What to buy? What's the best? For whom? Air purifiers ranking for 2020

The polluted air is the cause of many respiratory diseases and ailments. Many potential harmful substances for our body, ranging from dust and pollen to pathogens and allergens that are responsible for diseases and allergic reactions in our body, float in the air we breathe. Unfortunately, it is necessary to ventilate at home, and it is then that most often harmful compounds get to us. How can you remedy this? You can use an air purifier. The device is able to filter the air in the room and reduce pollution up to 99.99%

What are the best air purifiers for 2020? Consumer choice is no longer the easiest thing to do, often the range of products on the market is wide and we are forced to look through dozens of models before buying. To meet the expectations we have prepared a list of the best air purifiers available on our home market.

Contrary to appearances, air purifiers are based on a very simple assumption. Such devices are designed to push air through the filter (or a series of filters) in such a way that the vast majority of pollutants stop at the filter and do not return to the secondary circuit. Of course, the best solution is to filter through the air purifier in as much as possible in the shortest possible time. The performance of the air purifier is determined by the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) , i.e. the amount of clean air supplied by a cleaner equipped with filters. When comparing air purifiers, it should be remembered that they should be able to filter the air in a given room at least once per hour.

Some models of air purifiers operate on the principle of multi-stage filtration (usually several types of filters are included). In practice, this means higher overall unit efficiency and better air purification. Additionally, it is possible to filter out several types of pollutants - smoke, smell, allergens, but also bacteria or virus - in this way, we always recommend to choose air purifiers that combine several filters. The minimum efficiency of air filtration should be 90%, but by today's standards the best devices reach even 99.9%, mainly due to high quality HEPA filters. Below we will take a look at the individual filters available, each of the mentioned filters deals with other pollutants in its own way.

HPA filter

It is a popular and high-performance air filter whose name comes from the English words High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter. The filter is characterised by its high efficiency, which, depending on the type, reaches almost 100%, the H13 is a frequently used filter with an efficiency of 99.95%. This filter is able to deal with dirt, dust, odours and bacteria. The disadvantage of such a filter is a slightly louder operation (more power is needed for the air to get through the filter). Also this type of filter needs to be replaced regularly.

Electrofilter

This type of filter is also used in a wide range of air cleaners. Using static electricity and electrical forces, it charges individual particles in the air and thus removes them. The effectiveness of such a filter is 99% and the system itself is very quiet. Air purifiers with an electrostatic filter do not need such a high power flow (less power). When the filter catches too many particles, it can be easily removed and washed, and then reused. The disadvantage of such a filter is that it only traps larger particles - viruses, pollen bacteria or fungi. The electrofilter has problems with catching unpleasant smell or smoke.

Water filter

It is a filter with low efficiency (from 50% to 70%), but on the other hand it is not too noisy and can be used as an air humidifier in our room. The water filter does not need to be replaced because dirt collects at the bottom of the container, but the water evaporates after a while and regular replacement of the water itself as well as cleaning of the container itself is required.

The photocatalytic filter

The filter uses chemical reactions - under the influence of UV radiation, as a catalyst (hence the name photocatalytic). Thanks to this system, more bacteria, viruses or toxins in general can be filtered out of the air, which is destroyed and broken down under the influence of UV light. The filters do not need to be replaced, but the disadvantage of this solution is that ozone is left behind - the effect of UV radiation on the oxygen contained in the air.

Active carbon filter

The filter, usually found in combination with HEPA filters, primarily traps the odors and substances that cause their decomposition.

The cost of changing filters

Basically, the filters should be replaced (or cleaned, those that can be cleaned) every 6 to 12 months. Most air cleaners have a gauge that tells you when to replace or clean the filter. The cost of the filters varies greatly, some start at 100 PLN and some start at 5000 PLN.

Certificates

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The air purifiers have to operate around the clock to make them as effective as possible, the cost of energy has to be taken into account when shopping. Energy Star certified devices are 40% more energy efficient than standard models.

The AHAM VerifideCertificate, (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers), informs us that the device has passed standard laboratory tests. Based on these tests, AHAM certifies the air purifier for its ability to remove three typical types of pollutants - smoke, pollen and dust. Currently, the AHAM-certified air purifier has specific values for the ability to purge each of these three pollutants. These removal values in an AHAM-certified air purifier are collectively referred to as CADR ratings for clean air delivery rate).

CADRCertificate, indicates the speed of clean air supply and is one of the most important ratings to check before buying an air purifier. Based on CADR it is possible to choose the right model for the room. It is possible to calculate how many times the air will be filtered in one hour, the higher the CADR, the faster and more efficient the air purifier is.

