How an apartment air purifier works

Polluted air can be found not only on the street, but also in the house. It contains dust, pathogenic microorganisms, microspores of mold and fungus, microscopic fibers of textiles. All these components are capable of negatively affecting human health. Air purification is carried out naturally or with the help of technical devices and devices.

Methods and methods of air purification

Natural methods and technical devices are used to eliminate harmful impurities. For maximum effect, it is better to use them in combination.

Open windows

You can clean the air by airing in the morning and evening. It will not stagnate and provoke the reproduction of pathogenic microflora. However, industrial pollution and gas fumes get into the house from the street. In this case, it is better to install special multi-stage filters on the windows. The house must also have forced or natural ventilation.

Air humidifiers

In winter, the air in the room becomes dry, as the heating system works. In this case, microscopic light particles remain in space for a very long time. If it gets wet, the dust gradually settles and can be quickly collected. For this, special devices are used. If necessary, a decorative fountain or an aquarium is installed in the room. It is recommended to carry out wet cleaning periodically.

Air purifier

A cleaner is a device that removes harmful impurities and dust from the surrounding space. It additionally carries out disinfection and ionization. Multi-stage home systems are expensive but provide maximum benefits.

High quality vacuum cleaner

Cheap models are designed only to eliminate visible debris, but they do not purify the air. Under the influence of a hot jet, the smallest particles are electrified and scattered throughout the room, and the installed filters are not able to stop them.

A vacuum cleaner with a water filter or HEPA system is considered effective. It removes large debris and purifies the air while moisturizing it.

Variety of air purifiers and their technical characteristics

In domestic conditions, devices that are different in principle of action and effectiveness are used. For complex air purification, products with replaceable filters, photocatalytic and electrostatic devices are used.

Electrolytic cleaners

Plasma cleaning is in progress. The device is a metal plate that is connected to a household power supply. It creates a static field that attracts dust particles. Such a device is well suited for small rooms where there is a low level of air pollution.

The device does not need a lot of money or time. The simplicity of the design ensures ease of maintenance: the plate only needs to be washed.If strict requirements are imposed on the atmosphere in the house (people with allergies, bronchial asthma live), such a product will not work.

Replacement filter cleaners

Well-purified air is pleasant to breathe, therefore fabric or carbon filters are often installed in apartments. The first type is a ventilated device. It drives air through the material, on which dust particles settle. Their minimum size is 0.3 microns.

The charcoal filter is a natural filter that can gently remove impurities from the air. It requires periodic replacement, as over time it itself begins to pollute the environment.

Photocatalytic cleaners

The catalyst-based air cleaner removes not only dust, but also fungal spores and pathogenic microorganisms. For this, the device has an ultraviolet filter. Such a device is suitable for people suffering from allergies. Additionally, the device is equipped with an ionizer.

The principle of operation of such a device is simple: first, the air goes through a rough cleaning, then it is processed with ultraviolet rays, and passes through a photocatalyst. Here it is cleared of germs, dust and unpleasant odors.

The device is characterized by low power consumption.

You should not install a photocatalytic purifier in children's rooms, as it is able to remove from the air and nutrients necessary for the development of the immune system.

Air wash

Air masses, getting into such an air cleaner, pass through a container with water and special blades. Dust settles on discs, which are easy to clean. Additional air humidification is considered the advantage of the device.

Selection rules

Criteria for choosing the right device:

• Performance and scope. These parameters are related. The larger the room, the more powerful the device should be. In this case, it is taken into account that the optimal level of productivity should exceed the volume of the room by 2.5-3 times: in an hour, it must process all the air three times.
• Purpose and additional functions. If, in addition to cleaning, air disinfection is required, it is better to give preference to devices with a built-in ionizer or an ultraviolet lamp.
• Purification degree. The quality of the device depends on this indicator. It must be tall.
• Noise level. The presented parameter is important if the device will be turned on at night or installed in a relaxation room.
• Construction type. Air purifiers can be floor-standing, wall-mounted and table-top. When choosing, the overall design of the room is taken into account.
• Maintenance cost and care. The device needs to be cleaned and filters changed periodically. This includes the cost of purchasing consumables.

