Cleanliness is not only shiny tiles and plumbing fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom, a smooth floor without a single speck, shelves with books carefully cleaned of dust, a perfect rug at the front door, and spotless work tables. Do not lose attention to the condition of the air.
The use of filtering devices - air purifiers or complex cleaning and humidification devices discussed in this article - will help maintain the state of the room atmosphere at the proper level.
About the importance of air quality
Dry and dusty indoor air is dangerous to human health, since normal functioning of the body is possible only with a sufficient level of environmental humidity: 50-60%. Unfortunately, in an apartment it does not exceed 20%, especially in the summer and during the heating season.
Staying in a dry room for a long time is fraught with deterioration in health:
- greater loss of moisture through the respiratory system and skin, thickening of the blood, deterioration of the functioning of internal organs;
- decreased immunity;
- eye diseases;
- deterioration of skin condition (loss of elasticity, early wrinkles, peeling, cracks);
- headaches, migraines;
- frequent respiratory diseases;
- decreased performance.
Attention: all these problems disappear if the required air humidity is set in the room. The physiological state of the mucous membranes and skin returns to normal, their barrier functions are restored.
Dryness and air pollution can be combated in different ways: placing fountains or containers of water in the room, moistening curtains, placing wet towels on central heating radiators, using a spray bottle - but these measures will not help to fundamentally change the level of humidity and cleanliness of the air in the room. It is best to automate the process, reducing your own efforts to a minimum.
Recently, air washers have appeared on the market. They are quickly gaining popularity because they solve both problems at once: cleansing and moisturizing and consume little energy. But when the choice arose between them and traditional air purifiers, opinions were divided: some remained committed to the old technology, while others found advantages in the new one. Both devices have their pros and cons. You need to understand this before you go to the store to make a purchase.
We recommend reading: How to descale a humidifier
Operating principle of air washing
The functioning of the air washer is based on the principle of natural humidification. It acts in much the same way as rain, driving dust particles to the floor. Its main advantage is that the humidity level rises only to the optimal level. There will be no waterlogging or dampness in the room during operation of the sink.
The device is equipped with a fan that recirculates air. The moisture dispersed by the fan spreads throughout the room, and the air becomes soft. It absorbs exactly as much liquid as is necessary for the microclimate to become favorable.
Air washing
This is a household appliance for purifying and humidifying air. Based on their design features, these devices are divided into two types:
- with disk rod;
- with hydrofilter.
The principle of operation of the devices: air is drawn in, passes through particle traps and a sprayed suspension of water and returns purified and humidified to the room. Dust and other air pollutants remain in the water tank. In the first case, the catcher function is performed by rotating plates partially submerged in water. The design of the sink consists of:
- fan at the top;
- drum - a rod with working plates attached to it;
- containers with water.
In devices with a hydrofilter, instead of a drum, a special cone is used, in which a humid environment is created. The air flow forced from the room passes through it, foreign impurities are similarly saturated with water and accumulate in the tank. This type of sink is not very popular in household use due to the fact that drops of water are sometimes thrown out along with the air flow.
About air washers
The operating principle of space purifiers with additional humidification is based on the fact that air flows penetrate not only through simple filters, but also through special wet discs. This kind of filtration ensures that all possible dust particles and microbes, including allergens, are washed out from the atmosphere. And the air purified in this way is enriched with moisture. Additionally, such devices are equipped with ionization systems, which increases the cleaning performance of the space by up to 90%.
It is important to remember that it is best to use non-tap water for a humidifier, so that tap water does not require descaling the air. Thanks to their wet discs, this category of cleaners is called “washing”.
But in order to purchase an air washer, you need to decide whether its performance will be appropriate in the apartment. An air washer or air purifier has certain positive qualities, namely:
- The design of the device is reliable, practical and hygienic;
- There is no problem of “how to clean the filter”, since this type of device has replaceable components;
- Low noise level;
However, for all its advantages, a wet cleaner also has negative sides, namely:
- There is no possibility for maximum air humidification, since there is a limit of up to 60%;
- Constant monitoring of the presence of water in the tank is required;
- Air purification from germs, dust, bacteria, fungi does not occur at the maximum limit, but only by 80%.
Such a device can be installed in any room. They are especially useful to use in living rooms or bedrooms. But humidification in offices and store premises is also suitable. This device is a very good helper for preserving female beauty, as it prevents the skin of the face and hands from drying out beforehand. Also, air washes help maintain healthy breathing and keep allergens and bacteria out of the lungs.
