Cigarette smoke is harmful not only to smokers, but also to people who are near them or in a smoky room. It contains toxins, harmful resins that have a negative impact on health. Smoke enters the room even during ventilation, when they smoke on the adjacent balcony or loggia. An air purifier for tobacco smoke can neutralize most of the harmful substances and significantly reduce the likelihood of consequences.
Varieties of models of air purifiers for tobacco smoke
Air purifiers are classified according to the point of use into household and industrial. The main difference between them is power, performance. The first ones are designed to be installed to remove smoke, tobacco smell, purification and ionization of air in apartments. Most of the models have an attractive stylish design and will fit into modern interiors. Individual devices work as air washers and help not only remove unpleasant odors, but also increase the level of humidity.
Industrial smoke hoods are installed in smoking rooms. They prevent the formation of persistent odor, the absorption of tobacco smoke into furniture and furnishings. Instantly remove odors from the room.
Cleaning types
Air purifiers remove the smell of tobacco smoke in two ways: using a HEPA filter and electrostatic cleaning. The first option allows you to eliminate up to 95% of tobacco smoke and other unpleasant odors that appear, for example, in the toilet. Air passes through such a barrier several times, due to which fine filtration is performed.
Despite the fact that the HEPA barrier effectively cleans the air from tobacco smoke, it has an important disadvantage. This type of filter clogs up quickly and cannot be cleaned. If the device is used constantly, the filter must be changed after 2-3 months. With less intensive use - after 5-6 months. The procedure is simple, but the filter is expensive.
The electrostatic cleaning method is based on the action of charged particles. Electrostatic cleaning is carried out only by cleaners with ionisation function. Air passes through the positively charged electrodes and particles of tobacco smoke accumulate on the surface of the filter. This method is more productive and consumables last longer.
Several types of filters can be combined in one air purifier.
Composition of filters for air purification from tobacco smoke
The effectiveness of the air cleaner can vary. It depends on the materials used to make the filters and the filtration technology. Detailed information on the principles of operation of various types of filters will help you choose an air purifier for tobacco smoke for an apartment.
The simplest type of filter is mesh membrane... It acts as a pre-filter and traps large particles, protecting the main filtration system from premature contamination. Such mechanical absorbers cannot effectively remove tobacco smoke from the air if used separately. A fabric, mesh or foam rubber is used as a mechanical filter.
Electrostatic filter has high productivity and copes with tobacco smoke, traps fine dust, removes phenolic resins, viruses, pesticides from the air, and disinfects the air.During the operation of the device, the air, passing through a special chamber equipped with positively charged electrodes, is purified. Harmful substances become positively charged and are attracted by negatively charged plates. The advantages of electrostatic devices include: low power consumption - no more than 50 W, quiet operation and a beneficial effect on health and performance. The electrostatic filter collects particles smaller than 1 micron, but no more than 90% of the dust. Models with air ozone function are preferable. The plates of the appliance should be cleaned once a week with water and soap. Up to 250 cleaning cycles of the device are allowed.
Carbon filters used in household air purifiers. They are excellent at filtering out tobacco smoke and unpleasant odors, but do not get rid of carbon monoxide. If the charcoal filter performs best at first, then as dirt accumulates in the pores of the filter, they begin to be released into the air. Thus, the activated carbon is self-cleaning. In view of this property, it is recommended to carefully monitor the degree of contamination of the carbon filters. The need for replacement is indicated by the presence of an unpleasant odor in the air, despite the operation of the purifier.
HEPA filter refers to mechanical. It absorbs the smallest impurities, including microparticles of tobacco smoke. The material from which the filter is made resembles cloth or cardboard and is treated with a special chemical composition that prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. HEPA absorbers differ from each other in efficiency class. HEPA filters of class H11 are installed in household appliances. They allow less than 5% of pollutants to pass through and effectively remove bacteria and spores from the air. Devices with this type of filtration are recommended for use where small children with asthma and allergies live.
Photocatalytic filter works by UV rays emitted by an ultraviolet lamp and a catalyst. Unlike other filters, this one does not retain particles of pollution and smoke, but breaks down toxin molecules to harmless substances: oxygen, water, carbon dioxide. This is the most efficient absorber of all. It disinfects the indoor air, completely killing bacteria and spores. The service life of the photocatalytic filter is significant, it does not require special maintenance, but its price is also high.