Size of room

The air purifiers have a certain power and filter efficiency, which means that they are able to filter a certain amount of air. If our room has e.g. 120m³ and our air purifier with a CADR of 315m³, the device can provide an air exchange of 2.63 in 60 minutes. This is enough to get rid of all dangerous pollutants in a short time. Although we may need to change the air 5 times per hour, there are double capacity air purifiers available with a CADR of 600m³ per hour. If the air purifier has an AHAM Verifide,certificate, you can be sure that the device can handle the suggested room size given on the certificate.

Noise level

When choosing an air purifier, it is worth paying attention not only to its functionality, but also to the noise generated. The noise generated by most household appliances plays a very important role in our lives, as is also the case with the air purifier. We have to reckon with the fact that on the most polluted days we will use the device with the highest efficiency, and this translates into generated noise. The higher the intensity, the greater the noise. Before buying, you should know how many decibels a device generates, for comparison, a standard refrigerator generates a noise level of about 50 decibels.

For people with allergies

It is estimated that more than 40 percent of the Polish population has various allergies. Airborne allergens wreak havoc in the immune system causing many unpleasant symptoms such as eye irritation, coughing, sneezing. The air purifier allows you to free yourself from allergens in your home.

Asthma triggers reduction

More than 300 million people around the world suffer from asthma, this disease is also the cause of about 14 million medical visits each year. The main cause of asthma problems is breathing polluted air. Air purifiers are one of the recommended ways to purify the air in the room so that asthmatics do not experience so many breathing problems.

To eliminate mold

Not from now on it is known that mould spores are very harmful to our health. Unfortunately, many people have developed chronic diseases as a result of being exposed to too much mould at home or at work. Specialist air purifiers are specially designed to combat mould and bacteria.

To prevent dust

No matter how hard you try to keep your house clean, dust always seems to accumulate on every surface. Dust also attracts mites, to which many people are allergic. Air cleaners are an excellent way to reduce dust and mites by sucking in and keeping the dust in the filter. People who want to clean less often should consider investing in an air purifier.

To get rid of the smoke and its smell

Air purifiers are the best solution to get rid of cigarette smoke and smell, so that the air in your home will get a fresh and clean smell, no matter how often you smoke your cigarettes.

An air purifier is certainly not a necessity for everyone. When, however, should you consider buying?

• Living in a busy area.
• Knowing that the air quality in your area is not very good.
• Having problems with allergies to dust, hair, mold.
• When you have a small child who is sensitive to dust or other airborne pollutants

Existing air purifier is already becoming a necessity in every house, but there are still many misconceptions about the energy consumption of this device. Modern air purifiers are able to provide high efficiency, consuming little energy without affecting your wallet.

For example:

Xiaomi Air Purfier 2S, operates at individual speeds with 1.5 4.8 and 31W - averaging 12W. Assuming that the cost of 1 kWh is 0.55 PLN, so month of uninterrupted operation of the device is associated with a cost of 4.73 PLN.

No matter whether the air purifier has a replaceable HEPA filter or a permanent filter, or a combination of both - all require regular maintenance. The air purifiers usually have a built-in indicator that allows you to read the status of the filter. If it is a filter through which dirt does not get to the other side, but which is designed to catch the dirt (water filtration, electrostatic filtration), you only need to wash this element. Alternatively, you can replace the water in the tank and remove the accumulated limescale. All this procedure is necessary for the cleaner to maintain effective performance.

The cleaners that require a filter change are usually HEPA filter units. They are a bit more practical for allergy sufferers, because after a filter change the filter will be thrown away and there is no danger that the contamination will get back into the air after cleaning. For practical maintenance, it is advisable to replace the old filter with a new one.

Multi-stage power control

This is a typical solution available for most air purifiers, but we still find devices without this function on the market. The operation of the air purifier is divided into several levels, each of which is appropriate depending on the time of day. At night you will certainly appreciate quiet, smooth operation, and during the day high performance and fast cleaning.

Adjustable working time

Some devices available today allow you to set when the air purifier is to start working, or how long it will last before it switches off. You want to sleep but feel that the air is not too good, then you can easily set the device for another two hours and the air purifier will automatically switch off and stop bothering you while you sleep.

Remote control

If your unit has a remote control, you can control the power supply and other functions of the cleaner with the controller (remote control).

Air ionizer

The ability to ionize purified air is a very interesting feature of some purifiers. The air is charged with negative ions, so particles carrying a certain smell or smoke tend to stick together and fall to the ground.

Automatic mode

Most air purifiers are equipped with sensors (or at least one sensor) that monitor the quality of ambient air. The air purifier has the necessary data to adjust and automatically change its power, so if the device finds that the air is not clean enough, it will increase its efficiency and filter more air.