Air purifiers
A typical air purifier is a structure consisting of a fan and a set of filters, enclosed in a housing. The operating principle of this device is a standard mechanism for the deposition of polluting particles on special filters. The degree of air purification can reach 99.9%
Types of air purifiers differ in filters:
- Pre-filters are designed to remove large dust particles. They can serve as a protective barrier for more expensive fine filtration elements to protect them from rapid wear;
- HEPA filters are the best choice for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Filters form a continuous barrier in the path of air flow and retain tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, styrene, and hydrogen sulfide. They need to be cleaned every three weeks and replaced every six months to a year, depending on the intensity of use;
- Plasma filters attract particles that have received a positive charge when passing through the chamber, which puts them on par with HEPA filters. They are very effective in purifying the air from soot and are easy to clean, which reduces the cost of operating the device, but they may not be able to cope with large amounts of dust. In addition, without the air ionization function, an air purifier with a HEPA filter does not provide any health benefits;
- Carbon filters are most effective at absorbing gas molecules, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds with high molecular weight. It is preferable to use them in a room where there are sources of odors. But they are vulnerable to humid environments;
- ionizing filters operate remotely, neutralizing dust and harmful particles directly in the air, but the entire suspension is deposited on the floor and furniture. Devices with such filters are inexpensive, but are suitable only for those who are willing to wipe and vacuum the room several times a day;
- Photocatalytic devices are good for air disinfection and the destruction of odors, toxins and microorganisms. Preferred for installation in hospitals, nurseries and institutions for children, but only in combination with devices that capture dust and humidify the air;
- Ozonating devices, due to their oxidizing properties, easily cope with parasites, microbes and toxic compounds, but they can only be used when there are no people or animals in the room.
We recommend that you read: Choosing an air cleaner for an apartment or house
Air washers - double action devices
This is a multifunctional device that can make the air in the room cleaner, eliminating dust and allergens (pollen, animal hair and others). At the same time, it is additionally moistened.
Operating principle
There are 2 types of sinks based on their operating principle:
- with hydrofilter;
- with disk rod.
The principle of operation of a disk washer is to pass an air flow through rotating plates immersed in water. In this case, the contaminants become wet and fall into the water tank. After which the treated air is returned to the room through openings in the unit. The air mass is forced into the device using a fan.
Operating principle of a disc air washer
In models with a hydraulic filter, instead of a drum, a cone is installed, which acts as a circulation blower. During its operation, an air-dispersive environment is created. Passing through it, the air drawn into the device from the room is cleaned and humidified.
Operating principle of air washing with a hydrofilter
Advantages and disadvantages
Air washing has a number of advantages:
- helps clean the air from dust, hair, wool and other contaminants larger than 2.5 microns;
- creates comfortable indoor conditions;
- safe to use;
- consumes a small amount of electricity;
- some models may have an ionizer, a hygrostat, a fragrance, and also have a number of useful options, for example, sensors that determine the water level, several operating modes, and a reminder function to clean the device;
- Thanks to its simple design, it is very easy to care for: you only need to wash it periodically.
Important! When using an air washer, the air does not become over-humidified. Without any sensors or automatic regulators, humidity is maintained at the optimal level naturally (due to evaporation). At the same time, the moisture level in the room increases gradually.
The safety of sinks is due to the fact that they do not have any heating elements inside or on the surface, so no hot steam is generated. This factor is important for the child so that he does not accidentally get burned.
Among the disadvantages of cleansers-humidifiers are:
- big sizes;
- the need to regularly wash the working parts and replace the water inside the sink;
- the washing machine turns out to be unable to catch particles of contaminants whose size does not exceed 2.5 microns;
- high cost.
When purchasing a sink, you should take into account that inclusions such as tobacco smoke, exhaust gases and the like are discharged back into the room.
A warm and humid environment is maintained inside the device, favorable for the development of pathogenic microorganisms. If the sink is not washed on time, bacteria and fungi can subsequently enter the room.
Additional nuances
Having considered this information, it will be easier to figure out what is preferable for specific room conditions: an air purifier or an air washer. All you have to do is answer yourself a few questions:
- for what area is the device required;
- what pollutants need to be removed from the air first;
- Will the device be portable or is it better to purchase several for different rooms;
- where the air purifier will be installed (most models require wall or ceiling mounting to prevent large particles from clogging the filters);
- device power consumption;
- Is it important to have additional functions in the device (timer, fragrance, remote control, speed control, air pollution detector and working filters, etc.)
Comparison
Pros and cons of air washing
The device solves the problem of purifying and humidifying the air, saturating it with moisture to the required 60% and removing particles from 10 microns from the room: fungal spores, dust, animal hair, allergens, plant pollen, epidermal particles. It is silent and consumes little energy, and air purification can reach up to 95% in some models. No consumables are required, maintenance of the device is minimal.
Among the disadvantages, there is a danger of the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and mold, which not only settle on moving surfaces, but are also carried throughout the room by flows of outgoing air.
Pros and cons of air purifiers
Among these devices there is a greater variety of functions and options. With their help, you can not only clean, but also disinfect the air, remove unpleasant odors and harmful compounds.
However, in most cases, servicing the device is troublesome and costly; you need to clean the filters or buy new ones, which are sometimes difficult to find on sale. Air purifiers do not have a humidification function.
