Clean air in the apartment what to choose. Catalog of air purifiers from viruses and bacteria

A good air purifier is a useful purchase for a home where allergy sufferers, children, and the elderly live. It is very important to choose a device that will last for many years, be effective and comfortable to use.

Criteria for choosing a good air purifier

Maximum air exchange

It is known that with effective operation, the device must pass through itself the air in the room 2-3 times in 1 hour. Therefore, calculate the volume of the room (in cubic meters) and multiply this number by three, and then compare the result with the parameters of different air purifiers.

Used filters

There are several types of filters: electrostatic, ozonating, photocatalytic, water, carbon, HEPA filters. Each has its pros and cons. Qualitative models are characterized by the presence of several filters at once, i.e. multi-stage cleaning.

Ease of maintenance

You need to take into account 2 points:

• the time you are willing to spend caring for the device. If an electrostatic filter requires washing no more than once a week, and a photocatalytic filter - once every six months, then air washers need daily attention (change and addition of water);
• the presence of replaceable blocks in the design, the cost and frequency of their replacement.

Additional functions

These are indicators, displays, backlights, timers, aromatization, UV lamps, etc. The most important of the "bonus" features, which is worth paying for, is the possibility of controlled humidification.

Air purifiers-humidifiers

Air wash

Washers both humidify and purify the air from dust and other contaminants. An important advantage of these devices is that they do not need to buy consumables. Humidification and air purification is carried out without the use of replaceable filters.
For cleaning, the air is driven either through a system of discs moistened with water, or through a water curtain forced by a fan.
This is another advantage of air washes - the water evaporates naturally, and the humidity in the room cannot rise above a comfortable 60%. The disadvantages of these devices include noise and decent dimensions.

Climatic complexes for air purification and humidification

Multifunctional devices that combine three separate devices in a single housing: a full-fledged air purifier, a humidifier with traditional "cold" evaporation and an ionizer.

Advantages of climatic complexes:

• The presence of an intelligent control system for air quality and relative humidity, which allows you to use the device in automatic mode;
• High degree of air purification with or without humidification (unlike classic air washer).

Flaw:

• The need for periodic replacement of "dry" and (or) humidifying filters.

If you have opened this article, then for sure you 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 the problems associated with air pollution and at the same time will not break down and make a lot of noise is not an easy task. There is so much climate technology on the Russian market today that even a professional will not always immediately understand, and even an ordinary person who has not been interested in air purifiers before is quite easy to get confused. We do not 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 need to first decide on the size of the room.

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

• If in each room - then choose clearly in accordance: the area of ​​\u200b\u200byour room - the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe air cleaner.
• If you plan to transfer, then focus on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe largest room in your apartment (house, office). It is better to choose the air cleaner model that will be designed for a slightly larger area - the air will be cleaned faster and better.
• If the room is very small, 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 cleaner.

This will determine its price. There are many air purification technologies, each of which solves some problems better, others worse. How many cleaning technologies the selected air purifier model uses will determine its cost.

• A large amount of dust.
  1. Air cleaners with electrostatic (plasma) filters : These filters attract dust with an electric charge, easy to clean, you do not 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 only remove up to 90% of dust. If better 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 maintain: it is vacuumed once a month and changed every six months or a year, depending on the degree of air pollution. The HEPA filter is the most effective dust remover because it form a continuous barrier on the way 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 on horizontal surfaces, thereby purifying the air. They do not collect dust inside the air cleaner housing, you do not have to rinse or change the filter. Therefore, such air cleaners are suitable for those who want to avoid the additional cost of maintaining an air cleaner, but who are ready to collect dust from surfaces more often with a vacuum cleaner or a rag.

