to choose more intensive or background air purification and reduce noise at night? Or do you want your air purifier to have maximum capabilities - a timer for automatic cleaning in certain modes, air pollution sensors, a hygrometer (for measuring humidity), night lighting, a function for air disinfection in the absence of people? As you understand, all the additional “bells and whistles” cost extra money, so decide right away whether you want to have them, or you won’t use them and will only get confused in a large number of buttons and modes. It all depends on what exactly you want to get: for some, it’s important to have all kinds of functions, but for others, they simply don’t want to understand them. So decide right away so you don’t regret it later.

8. Answer the question: do you sleep soundly and how much do extraneous noises bother you?

If noise is not an important issue, you can skip this point; if not, then choose an air purifier with a night mode that has a reduced noise level, or generally silent air purifiers - these are air purifiers - ionizers or photocatalytic air purifiers, devices without a fan or with the ability to turn it off completely .

9. Decide where you want to place the purchased air purifier, where it will best fit in your room or office.

There are models that need to be placed at a height of approximately 1.80 m from the floor, there are floor-standing models, wall-mounted or plugged directly into a socket (with a plug on the body). This is actually important because... If you choose the wrong model of air purifier now, you can then simply push it into the far corner, where it will not be able to optimally purify the air, and you will continue to breathe dirty air and get sick. In addition, many air purifiers effectively purify the air when installed at a certain distance from the wall, usually 10-50 cm; this also needs to be taken into account when choosing the location for installing the device.

Any adult and educated person knows that the air in the city is not only far from natural purity, but is also sometimes dangerous to health. And in order to protect against it, at least at home, we use special equipment. How not to get lost in the variety of gadgets and choose the best air purifier? Let's look at everything in order.

Clean air in the home can be considered a basic physiological need. And if you don't live in a clean suburb or at least near a park, then most likely you need an air purifier. Modern manufacturers create and modify such devices in huge quantities, adding the necessary (or not?) functions of ultrasound, ionization, humidification, and so on, ad infinitum, changing the shapes, sizes and number of filters, thus completely confusing the buyer. Let's figure out what air purifiers exist now and what they are needed for.

There are no fewer myths in the field of air purification now than in show business :) But for the most part, all air purifiers consist of a fan, which drives this very air through the gadget, and a filter system. And it is in the latter that all the differences begin. To begin with, let’s divide all cleaning systems into two types:

• aquatic;
• dry.

They most often try to combine an air purifier for an apartment with a humidifier, which has already created some confusion between these devices. However, a conventional humidifier does not purify the air, but only fills it with moisture, and of such devices, only an air washer can bear the proud title of “air purifier”. This type of home air purifier actually “washes” the air by forcing it through a curtain of water. At the same time, under the influence of water, dust and other small pollutants in the air settle on the washing discs. Air purification using washing occurs along with humidification, which adds to the popularity of these gadgets. All air washers work on the same principle and differ in size, fan power and additional functions. Air disinfection is most often introduced into the sink. In addition to the desire to introduce as many functions as possible that are attractive to the buyer, in this case, manufacturers are also guided by the principle of compensation - the fact is that the humid environment formed in sinks is very favorable for the growth of bacteria, harmful microorganisms and fungi; the sink must be constantly looked after and cleaned it so that unexpected guests do not settle in the device.
Therefore, such an air purification system is often supplemented with a UV lamp for safety. We have already discussed how safe this technology is in another article.
In addition, the sinks themselves work quite sedately and calmly; you should not expect them to quickly clean the room, remove odors and the smallest particles of pollutants and allergens.

Model	Description	pros	Minuses	Price
Venta LW25	Designed for a room up to 40 square meters. meters. The sink operates without replaceable filters, the entire cleaning system is washable. For work, you can use ordinary water, the reservoir for which is 7 liters, as well as flavored additives. Protection against bacteria is provided by the Venta-Hygienemittel system.	No consumables required. Does not leave limescale on furniture. Easy to care for. Auto shut off without water. Possibility of connecting a humidity level sensor.	High noise level at maximum speed.	From 23,000 R
Winia AWI-40	The Korean car wash can also serve up to 40 square meters and has a 7 liter tank. Its features include the function of automatically maintaining the humidity level, five operating modes, 3D discs with antibacterial coating. The sink also has an ionization function, implemented through replaceable ionizing filters.	Easy to care for. Humidity level control. Antibacterial coating of discs. High humidification efficiency.	Replaceable ionizing filters. High noise level. Inaccurate gyrostat. Difficult to find in stores.	From 15,000 R
Boneco W2055DR	A simple air cleaner designed for a room up to 50 square meters. meters and 7 liters of water. It is possible to monitor the current humidity level and set the desired one. You can use flavorings, there is an ionizing rod, which can also function as protection against bacteria, which, in our opinion, is very doubtful.	Two operating speeds. Electronic hygrometer. Automatic maintenance of humidity level. Indication of the level of contamination of the device.	Weak antibacterial protection. Large dimensions. Quite labor-intensive cleaning of the sink.	From 25,000 R