Some devices have an indicator that notifies you of the need to replace the filter or water. Additionally, air cleaners can be equipped with a control panel, a timer, and an electronic display on which data are displayed.

Making an air purifier with your own hands

Before making a highly effective cleaner with your own hands, you need to determine for what purpose it will be used. A plastic container and a computer cooler can be used to craft a device for dry rooms.

Work order:

1. 2 holes are made in the container lid.
2. The cooler is fixed on the lid with self-tapping screws. It connects to a 5V or 12V power supply. The second option is used if a more productive model is required.
3. Several rows of fishing line are stretched inside the body, on which dense fabric or microfiber is attached.It is necessary to fix the material so that it does not interfere with the outlet of purified air.

The container can be filled with water, and the thickness of the liquid layer should not be large.

If there is high humidity in the room, the construction device may be the same, but instead of water, materials that can absorb moisture are used.

For this purpose, calcined table salt or silica gel is suitable. When making a structure, it must be borne in mind that the fan speed should not be high. Special substances for absorbing moisture can change color, so you can immediately see when you need to fill a new layer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cleaning the air in the apartment allows you to get a good indoor atmosphere. Depending on the type, the device has its own advantages and disadvantages:

• Classic options are designed for coarse air purification. Their advantage is simplicity of construction and maintenance, extended service life. The disadvantages include the inability to retain small particles, pathogenic microorganisms. The device does not eliminate unpleasant odors.
• The advantage of the HEPA filter is the ability to remove particles up to 0.3 microns from the air. It also traps dust, pollen, pathogens, allergens. The disadvantage of the device is that it needs to be changed every 1-3 months.
• Electrostatic devices are easy to clean and remove electrically charged particles from the air. The disadvantage is the ability of some models to generate ozone, which is not always needed in residential environments.
• Activated carbon filters are natural cleaners that remove dust and unpleasant odors. However, if the filler is not changed in a timely manner, it can become a source of spread of harmful microorganisms.
• Photocatalytic cleaner removes tough dirt, formaldehyde. Easy to clean. However, it breaks down large dust particles into smaller ones and returns them back to the room.

Devices with ionization or ultraviolet disinfection of air are used with caution.

Rating of the best household air purifiers

To choose the right air purifier, you should consider the options that the modern market offers. The user can purchase such devices:

• Daikin MC707VM. The device is equipped with a special technology that allows you to simultaneously work as a purifier and a humidifier. The device ionizes the air, disinfects it. An additional property is air deodorization. The unit is installed on the floor or on the wall. It is equipped with several types of filters: electrostatic, photocatalytic and others. When an unpleasant odor appears in the room, the device turns on automatically. However, the product is expensive and expensive to maintain.
• LG AS95GDPV0. It is used in everyday life or in the office. The design of the product contains a carbon and HEPA filter, an ultraviolet lamp. The stream of cleaned air is scattered over 7.5 m. The device is equipped with indicators of the degree of contamination of the internal space. A mobile application has been created for management. The device has high performance, eliminates odors, formaldehydes, allergens. Works silently. The disadvantage is the high price and weight.
• Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2S. The purifier is characterized by a laconic design, high-quality assembly, and automatic control functions via a mobile application. The device is relatively inexpensive, has 2 operating modes (normal and night), processes up to 37 sq.m. area. The device can be integrated with the Smart Home system. The disadvantage is the need to order accessories, the need for an adapter for the power plug.

Sometimes the ventilation system is not enough for high-quality indoor air purification.In this case, you need to choose a special device that performs this function. Modern devices have a lot of options to make the atmosphere in the house cozy and the air useful.