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  Here the main problem is the smallest dust invisible to the eye, it is this that causes sneezing attacks, reddening of the eyes and allergic rhinitis in allergy sufferers. Your choice
  1. Air cleaners with HEPA filters - remove the smallest dust particles from the air, cleaning efficiency - up to 99.9%. The best remedy for the prevention of allergies has not yet been invented.
  2. Air cleaners with electrostatic filters - less effective than with HEPA filters, because dust is attracted to the plates only due to the electric charge, and the plates are located at some distance from each other, i.e. some of the dust flies by. Cleaning efficiency 81-90%.
  3. Air wash - 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 of the room. Air washers with pre-ionization are the most effective. charged dust is better attracted to the drum plates. Cleaning efficiency - 80-95%.
  4. Air purifiers-humidifiers - humidify with the help of an evaporative filter in the water or water sprayed inside the device itself. Cleaning is also done with a water suspension. The quality of cleaning is 80-90%.
  5. Air cleaners - ionizers with remote ionization, producing a large number of ions around the air cleaner, 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 dust itself, but also by dust mites, mold, and fungus in it, by destroying which, 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. purify and disinfect the air due to the interaction of UV light and a catalyst, decompose toxic chemical compounds, destroy microorganisms.
  2. - ozone also decomposes toxic substances, kills microorganisms and microbes 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 cleaners - ionizers , it is better if they are with 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 decomposes toxic elements of tobacco smoke, ionization disperses the smoke, and an electrostatic filter deposits resins and purifies them with micro-doses of ozone.
  2. Air purifiers - ozonizers break down smoke into harmless carbon dioxide and water.
  3. Air wash - less effective, because they do not have time to capture most of the smoke rapidly rising upward, and water itself is not so effective from 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 housing (so that smoke particles are adsorbed by the filter).
• Unpleasant odors (automotive, industrial emissions from the window, the smell of the kitchen, burning, rot, from pets, finishing materials, office equipment, etc.)
  1. Photocatalytic air cleaners - 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 cleaners with carbon filters - odor molecules are adsorbed in micropores on the surface of charcoal granules, but the efficiency of the charcoal filter will be many times lower than the photocatalytic one.

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  Air disinfection(if children or yourself often get sick, during epidemics of viral diseases, in children's institutions, etc.). you better choose
  1. Photocatalytic air cleaners - disinfecting, disinfecting the air using ultraviolet radiation 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; processing time will be much less. In standard mode, such devices are able to disinfect the 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 wash - clean the air with water and humidify it at the same time.
• Poor health, lethargy, fatigue, poor sleep, frequent illnesses. You should choose
  1. Ionizer- ionization improves the general condition of the body, strengthens the immune system, improves mood.
  2. Air cleaner - ozonizer - ozone in small doses is very beneficial for health, it is a natural immunostimulant.

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

If spending does not scare you, you can safely choose air cleaners with filters, they have the highest degree of air purification, because. several stages of air purification in any case is better. If additional costs are burdensome for you, then choose: air cleaners - ionizers, ozonizers, photocatalytic, electrostatic (plasma), air washers.

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

Air passed through any filter loses its natural charge and becomes absolutely “dead”, it is not safe for humans and animals to be in such air, because. its inhalation leads to various diseases. All air purifiers presented in our online store that purify the air with filters are ionizers. Therefore, choosing an air purifier from us, you can be absolutely sure about your health. This tip will only come in handy if you decide to purchase an air purifier elsewhere.

5. Be honest with yourself about how often and how much time you can devote to your air cleaner.

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 approach it every day, choose an air washer or an air cleaner-humidifier - in them you will have to change the water every three days and add water when it runs out.
• If it is easy for you to care for your air purifier once a week - your choice is an electrostatic (plasma) air purifier. Approximately once a week it is necessary 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 - ozonator or a purifier with replaceable filters (more often HEPA filters), which are enough to vacuum once a month.

6. Consider how often you are going to use the air cleaner.

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

• If you plan to operate the air cleaner around the clock, and saving is important for you, choose an air cleaner with low energy consumption (see parameter - power consumption).
• If periodic use of an air cleaner is optimal for you, then air washers or air cleaners-humidifiers that cannot be left idle for a long time with flooded water are unlikely to suit you. she can sour. If you are ready to drain the water every time, disassemble the air cleaner and dry the parts, then the choice of air washers or air cleaners-humidifiers should not scare you.

