Owning an air purifier is a great way to clean up the atmosphere in your home. By neutralising airborne pollutants, you can protect the health of your family, from newborns to adults, and improve your overall indoor comfort.
However, it is not easy to make the right choice among all the models of air purifiers, because not all of them are necessarily adapted to the pollution you wish to eliminate. Here are our tips to help you make the right choice.
Contents
Comparison table and opinion
Owning an air purifier is an effective way to protect your health and the health of your family. It reduces the risk of allergies and asthma and prevents carcinogens from entering deep into your lungs. But do you know what makes each device different?
Dyson Purifier Cool (TP07)
Connected to the phone and Alexa compatible
Covered area 80 m².
350° oscillation
Quiet: 50 dB
2 in 1 filter: Hepa and activated carbon
Rowenta Intense Pure Air Connect
Connected to the phone and Alexa compatible
Covered area 115 m².
Powerful and efficient
Quiet: between 28 and 52 dB
Hepa, activated carbon, and NanoCaptur filter
Samsung AX60R5080WD
Connected to the phone and Alexa compatible
Covered area 60 m².
Powerful and efficient
Quiet: between 21 dB and 50 dB
2 in 1 filter: Hepa and activated carbon
Electrolux Pure A9 1-404GY
Connected to the phone
Covered area between 92 and 129 m².
Quiet: between 17 dB and 49 dB
A 360° filtration system
Powerful and efficient
5 filters to choose from
Levoit Core 300
No mobile application
An affordable price
Covered area 20 m².
Design and compact
360° suction
Quiet: between 25 and 50 dB
2 filters: Hepa and activated carbon
Xiaomi Mi 3H
Connected to the phone
Covered area 45 m².
Pollution, temperature and humidity sensors
Quiet: between 40 dB and 65 dB
2 in 1 filter: Hepa and activated carbon
Medify MA-25
No mobile application
Covered area 45 m².
Design and compact
Powerful and efficient
Quiet: between 35 and 52 dB
2x 2-in-1 filter: Hepa and activated carbon
Philips AC2887/10
No mobile application
Covered area 79 m².
3 air filtration modes
Powerful and efficient
Quiet: between 35 and 62 dB
2 in 1 filter: Hepa and activated carbon
Teqoya 200
No mobile application
No air filter required
Covered area 30 m².
Continuous air flow of 140,000 negative ions
Quiet: 0 dB
Air ioniser
How does an air purifier work?
The air purifier is a device that absorbs the atmosphere in the room and then releases it in a purified state after removing polluting particles. During its treatment, the air passes through several filters, namely :
- A pre-filter to retain the thicker particles.
- A HEPA filter to capture ultrafine particles as small as 0.3 microns.
- A active charcoal filterThis is usually the last step in the air pollution control cycle. It traps gases, odours, cigarette smoke and some volatile organic compounds.
Some purifiers also use the ultraviolet light (UV-C) or ionisation to purify the air in the room. UV light inactivates viruses and bacteria, while ionisation causes the particles to fall to the ground (the purifier emits negative ions, which attach themselves to the polluting particles and weigh them down).
To breathe clean air, we believe your air purifier should :
Capturing fine particles and airborne pollen
These particles come from heating, dust, mould spores, pollen, animal hair and other allergens. A purifier with a HEPA filter will be able to neutralise fine particles in the airThe HEPA filter is a simple but extremely effective filter, which is why most air cleaners on the market are now equipped with a high level of filtration of pollutants, whether smoke or odours. It is simple to operate, but extremely effective, which is why the HEPA filter is now found in most air purifiers on the market, as its level of filtration of pollutants is particularly high.
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A ionizer purifier is able to bring down polluted particles to the ground in your car or home. All you have to do is vacuum them up before they fly away again.
Another solution to neutralise this pollution is to use a device with an activated carbon filter. Unlike particles, the molecules in gases, odours and VOCs are not solid and can pass through HEPA filters. An activated carbon filter is able to remove the polluted air molecules on contact with it because they are adsorbed, which means that they chemically bind to the large surface of the carbon.
Inactivate viruses and bacteria
Some air purifiers can destroy germs, mould spores, bacteria and even viruses. Under the effect of germicidal ultraviolet irradiation, bacteria cells and viruses die out because they can no longer function. This is called programmed cell death or apoptosis.
Purify the air with a UV-C light filter is not instantaneous. Bacteria and viruses must be exposed to UV light for a minimum period of time before they are rendered harmless. On the other hand, ultraviolet light can generate ozone, which is a gas that is harmful to your lungs. You will need to choosing your air purifier If you choose this technology, it should not emit ozone.
The 7 main signs of polluted indoor air
We often hear about air pollution and fine particles, but household pollution is of a different nature. While some particles such as dust are visible, others are more insidious, as they are invisible to the naked eye.
Here are 7 signs that will let you know if it's time to get an air purifier.
1. Cold symptoms that don't go away
Poor air quality can cause many symptoms, often mistaken for a cold or flu. If these symptoms do not disappear after a week or two, then it may not be a virus. If you find that you are symptomatic at home, but feel better at work, poor air quality may be the cause of your symptoms.
2. Difficult or inadequate sleep
Polluted air has a direct impact on our healthThis includes the quality and duration of our sleep. According to one study, people living in a highly contaminated area are up to 60 % more likely to have poor sleep.
While all pollutants can affect your sleep, some are more disruptive than others. Equipping yourself or your baby with an air purifier will help you to remove :
- Allergens A healthy sleep cycle consists of periods of deep breathing, which can be disturbed by reactogens such as dust, dust mites, animal dander and mould spores.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Inhalation of these pollutants affects the central nervous system and can lead to respiratory problems, including sleep apnoea.
3. Worsening of allergies or asthma
If your allergies or asthma are getting worse when you are at home, it is likely that your air quality is poor. Getting an air purifier to prevent hypersensitivity can be a good idea, as there are many pollutants that can exacerbate your symptoms:
- Pollen With rising temperatures and increasing CO2 (carbon dioxide) levels, the intensity and duration of the pollination period has increased. During this period, if pollen gets into your home, your breathing may be affected.
- Household dust It is a mixture of dead skin cells, hair, bacteria, etc. If you find that your allergies or asthma episodes are worse at home, it is likely that you have high levels of dust.
- Cigarette smoke Smoking is a major cause of allergy and asthma symptoms. If you are/are living with a smoker, there is a good chance that your air quality will be compromised.
- Mould spores These are present both indoors and outdoors, mould spores are so small that they can get in anywhere. The increase in your allergy or asthma symptoms is often linked to an increase in mould spores in the air.
4. Unpleasant odours
Many of the common odours found in our homes are actually airborne chemicals. Some VOCs, such as formaldehyde, can be particularly harmful to our health and some scents can cause headaches, dizziness or nausea.
If a scent takes hold in your home or comes back often, it can affect your mood and stress levels. Persistent odours are a clear indication that it is time to take action to improve the quality of your indoor atmosphere.
5. Too much or too little humidity
Ideally, every room in your home should have a humidity level of between 30 and 50 %. Too much humidity can lead to mould infestations and poor sleep, while too little humidity can lead to dry skin and nosebleeds. It is important to maintain the right humidity level in your home.
6. Moulds
The presence of mould is a clear sign of deteriorating air quality. Homes with warm, damp rooms are particularly susceptible to micromycete infestations. Mould is associated with allergic reactions and asthma.
7. Hot and cold draughts
If the temperature is different in different rooms, it is likely that your heating system, ventilation system or insulation is poorly maintained. This may be a sign that some areas of your home contain more pollutants than others.