If we talk about cleaning the air from dust, allergens and odors without the participation of water, then the choice of gadgets becomes many times larger. The devices differ in size, performance, design, and most importantly, what air purification filters are inside and how many there are. But for the most part, all devices of this type have high power and can quickly purify the air in the room. Dry cleaning systems include a more powerful fan that forcefully draws air from the room and forces it through the filtration system. Basically, the following types of filters are found in such systems:

• Coarse air filter. Typically a mesh or porous material that can trap large contaminants, such as dust bunnies or animal hair.
• Fine filters. They usually look like a fabric or paper material folded like an accordion. The filter material has many pores, which, due to an unusual bend, overlap each other, forming a fine-mesh non-linear sieve. Such filters trap dust particles and most allergens.
• HEPA filters. Today, such filters are the most effective for air purification. They trap even the smallest and most dangerous pollutant particles, such as PM2.5, tiny allergens such as dust mite secretions, and so on. Taking all this into account, a HEPA filter for air in an apartment is necessary; without it, the entire cleaning system will be incomplete. We have already described the technology of their operation in detail in this article.
• AK filter, also known as adsorption-catalytic filter. If, in addition to dust, allergens and harmful particles, you want to protect yourself from unpleasant odors, then the air purification system in your apartment must include such a filter. Inside the filter there is a special material that literally “draws” gas molecules into itself and securely locks them inside. Some manufacturers make variations of the AK filter, for example, standard and enhanced, if the sources of unpleasant odor are very strong or are too close to the room. Carbon and photocatalytic filters perform the same functions.

The best air purifier for an apartment, of course, will contain both filters to clean the air from dust and protection from allergens, harmful particles and unpleasant odors. Most often, the disadvantages of such devices include energy consumption and noise level. In fact, a high-quality air purifier consumes no more energy than other household appliances (and often several times less), and the noise created by the gadget is of an aerodynamic nature, caused by the passage of air through the filter system. However, with the help of new technologies and materials, some models have gotten rid of this noise and now work so quietly that sometimes questions arise as to whether the device is turned on at all :)

Who cares: additional functions in air purifiers

When choosing which air purifier is best for your home, people usually pay attention not only to the number of filters, but also to additional features. Let's look at the most popular of them.

Function	Purpose	Principle of operation
Ionization	Saturation of the air with useful, according to the manufacturer, negatively and positively charged ions.	Ionization is a rather debated process, and there is currently no single authoritative opinion on it. Some say that ions are practically a panacea, others call them dangerous for humans. We examined this process in detail in another, and taking into account all the features and possible side effects, it is best to use a separate gadget with an adjustable operating time for ionization.
Aromatization	Filling the air with pleasant aromas through the use of aromatic liquids.	Aromatization works on the principle of an air freshener, spraying a concentrated fragrance in liquid or gaseous form into the room. How rational it is to add aromatization to an air purifier is an open question, since a filter for air purification in an apartment often includes odor removal, which means the air purifier itself will eliminate the work of the aromatizer.
Hydration	Saturation of air with water vapor.	Humidification is one of the most popular additional features in air purifiers. On the one hand, air humidity is very important for the normal functioning of the human body, and it is necessary to maintain it at normal levels; on the other hand, creating a humid environment near the purifier filters is short-sighted, since this is where all the harmful microorganisms gather, which, if a suitable environment is created, can begin to actively multiply and actually turn the purifier into a source of infection.

Air disinfection is most often confused with air purification. It represents the destruction of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms and, perhaps, this function is worth dwelling on separately. Air disinfection is most relevant in the medical field, but it can also be very useful in everyday life. Even the best quality home air filter can capture harmful microorganisms, but does not destroy them. In modern air purifiers, two methods of air disinfection are most often used:

• Photocatalytic filter with UV lamp. Photocatalysis and UV radiation have been used together for quite a long time, allowing them to solve two problems at once - unpleasant odors and the destruction of microorganisms. Unfortunately, the age of this technology has also become its main problem - now many viruses and bacteria are already resistant to UV radiation, and such irradiation itself is not always safe for humans. We have already examined UV lamps and their scope of application in detail in another; now there is no point in retelling the entire history of this issue. If you are using an air purifier with a UV lamp, strictly follow the instructions for use.
• Inactivation of microorganisms. Modern technology that deprives all pathogens of the ability to reproduce, inactivating them with ozone produced inside the device. Thus, the purifier and air disinfectant complement each other: HEPA filters trap pests, and the disinfection system immediately inactivates them, leaving the air purifier itself sterile. At the same time, filters are provided to decompose the ozone created in the device, so that additional ozonation does not occur in the room. Now inactivation is implemented only in a few models, for example in Tion air, but we believe that the future lies with this technology and will soon be used to protect their health in every home.

Also, if we talk about multifunctional gadgets with air purification, we cannot fail to mention. These devices provide a constant flow of fresh air when the windows are closed, purifying it using three levels of filtration - protection from large dust, thorough cleaning from the smallest harmful particles and allergens with a HEPA filter of at least H11 class, retention of molecules of harmful gases and unpleasant odors. In addition, the breather heats the air to the selected temperature and automatically maintains it. The most advanced models are connected to the MagicAir smart microclimate system and automatically regulate the supply of fresh air in the house. In addition, there are models with a recirculation mode, in which the air that is already in the room is quietly purified and heated, that is, one device immediately performs the functions