Choosing the right air purifier
The entire country suffered the worst pollution attack, right after Diwali. The situation went bad to worse within hours and by the time people could report it, the air quality readings went beyond what sensors could report. The situation was widespread and social media sites were flooded with images showing the impact of polluted air. Within no time hashtags like #RightToBreathe started trending.
While we can argue on the reason of this spike in pollution and let the authorities decide the course of action, we can at least ensure that the air in our home and office is clean by installing air purifiers.
Just a few years back air purifiers were considered as a luxury, but not any more. In fact, like water purifiers, you would soon see air purifiers installed in most households. There are quite a few different types of air purifiers available in the market. So today, let us discuss the various types of air purifiers and how they work.
How air purifiers work
Basically, air purifiers draw in air, purify it and circulate it back in the room with the help of a fan. During this process, the purifier removes PM2.5 particles, germs, allergens, and even odour, etc. from the air using different processes like high heat, HEPA filter, ionic technology, UV light, etc.
Types of air purifiers
As mentioned above, there are various types of air purifiers available in the market, most common ones are — HEPA air purifiers, UV based air purifiers, activated carbon air purifiers and ionic air purifiers. UV and iconic air purifiers should be avoided as they generate Ozone gas. An increased presence of Ozone gas can impact lung functions, cause respiratory problems, chest pain, and throat irritation, etc.
HEPA based purifiers are most commonly used these days and are one of the most effective as well. These purifiers force air through filters that trap pollutants in a mesh-like HighEfficiency Particulate Air or HEPA filter. These filters last max up to six months, depending on the pollution in your area. HEPA Air purifiers are economical and available at a starting price of Rs 6000 approximately. The replacement filters aren’t too costly either and can be bought for Rs 1200 to Rs 1800.
Another popular category is activated carbon purifiers which unlike the HEPA filters are very good at odour removal. Purifiers with only activated carbon filters are not very effective in capturing suspended particles, hence quite a few air purifiers come with another filter to tackle this problem. The activated carbon filters need to be changed in three months and costs Rs 2500 approximately.
Factors to keep in mind before buying
Some key factors you need to keep in mind while buying an air purifier, are the size of the room, the noise it makes, and the energy consumption. In case you’re one of those who prefer to stay connected, then there are a few air purifiers which can be connected with WiFi and operated remotely with the help of an app on your phone. So, by the time you reach home, the air inside your home will be clean and fresh.
While placing the air purifier, make sure that it is kept away from carpet and furniture in a free corner. Normally the capacity of cleaning is mentioned on the purifier itself, hence do make a note.
Some of the most popular air purifiers in the market with HEPA filters are from bands like Xiaomi, Phillips, and Honeywell. These are available at the starting price of Rs. 5000 and go all the way up to Rs. 25,000. In case you’re looking for some premium products, then the ones from LG, Sharp, and Dyson, etc. come with additional features and are priced accordingly.
Apart from home or office, there are portable air purifiers available for cars and few in the form of face masks. With the amount of pollution surrounding us, air purifiers are the way to go. But make sure you get the right one for you that can keep allergens and pollutants away.
A technology buff, Jitendra stays up-to-the-minute of trends in smartphones, gadgets, apps and more.