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

Do you need several fan speeds to select more intense or background air purification and noise reduction 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 (to measure humidity), night illumination, an air disinfection function in the absence of people? As you understand, all additional “bells and whistles” cost extra money, so decide right away if 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 someone it is important to have all kinds of functions, and for someone you just don’t want to understand them. Therefore, decide immediately so as not to regret later.

8. Answer the question - do you sleep soundly, and how much extraneous noise bothers you.

If noise is not a fundamental issue, you can skip this paragraph, 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 fit best in your room, office.

There are models that need to be placed at a height of about 1.80 m from the floor, there are floor models, wall-mounted or plugged directly into a socket (with a plug on the case). This is really important, because by choosing the wrong air cleaner model now, you can then simply push it into a far corner where it will not be able to optimally clean the air, and you will still 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 must also be taken into account when choosing the installation location of the device.

It is unlikely that anyone will argue that living in a clean apartment is better than living in a mess. And it's not just about the aesthetic perception of the surrounding space. Dust and dirt can cause various diseases, allergic reactions and just an uncomfortable state. How to properly clean your own apartment, we have already figured out. Today, another issue is on the agenda - air purification in the apartment.

Those in power are increasingly thinking about the environmental situation in cities. And the scientific fraternity has been sounding the alarm for a long time. The country is full of cities choking on industrial emissions. Municipal waste landfills surround megacities in a continuous ring. It is not uncommon for people to move to another area because of bad smells and dirty air. And there is no improvement yet.

The only solution left is to take care of yourself. Relocation is not always possible. And where is the guarantee that the same thing will not happen in another area over time? Let's try to figure out how to determine air pollution? What devices will help to make the air in the apartment cleaner? Well, at the same time we will tell you who to write a complaint about the pollution of the atmosphere around us.

Cleaning the air in the apartment. A bit of theory

The composition of the atmosphere is familiar to everyone from school. The basis is nitrogen and oxygen. Only one percent is accounted for by all other gases and other impurities. Every year the number of suspensions and non-typical substances increases. Power plants, automobiles, metallurgical and chemical enterprises constantly emit hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, sulfates, ammonia and other harmful substances into the air.

The easiest way to determine the purity of the air - "nose". And never funny. If there are landfills, smoky factories or major highways close to home, you can smell it. Even weak. And you don’t need to pay for an ecotester 🙂 Naturally, it’s not so simple - it’s not enough to feel the “aroma”, you need to know what it is. It is easy to find the information you need on the Internet. For example, the smell of rotten eggs indicates a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide.

INTERESTING. Scientists consider smog, acid rain, ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect to be the main consequences of pollution of the earth's atmosphere. If the last two problems are not noticeable to ordinary residents, then smog and acid rain are frequent phenomena in many large cities. The greatest problems are observed in industrial centers and places of accumulation of industry.

If it smells like sewage, then mercaptan derivatives have accumulated in the air. Difficulty breathing, a distinct chemical smell and taste, a feeling of burning or dust indicate a high content of harmful substances. You need to act immediately. Don't wait for everything to pass, of course. You need to buy a device for cleaning the air in the apartment.

If you are “lucky” to live in a large industrial center, air pollution can not only be smelled, but also seen. It can be a colored cloud, clouds of dust, or darkening of the atmosphere. All hope is for special services involved in monitoring air quality. For example, in Krasnoyarsk it is Krasnoyarsk.nebo or Smoky74.ru in Chelyabinsk. Definitely helpful service.

But it is better to buy special analyzers. No need to bother with expensive devices that can show fractions of a percent of a huge amount of substances. A compact integrated analyzer is sufficient. Such a device will show the general degree of pollution, but will not tell which substances threaten health. But this is not necessary in order to take action, a signal of danger is enough.

There is nothing complicated in the operation of the device - the color of the indicator will show the degree of danger. According to international standards, red means danger, yellow warns of a high degree of pollution, and green indicates normal air purity. But the main thing is different, a household analyzer is several times cheaper than a professional one. You can buy a natural gas analyzer, but it's a little different. Although it will save you from leaks.