Xiaomi Mi AIr Purifier 3H - Best value for money

The first cleaner in our list is Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 3H, it is a very interesting offer due to the best price to quality. The Air Purifier is equipped with an innovative design, which provides 6333 litres of clean air per minute, making it suitable for larger spaces of 126m². The Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 3H, will not only be used at home but also in commercial premises. However, before placing it in an office, bedroom or a place where you need peace and quiet, you should think about buying it. Why? Compared to other available Xiaomi MI Air Purifiers I work at quite a high noise level of 64 dB. This is not a noise that would disturb most, but it is still higher than the other available air purifiers on the market. Fortunately, the device offers a night mode which is much quieter.

Unlike the competition, this model has only one type of HEPA filter, but it is three-layered and very effective. The filter is able to remove allergens, viruses, dust, pollen, mould and mites from the air, but also unpleasant smells. With the OLED display you can monitor air quality and other parameters such as temperature and humidity. The Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 3H also gives us access to a Wi-FI connection, so we can pair the device with the Mi Home application.

Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 3H has a very nice and simple design, and thanks to its shape can suck in air from all sides. The device itself is energy efficient - it does not consume more than 1 kWh per day.

Dyson Pure Cool Me - Stylish air purifier

The Dyson Pure Cool Me air purifier is a middle class representative in our test, it's the original proposal in the air purifier market because of its design. It's compact and attractive in design, and thanks to its compact size, the air purifier is perfect for your desk. Dyson Pure Cool Me, thanks to its HEPA filter and active carbon filters, has a high air filtration efficiency of more than 99%. The air is used to remove dirt, allergens, dust and odours, and the power of the device itself is very high, all the more so as the device allows a very strong airflow (10 degrees of power regulation in total). The device also features Dyson Core Flow, technology that allows you to create and set the direction of the airflow.

Unfortunately, more power means more wear and, above all, a higher noise level, which reaches 59 dB - in this respect the device is not very comfortable. The Dyson Pure Cool Me is specifically designed to work in offices, rooms and smaller apartments. It also has an ioniser and remote control for remote working

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Sharp KC D50EUW - For demanding

The air purifier Sharp KC D50EUW provides high filtration efficiency of up to 99%. Multi-stage filtration (HEPA H13 filter, carbon filter, humidifying filter) is responsible for such a high result. Such application effectively removes dust, odours, allergens and pathogens. The device has a high air filtration capacity of up to 306m³ per hour, so that the Sharp KC D50EUW can be used for larger rooms up to 135m³ - additionally it offers three-stage regulation. , which is an impressive result. It is also worth mentioning that the Sharp KC D50EUW is certified by the British Allergy Foundation.

In terms of functionality, the Sharp KC D50EUW performs very well, primarily using sensor technology and system Advanced Auto.Analyzing data from humidity, cleanliness and temperature sensors, the device properly controls the entire process. Thanks to the PlasmaCluster technology used, the scrubber can also serve as a humidifier and maintain an air humidity of 50%. The device uses a 2.5-litre water tank with a capacity of 600 ml per hour, which is quite a good result, but it will not replace a fully-fledged humidifier. Controlling the device itself is very simple, but it has one disadvantage: the remote control is not included in the set, and at this price it should be included. Nevertheless, Sharp KC D50EUW will certainly satisfy even the most demanding users.

The most important thing you should consider when buying an air purifier is its performance. You need to adapt the air purifier to the size of the room in which it will work. Remember that the performance of the device should be many times higher depending on whether you are allergic or not. The next thing to consider is the volume of the device. The scrubbers are designed to work continuously for a long time, even at night, so if you choose a model that is too noisy there is a great risk that it will start disturbing you over time. Another important aspect is to consider what kind of dirt you want to filter. For each of the contaminants there is a different type of filter that has a different performance and at the same time a different role to play (the HEPA filter is most effective).

You should also remember that the air purifier will never replace ordinary ventilation or vacuuming - the remaining layer of dirt already flying on shelves or cupboards will not get into the cleaning filter unless you swirl the dust, although a large part of it will land on furniture again. You want to have a clean house or create a suitable environment for allergy sufferers. It is necessary to combine the operation of the air cleaner with other activities - ventilation, cleaning, vacuuming. Only this way will you remove the air cleaner from your home, in order to achieve maximum efficiency you have to follow some basic rules.

• It is best to place the air purifier between the window and the door or on a shelf so that the device is at belt level. Then direct the clean air outlet to the most commonly used part of the room. Never place the unit on the floor or window - this definitely reduces performance.
• Please operate the cleaner when someone is in the room - otherwise it is not necessary. At the same time, it is not necessary to start it during a short stay in the room. The device should operate for at least one hour.
• Do not forget about ventilation, run the air purifier when the windows are closed. Otherwise the air purifier will attract dirt from outside, especially smog and pollen.
• regular maintenance is very important, depending on the type of filter, regular cleaning and replacement is necessary.