Air quality in India has depreciating over the last few years. Especially the outbreak
of the Covid-19 has made this situation worsen. The recent report published states
that the Corona Virus is airborne. As we all know most of us are taking precautions
and are staying indoor.
Many of us are still not aware that the air indoor can be up
to 5 times harmful than outdoor air. Proper ventilation is one of the most important
factors which improves the quality of life. The ventilation technique we use today
might not be the safest way to go as it may trap outdoor pollutants leading to
indoor air pollution, Air purifier can improve the air quality and reduce the indoor
pollution to a great extent.
Table of Contents
Why you should have an Air Purifier at homes and office during COVID-19?
Wearing a mask all the time is really difficult. Most of us will definitely remove the
mask to catch a fresh breath when no one is around. When we have a patient in-home quarantine, the other members usually never wear masks unless they need
to go close to the patient. The most important thing we often forget is that the
The virus is airborne and can cause infection to the person breathing the same air.
Corona virus is generally a new virus and as a result, only a few reliable sources are
available about the size and mode of infection of the Virus. Studies suggest that it
can be transmitted through direct, indirect, or close contact with infected people
through infected secretions such as saliva and respiratory secretions or their
respiratory droplets, which are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes,
talks, or sings. A recent study also shows that this can be airborne. This is where the
Air Purifier becomes useful.
How we choose the best Purifier?
There are different types of Air Purifiers available in the market that claim to be
effective against Covid-19. The 3 types of purifier that have been marketed as a possible method for compacting Covid-19 are:
- HEPA Filter Air Purifiers
They basically protect the way a mask protects us from this virus, but this cannot be used as a substitute for the mask we use. Corona virus transmitted through respiratory droplets can be stopped to a great extent with the help of this filter. - Ionizer Air Purifiers
As we mentioned earlier there are only few reliable studies which helps us in understanding the true nature of the virus. Some studies do show that these types of purifiers can help in controlling the spread of the Corona virus. - UV Light Air Purifiers
UV lights have known and proved to be used as a method to kill the active corona virus. They are most effective in killing germs and can be used to disinfect surfaces, air and liquids. Even though they have a few downsides, this is the most effective way to kill the corona virus in an air purifier.
Choosing a purifier to be used in our daily life is actually a little bit more complicated than I think. Since most of the characteristics of the virus are still unknown, the manufacturers often use new marketing techniques to sell their products. Considering the value for money and the method used in these purifiers we would love to suggest a few models of purifiers.
1) Dyson Pure Humdify + Cool Air Purifier & Humidifier PH01
This is one of the best-in-class purifiers which has the capability to prevent the
spread of corona virus through air. They can:
- senses and reports air quality levels.
- Filter capture 99.95% of harmful ultra-fine pollutants and allergens as small as PM 0.1 (HEPA + Activated Carbon Filters).
- hygienically removes 99.9% of bacteria in the water (UV Technology)
- mixes and circulates purified, humidified air throughout the room.
They also have a ton of new features along with WiFi, Night Mode, Sleep timer, etc. These purifiers cost around 55000 ₹
They are a bit pricey, but considering the features they offer this Air purifier is a must buy for people who can afford to pay the price.
Value for Money: 4.5 / 5
2) Philips High Efficiency Air Purifier AC2887
This purifier offers a more economical approach to the compact against the Corona virus. Having an economically viable solution often comes with a setback on the features they offer. They are not effective as the purifier mention above but they perform notably well with the purifiers having a HEPA filter Features of these products are:
- Intelligently purify, automatically senses air quality, and removes 99.97% of airborne pollutants
- monitors and displays real-time numerical PM 2.5 levels with professional-grade sensing technology
- Removes 99.90% bacteria and viruses, tested to remove H1N1 virus
- They also include 2 Year international warranty
The price of these purifiers is around 17999 ₹
The cost of the product is quite reasonable, but it also comes with the decrease in safety measures.
Value for Money: 4 / 5
3) Blueair Blue 211
They are basically normal 360-degree air intake air purifiers from Hicare. They claim to be effective against pollens and allergens. They are suitable for a medium-sized room. The safety specification of these purifiers is not explained properly, but they do have a HEPA filter which can help in reducing the spread of the corona Virus
Features:
- One button activation
- 360-degree Air Intake
- Easy To maintain
These purifiers are priced around 23450 ₹, and it feels like a lot considering the features this product has to offer
Value for Money: 3 / 5
4) SHARP FP-J80
This Air purifiers help in improving the air quality with the help of Activated Carbon Filters, HEPA Filters, etc. They can trap fine particles including bacteria, viruses, etc. There are lots of features built into the system which ensure a healthy environment around the purifier
Features:
- Real-time digital indoor PM2.5 level display
- Washable Fine-Meshed PM10 filter
- Plasma cluster Technology with true HEPA and Active Carbon filters emits charged ions into the air
- Modes: Haze, Auto, Pollen, Max, Med, Low, Sleep
This purifier cost around 30000 ₹, and we feel like its quite reasonable for a purifier with features like these
Value for Money: 3.5 / 5
5) MI AIR PURIFIER 3
This purifier is the best option to go if you are running on a tight budget, we wouldn’t recommend this product if you can afford more. There are a ton of feature built into this purifier.
Features:
- True HEPA Filter with a filtration efficiency of 99.97% for particle size up to 0.3 microns
- OLED touch Display (Shows real-time PM2.5 concentration, Temperature and humidity, Wi-Fi connection, and Working mode)
- Smart app control, Rated Frequency: 50/60 Hz
- Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- 360 Degree Air intake with 3 Layer Filtration
There also other features like high CADR value, coverage, warranty, etc. The purifier which cost around 10000 ₹ is definitely a better deal for someone who is running low on budget.
Value for Money: 4.5 / 5
Conclusion
Buying an Air purifier to fight against the corona Virus is similar to buying a mask, this cannot guarantee safety from this deadly virus. This method surely helps in reducing the spread of the virus but it will not be a substitute for the mask which we are using now.
Having an Air purifier is still helpful in fighting against the spread of this disease. Please do remember that you have to buy an Air purifier which has advanced level of safety features.
FAQs
The short answer is yes, most air purifiers on the market are designed to remove large dust particles from the air. Many features mechanical filtration, which is a method of capturing pollutants on filters. Either the particles are meant to stick to the filter or be trapped within the filter fibers.
Most air purifiers are designed to clean single rooms, so naturally, it’s best to place an air purifier in the room you spend the majority of your time in. For most people, this place is the bedroom. However, you may also spend a bulk of your hours in a home office or a living area with your family
The EPA suggests monitoring your health effects after a change in your surroundings. For example, if you have new health problems after moving, remodeling, refurnishing, or performing pesticide application, this could be an indicator of an indoor air quality problem. Consult your family physician.
This acronym represents an important measurement for air purifiers. CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate. This measurement was developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. It indicates the volume of filtered air delivered by an air purifier. It is given in three measurements – one for pollen, one for tobacco smoke, and one for dust. The higher the CADR number, the faster the unit filters the air.
The coronavirus is at the lower end of a HEPA filter’s range, so it might not be 100% effective on a single pass. But if a HEPA system is run over a period of time, it can take out a big chunk of viruses — somewhere in the high ninetieth percentile (99.94 to 99.97%). And long enough exposure to the UV light in an air purifying device can disable some viruses, including COVID-19.