Cleaning the air in the apartment. What are the dangers of pollution

It has long been no secret to doctors what diseases are caused by polluted air. At the very least, respiratory problems. Frequent colds, allergic reactions, reduced immunity - this is an incomplete list of possible problems. In the worst case, a person is threatened with cancer. For example, when the concentration of formaldehyde is exceeded in the air for many years.

What can be done? How to protect yourself and loved ones from harmful consequences? Unfortunately, there is no simple and universal solution. After all, we won’t really walk the streets in a gas mask or a respirator 🙂 We definitely need to install a cleaner in the apartment. But with the movement around the city is more difficult. We close the airways with a handkerchief and quickly leave the dangerous place. If you feel unwell, call an ambulance!

Which air purifier to choose . Main types

Technology allows you to clean the air from pollution of any type. There is no shortage of household versions of purifiers on the market. Such a device is designed to work in a room of a certain area. Hence the conclusion - the larger the apartment, the more powerful the cleaner is needed. Accordingly, the cost increases depending on the class of the device. And if you decide on a complex gadget with ionization or humidification, get ready to shell out a tidy sum.

Purifiers are divided into several types according to the principle of operation. Let's say right away that there are no universal solutions. Some devices are well cleaned of dust and suspensions. Others remove inorganic compounds. Still others delay organics. Much depends on the filter being used. Now let's look at the main types of air purification devices and analyze the advantages and disadvantages.

Cleaning the air from dust in the apartment - electrostatic filters

Cleaners with a "plasma" filter create an electrostatic field in the path of the air flow, due to this, suspended particles collect on the surface of the filter. The efficiency of devices reaches 90 percent. The second advantage is ease of use. Special alloy plates are used as a filter, which are easy to clean from contaminants.

But there are also negative points. The operation of the purifier relies on a certain amount of dust. If the concentration of suspended matter is above the norm, then the filters can not cope. As a result, the device either clogs or begins to let dust through. So when buying, carefully study the performance characteristics. For rooms where asthmatics or allergy sufferers live, we recommend choosing devices with several degrees of cleaning.

How to choose an air cleaner - ionizers

Before us is a completely different type of air purifier. In fact, it is a complex consisting of several elements. Each part is responsible for its own cleaning method. From which it follows that ionizers are more versatile than plasma filters. The first stage of cleaning is the capture of large particles using foam filters. Then the photocatalytic filter comes into play - complex chemical compounds are destroyed.

IMPORTANT! The main air pollutants are: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides II and IV, sulfur dioxide, heavy metal compounds, complex organic compounds. Ozone is a hazardous substance. Despite performing an important function - protecting the planet from cosmic radiation - the substance is harmful to living organisms in large quantities.

The air then enters under the germicidal lamp and passes through the plasma filter. The last stage of purification is the adsorption of negatively charged ions. The multi-stage design has undeniable advantages - the filter is cleaned separately. The system does not require replacement, it is enough to periodically rinse the plates and vacuum the foam filter.

How to choose an air purifier for your home - HEPA filter

The operation of such devices is based on the passage of air through a special fibrous material, folded in a certain way with an "accordion". The structure of the filter is such that the cleaners are able to effectively retain even plant pollen. So the device is the best suited for people with allergies. The second plus is simple operation. It is enough to clean the container with the filter element once or twice a year.

How to choose an air purifier - photocatalysts

Interesting devices capable of retaining suspended particles and neutralizing chemical pollution. The location of the filter elements allows you to trap solid particles, spores, dust mites and animal hair. The main part is an ultraviolet lamp and a special catalyst. Photocatalytic cleaners can be equipped with plasma or carbon filters.

The main "chip" is a chamber with a catalyst. Here, complex compounds decompose into safe components: water, carbon dioxide and oxygen. This avoids the formation of sediment, that is, this element will not require frequent replacement. Photocatalysts easily cope with exhaust gases, phenol, formaldehyde, soot, tobacco smoke, household chemicals and substances of natural origin.

