Which is better: an air washer or an air purifier?

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 that you read: Choosing an ultrasonic humidifier

Air purifier

Despite the identical purpose, the air purifier works differently. It is the operating principle that is excellent. It's easy to guess: an air purifier does not use water to clean the air. Otherwise it would be called an air washer.

Here filters are used, and different ones:

1. HEPA is a special filter fiber through which the fan forces air. Dust particles and even bacteria are retained on it.
2. Ultraviolet - most often used to destroy bacteria and disinfect air.
3. Electrostatic - instead of a filter, there is an electrode to which dust particles are attracted and deposited;
4. Ionizing – produces negative ions, thanks to which the air in the room is purified.

The air purifier has some advantages: it is easy to maintain, easy to maintain and operate (some even have a remote control, the filter is easy to remove and clean or replace with a new one), but the main thing is its multifunctionality. An air purifier not only purifies the air, but also scents it. It’s hard to say what to choose. In our opinion, air washing is better because... copes with dust more effectively. In addition, it slightly humidifies the air, which is also useful.

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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.

Features of air washing operation

The household appliance is designed to remove suspended particles from the air. In addition to dust, the device traps germs, removes unpleasant odors, and humidifies the air. When washing, the air is thoroughly processed inside the device and then supplied to the room.

Pros of using a sink:

1. Air flows are purified through recirculation, which eliminates a sharp increase in humidity.
2. As the power of the device increases, the noise level in the room does not increase.
3. The device does not use ultrasound and does not require water heating.
4. The internal elements have an antibacterial coating, which provides additional disinfection.
5. During operation, air flows are qualitatively cleaned not only from dust, but also from allergens, including plant pollen.
6. During operation, moisturizing and cleansing are combined. Thanks to this principle of operation, suspended particles get wet, become heavier, and sink to the bottom. The user receives perfectly clean air at no extra cost.

The wash was not without its drawbacks. The device has quite large dimensions. When working in day mode, the noise of the fans is clearly audible, and night mode does not always provide the ability to turn off the display. The cost of washing is quite high.

Air washing is perfect for those who want clean air without seriously increasing the humidity in the room

In addition to the above, a sink is a rather complex device that requires care. At the same time, it is unpretentious to water and does not require the purchase of consumables.

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: No steam coming out of the humidifier

What is the difference between an air washer and an air purifier?

The answer to this question lies in the principle of operation of the devices. Air washing involves combining the functions of two units – a humidifier and a purifier. Of course, this also affects its cost. Some manufacturers add a variety of additional functions. It should be noted that since the devices operate on electricity, the presence of additional functionality also increases their power.

A very simple cleaner with ionization function

Air washing with humidification: characteristic features

The devices are used to clean the air from dust, odors and saturate it with moisture. Air washers work on the principle of hydrofiltration. This is a process in which dry indoor air is washed with water in a dispersion reduction zone. It goes back into the room after complete cleaning and moistening.

The main features of the air washer humidifier:

• Control. There are 3 types of control: mechanical, electronic, touch. The most functional is the electronic type, equipped with a display. Touch control is modern and stylish, but not practical, as it can fail.
• Processing area. The room area possible for processing varies depending on the model. Therefore, it is better to purchase a sink for a larger area than the room in which it is intended to be used.
• Water container. The larger the tank that is filled, the larger the device itself. The most common and easy-to-use units are those with a 7-liter tank.
• Adjustment of modes. One of the additional functions that allows you to switch the device to night mode. In this mode, productivity decreases and, accordingly, energy consumption.
• Use of aromatization. Some models, as an additional feature, are equipped with a special compartment for filling it with an aromatic product.

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.