Ultrasonic cleaner air cleans the air masses in the room from the tobacco odor and humidifies the air. Its design provides a hygrometer that allows you to control the level of humidity in the room. Air is driven through a filter, under the influence of a high-frequency generator, the water is broken into molecules and sprayed in the form of a mist. This is also not the cheapest version of the device, but ultrasonic devices are inferior to photocatalytic ones in the quality of cleaning. In addition, you must constantly monitor the presence of water in the device.
Air washers work on the principle of aquafiltration. The air passes through the water filter. As a result, dust and smoke particles become heavy and filtered out by dissolving in the water. No consumables needed. The quality of air purification from tobacco smoke is not very high, but sinks humidify the air. There are models with pre-ionization - more efficient. Common disadvantages are high cost and noise during operation due to the presence of mechanical elements.
The device, which will provide an acceptable quality of air purification from tobacco smoke, contains filters of different types in its design.
Principle of operation
The general principle of filtration with a purifier is as simple as possible: air is sucked into the device by a fan.Then a multi-stage cleaning is carried out due to the passage of air masses through the filtration compartment. The purified air flows back into the room. Functional devices are additionally equipped with an ionizer and a humidifier.
The filtration process is divided into several stages:
- Pre-cleaning. The largest particles are filtered out.
- Absorption. Mechanical potash and carbon filters are used, which are able to neutralize tobacco smoke.
- Fine filtration. Absorbers are used that purify the air as much as possible, including the removal of bacteria and viruses.
A properly selected purifier in one hour pumps over the entire volume of air in the room 2 or 3 times in one hour.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tobacco smoke air purifiers remove harmful substances rather than masking unpleasant odors with flavors. Their advantages:
- high-quality cleaning even with the constant presence of pollution sources;
- appliances with additional functions refresh and moisturize the home atmosphere;
- low power consumption;
- noiselessness of work.
Disadvantages:
- high cost of effective and powerful cleaners;
- the need to replace filters;
When making a choice in favor of a photocatalytic cleaner, you should be aware that excessive disinfection weakens the immune system.
Popular manufacturers and top models
Among the well-known brands of manufacturers of air purifiers for cigarette smoke for the home stand out: Panasonic, Phillips, Aerotek, Timberk, Tefal, Xiaomi. The cost of high-quality cleaners starts at 10,000 rubles. The most popular models of the above brands:
- Philips ac4004 / 02. This model has a four-stage filtration. Air masses are cleared not only of tobacco smoke, but also of dust, bacteria, fungal spores, odors. The peculiarity is the blocking of self-cleaning, therefore, when the filter becomes dirty, the device does not throw toxins back.
- PANASONIC F-VXD50R-N. In addition to destroying bacteria, fungi and unpleasant odors, it saturates the air with moisture and negatively charged particles. Cleaning is carried out using a four-stage filter. The quality is acceptable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. There is practically no noise.
- Aerotek AVP-300. An expensive device, reliable and easy to operate. A six-stage cleaning is carried out, as a result of which allergens, spores, bacteria, viruses, smoke particles, toxins are removed. In turbo mode, filtration is performed as quickly as possible. The device is quiet and mobile.
- Timberk TAP FL800 MF. A device with six levels of cleaning, captures particles down to 0.3 microns. Supplemented with aromatizer, control sensor, timer, filter clogging indicator. A pleasant difference is the stylish design and relatively low price.
- Tefal PU 4025. It belongs to air washers and has a capacity of up to 170 m3 / h. Advantages: economy (consumes 30 W), several filtering modes, timer, delayed start, backlight.
- Xiaomi Mi AIR Purifier 2. A device with high efficiency and productivity - up to 400 m3 / h, but at the same time small in size. There is a filter clogging indicator, a convenient control panel. The portable device is practically silent and looks stylish.
Choosing a mini hood for smokers, you need to pay attention to the class of the device, the principle of operation. Not all appliances are capable of effectively neutralizing tobacco smoke and other unpleasant odors. Preference should be given to purifiers with a combined multi-stage filtration system.