Which air purifier to choose for an apartment - ozonizers

The operation of such devices is based on the strong oxidizing abilities of ozone. A small amount of gas can decompose almost any compound, both natural and artificial. Ozone is created directly at the time of operation of the purifier using a strong electrical discharge. Everyone knows the fresh smell after a thunderstorm. It is this process that takes place in the ozonizer.

There are more than enough positive moments - the destruction of microorganisms, spores and viruses, the decomposition of complex compounds. In addition, the device is able to disinfect furniture, clothes, food, eliminates unpleasant odors. But there is also a minus - in large quantities, ozone is harmful to the body. We advise you to use the ozonator strictly according to the instructions or turn it on when none of the residents are at home.

Cleaning the air from dust in the apartment - carbon filters

This technology is widely used not only for air purification. Think activated charcoal tablets or water filters. Carbon filler refers to fine filters and cannot work independently. As additional elements, HEPA filters or photocatalysts are used. No other way. The coal component is not able to stop biological pollution.

When choosing a device, we advise you to pay attention to the composition and structure of the filter plate. The best option would be a corrugated design with medium-sized granules. This will reduce airflow resistance and improve filtration quality. Most models do not require constant monitoring. Carbon elements need to be changed every 6-8 months. Another point - do not use such cleaners in bathrooms or bathrooms.

Water air purifier

Not so long ago, the terms "hydrofiltration" and "air washing" came into use. The principle of operation has been known for a long time, but the embodiment in household appliances happened relatively recently. Such purifiers mix air with water until a homogeneous mixture is formed. As a result, impurities settle, and the separated air comes out. Often, "air washers" are equipped with an ultraviolet lamp and a photocatalyst.

FACT. According to WHO, every eighth person who died during the year suffered from air pollution. According to the results of 2015, this is approximately 7.5 million. Studies have revealed a direct relationship between the purity of the air and diseases of the heart, blood vessels, respiratory tract and cancer.

An integrated approach allows you to effectively remove solid particles, neutralize chemicals and neutralize biological activity. Such cleaners are considered the most productive. The cleaning effect is about 95 percent. Add air humidification - you get the perfect protection for the home atmosphere.

Purification and humidification of air in the apartment

Humidifiers purify the air to a lesser extent. The main function of the device is to create an atmosphere with a given humidity. This is achieved by injection of purified steam. Devices are divided into three classes: mechanical, ultrasonic and steam. Most models, in addition to humidification and partial cleaning, are able to aromatize the air. We advise you to choose humidifiers that use ultrasound.

Mechanical devices are very noisy. Steam generators, working by heating water, "eat" not weak electricity. And the steam is hot 🙂 unlike other types of humidifiers. In terms of maintenance, "ultrasound" is also preferable. The system does not form scale, like steam generators. No need to change cartridges, as in mechanical humidifiers. It is believed that the latter serve for a long time. But it all depends on the composition of the air.

air purifier rating

It is difficult to compare cleaning systems operating on different principles. Although recently, manufacturers have been trying to produce universal cleaners that combine the advantages of different cleaning methods. By the way, there is an indicator of the efficiency of such devices - GOST R EN 1822-1-2010.

If you look at the sales of cleaning equipment, the leadership of several brands is noticeable: Boneco, AOS, Ballu and Venta. The average price for the products of these manufacturers is approximately 15-17 thousand rubles. Not weak, but for such a number of "pieces of paper" we buy a universal air purifier with a bunch of extras and a minimum of noise.

Models from Sharp, Aic and Daikin are cheaper due to the emphasis on the main function. The minimum number of “left” options, moisturizing is also secondary. Nevertheless, the devices do an excellent job - the air in the rooms meets environmental standards. It remains to look at the "best of the best" 🙂 So, the best air purifiers.

• LG Puri Care AS60GDPV0. The device can be called a modern technological gadget without exaggeration. What are air purity sensors worth! One controls the presence of dust, the other controls odors and gases. The signals from the sensors go to the processor, which selects the operating mode. We can say that the cleaner constantly monitors the situation and selects the optimal mode. The only and not frail minus is the price. This miracle of South Korean technology will cost almost 60 thousand.

• Boneco H680. An interesting solution allows you to separate the purification and humidification of the air. As they say, who likes what 🙂 The hybrid filter will easily cope with ordinary dust, pollen, spores and unpleasant odors. Humidification consumes about a liter of water per hour. If you look at the filling, then we actually have a climate complex - the system monitors the state of the air and selects the desired mode.

• Dyson Pure Hot + Cool. A kind of combination of a fan, cleaner and heater. But it copes with air purification with a bang. By the way, the model has been certified for use by patients suffering from allergies and asthma. Heating may be needed in cold summers, but not a fact.

• Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2. A unique device of its kind. It seems to be on sale with us, but at the same time it seems not 🙂 According to official data, the company does not supply this model to the Russian market, but you can buy it without problems. The characteristics are impressive - in 10-15 minutes the air in a room of 20 squares is completely cleaned. The filter is combined, capable of removing dirt, odors, organics and chemicals. I was pleased with the price - only 8.5-9 thousand.

• IQAir HealthPro 250. The Swiss are in their repertoire - a lot of attention is paid to design. But it is a sin to complain about the work of the purifier. Triple purification is able to filter out any impurities, whether they are gases, spores, pollen or ordinary dust. According to independent tests, it has an efficiency of 99.97 percent.

What is an air purifier

We discussed the technical component, so we will not return to this issue. If you look at the problem of clean air from the point of view of an ordinary city dweller, then a cleaner, albeit an expensive one, but a necessary gadget in our apartments and houses. In areas where the situation is favorable, you can not put it. But exhaust fumes and dust are not going anywhere.

Finally, a little advice. If you feel unpleasant odors for a long time, call Rosprirodnadzor. It is this office that is responsible for the ecological situation in the country. You can contact the regional departments of nature management or the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The latter option is relevant for smoke and smell of clearly chemical origin.

Air purifiers with a photocatalysis function are considered the most modern, efficient and economical, right? The main advantage of photocatalysis is the complete decomposition of toxic pollutants present in the air into harmless water, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Unlike them, devices with carbon filters simply trap contaminants in the pores of the filter, and not all particles are able to capture them. Photocatalytic cleaners destroy particles as small as 0.001 microns. These are gaseous substances of the minimum size that are present in the air.

Let's start with the basics: photocatalytic air purifiers are very effective at dealing with harmful contaminants such as tobacco smoke, volatile chemical compounds, carbon monoxide, exhaust gases, bacteria, mold, dust mites, and even viruses. For example, viruses are so small that no mechanical filter is able to trap them and they can only be destroyed chemically, which is what photocatalysis does.

Photocatalytic devices are 500 times more effective than models with carbon filters in removing unpleasant odors and various gases, and for good reason they are considered the most advanced cleaning systems in hazardous industries where the removal of toxic gases is vital. Why are carbon filters so well known to everyone as much as 500 times weaker than photocatalysis? Coal absorbs odor molecules into micropores on its surface and eventually loses its properties, gradually clogging. In addition, not all particles of gases and odors have time to absorb coal pores, many of them are so light that they easily fly past. The secret of a photocatalytic cleaner is in the production of active oxidizing agents that enter into a chemical reaction with harmful substances, decomposing them into simpler, safer elements. In this case, the photocatalytic filter will be as effective as possible during the entire period of operation of the device, because the catalyst is not wasted. It will only be necessary to replace the UV lamp every 1-2 years.

There are no half-measures for a device with photocatalysis, if it is turned on, no pollution remains in the air - neither large nor microscopic; neither light (gases, smoke), nor heavy (bacteria, mold); It doesn't matter what chemical composition they have.

When using photocatalysts or in the office, the air is freed from microorganisms and allergens of organic origin, such as dust mites and mold, which is very important for allergy sufferers.

The oxidative processes of photocatalysis are so strong that it is destroyed 99.99% of all airborne viruses, bacteria and microorganisms.

Efficiency elimination of odors using photocatalysis - 85% already in the first 5 minutes of operation of the device, i.e. a few minutes after turning it on, you will no longer have to breathe tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and other toxic substances that destroy health.

What kind of air pollution can a photocatalytic air purifier handle:

• Any bad odors. Almost all odors are formed by organic compounds, so they easily decompose and disappear.
• Smoke, incl. tobacco, soot, soot, smog
• Harmful toxic substances: carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, phenols, exhaust gases
• Toxic organic compounds: chlorine, ethers, hydrocarbons (e.g. fumes from household cleaners)
• Allergens: dust mite feces
• Pathogenic viruses, bacteria
• Various microorganisms: mold, fungus, dust mites

According to recent studies, devices with carbon filters can not cope with light compounds - formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide - the most typical urban air pollution.

For example, formaldehyde is released from furniture, building and finishing materials. It impairs the functioning of the respiratory and nervous systems. Carbon filters cannot remove formaldehyde from the air, while photocatalytic filters effectively cope with any toxic fumes.

Non-ra- and carbon filters are also ineffective in the fight against bacteria, viruses, microorganisms that live in the air of most rooms and provoke the occurrence of diseases. If the design of the device does not provide for an ultraviolet lamp, then the microorganisms trapped by the filter often continue to multiply on it. The photocatalytic purifier, using the formed oxidizing agents, damages the outer shell of microbes, as a result they die, and the air is disinfected. Such devices destroy even the most dangerous microbes for humans: E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and mold.

How photocatalytic air purifiers work:

The photocatalytic filter consists of a catalyst and an ultraviolet lamp, it is their interaction that produces such a powerful cleaning. Ultraviolet light hits the surface of the catalyst (in most cases it is titanium dioxide), and natural substances with a high oxidizing power (ozone and higher oxides) are formed, which decompose all pollutants that have fallen on the surface of the catalyst. In addition, penetrating into the air of the room, oxidizing agents collide with pollution, interact with them, decomposing them into harmless substances (mainly water and carbon dioxide). The breakdown occurs at the molecular level. Thus, the photocatalytic purifier does not accumulate anything anywhere, you do not need to change the filter itself, the air becomes clean in a completely natural way, as it happens in nature.

Photocatalysis is an environmentally friendly and absolutely harmless cleaning method, because. it is a copy of the natural photochemical processes that constantly purify the air in nature. Photocatalysis was discovered more than 20 years ago, but photocatalytic devices began to be mass-produced not so long ago.

In the 90s, experiments were carried out to purify the air:

• In apartments and tunnels in Japan
• In the shops for the production of microelectronics in the USA
• At an explosives manufacturing facility in the United States
• In the cabins of Boeing aircraft and Japanese cars
• In hospitals for the treatment of allergies and asthma in the United States and for the destruction of pathogenic microflora.

Then the effectiveness of photocatalysis was experimentally proven.

Benefits of photocatalytic air purifiers:

• lack of replaceable filters, i.e. additional costs for the maintenance of the device. Only the UV lamp is changed 1-2 times a year. in the end, after years of use, a model with a carbon filter will cost you the same or even more.
• pollution completely decomposes, does not accumulate anywhere, pathogenic microflora does not multiply in the filters, which can become a source of infection
• photocatalysis is the most effective method of removing light contaminants that quickly rise to the ceiling - smoke, odors, toxic gases
• low energy consumption - there is no need to drive air through dense filters
• the highest efficiency of destruction of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses - 99.99%
• environmental friendliness and safety - photocatalysis copies natural processes
• effective removal of allergens - mold, dust mites and their excrement
• minimum maintenance - it is required to vacuum the filter about once every six months

But like anything, photocatalytic air purifiers have their pros and cons. what are their shortcomings? Photocatalysis does an excellent job with chemistry, odors and organic contaminants, but is completely powerless against solid particles: dust, pollen, wool, etc. which is why most devices also include a hepa filter.