Xiaomi, Dyson, Honeywell: What’s The Best Air Purifier You Can Buy Right Now? - HuffPost India
Xiaomi, Dyson, Honeywell: What’s The Best Air Purifier You Can Buy Right Now? - HuffPost India |
| Xiaomi, Dyson, Honeywell: What’s The Best Air Purifier You Can Buy Right Now? - HuffPost India Posted: 25 Oct 2019 12:37 AM PDT  T3 Magazine via Getty Images NEW DELHI—Winter is coming, and along with it, incredibly bad air conditions. The causes range from stubble burning, effigy burning, and crackers, as well as vehicular and industrial pollution. While festivals are enjoyable, the side effects in the form of pollution can be devastating. While we wait for effective institutional responses from the government, people are resorting to solutions such as pollution masks and air purifiers. Air purifiers are saviours in the fight against rising air pollution. They measure and purify the air (bringing down PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels) by removing contaminants that include smoke, dust, pet hair, allergens and other impurities.
PM 2.5 are fine inhalable particles with diameters of 2.5 micrometres or less—about 3% the diameter of a human hair. PM 10 refers to inhalable particles with diameters that are 10 micrometres and smaller. The Air Quality Index (AQI) paints a grim picture in cities like Delhi, and just like water purifiers have become staples in many homes, we're going to have to get used to air purifiers too. But deciding which air purifier to buy can be a daunting task. One can go for a basic air purifier—like the Mi Air Purifier 2S which mainly cleans PM 2.5 particles or an expensive air purifier—like the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool—that comes with additional features like heater technology. When you're in the market for an air purifier, here are some things to remember:
Here are some of the best air purifiers on the market today: (Note: We have provided links to online stores where you can buy these items. HuffPost India does not receive any commission, nor are these products sponsored—the links are only for the convenience of our readers. All prices mentioned are from the time of writing, and are subject to change over time.)
British technology company Dyson isn't a household name, thanks to its high prices, but its products are also high quality. The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool is the latest device from the company and comes in only one shape and size and two colours—white/silver and iron/blue. At Rs 54,900, it is one of the most expensive air purifiers on the market today. As the name suggests, it fulfills three functions—air purification, heating, and cooling. The Pure Hot + Cool looks premium, no matter which part of the room it is kept in, and has a solid build quality. It has a cylindrical and bladeless design which allows for 350-degree airflow. It is the loop that throws the hot/ cool air out. As a bonus, even on the highest fan speed of 10, the air purifier makes little-to-no noise.  HuffPost India The Pure Hot + Cool is one of the easiest air purifiers to use with the intuitive remote or the Dyson Link app. Besides the basics like setting fan speed, temperature and adjusting airflow, the app allows for viewing of historical data in the form of a daily and weekly air quality report. In my few weeks of testing, I've never had a problem getting PM 2.5 to below 30, even when the fan speed isn't at its highest—unless the doors have been opened and closed a whole host of times. The historical data also shows a constant reading of good air, provided one turns it on for at least six-to-eight hours a day. Model: Dyson Pure Hot+Cool - HP04 Buy it here:Dyson
Sharp's DW-J20FM-W (yes, that's a mouthful) air purifier has a coverage area of 350 sq ft. It retails for Rs 35,999 on Amazon. There's no remote control or companion app and so only the touch controls can be used to operate the machine. This air purifier is one of the only ones on the market to come with a dehumidifier feature. A dehumidifier reduces and maintains the level of humidity in the air, making one feel comfortable at all times, especially during the monsoon season. It also works towards removing musty odour and making sure your home is germ-free. Sharp's air purifier is a compelling option simply because of the sheer number of features it has. There are modes like dehumidifying, laundry, deodorizing & auto mode.  HuffPost India The laundry feature is one of the more interesting ones across all ranges of air purifiers. During the rainy season or in the winter when there is less sunlight, Indians tend to dry their clothes indoors (dryers haven't caught on yet in this part of the world) and the room develops a musty smell. The laundry function in the Sharp air purifier deodorizes the room with high concentration Plasmacluster ions. Plasmacluster Ion technology is a Sharp original sanitising technology that "deactivates suspended airborne mould, viruses, dust mite allergens and bacteria". This air purifier also works on home inverters during the many power cuts Indian cities receive year-round. Model: Sharp DW-J20FM-W Price: Rs 35,999 Buy it here:Amazon
Honeywell has air purifiers across multiple price points. From Honeywell Air Touch A5 to Air Touch S8. One of Honeywell's latest air purifiers, the Air Touch i9, decided to ditch IoT capabilities based on customer feedback. This means that you won't be able to control this air purifier with your smartphone. There's also no remote control. The only option to control the air purifier is the touch controls located on top of the device. That apart, the Air Touch i9 is a fantastic air purifier that will make a smaller dent in your wallet. Priced at just Rs 22,990 (Currently available for Rs 17,990 on Amazon), the Air Touch i9 is one of the most consistently performing air purifiers on the market. Within an hour, the air quality in the room can be brought down to good levels. The device sports a boxed design with an anti-fall mechanism. This prevents the air purifier from falling in case you accidentally brush against it. The Air Touch i9 can clean the air in rooms as large as 415sq ft.  HuffPost India What's also new with the Air Touch i9 is the new 'smart mode' that is similar to other air purifiers' auto mode. When the smart mode is switched on, the air purifier adjusts the speed based on the room's air quality. The 'smart' kicks in when the PM 2.5 levels dip below 25 as the air purifier automatically goes into the power off stage. It continues monitoring for changes though and if the levels reach above 75, it will turn on and once again start purifying the room. These levels are fixed and can't be adjusted. Model: Honeywell Air Touch i9 (HAC30M1401G) Price: Rs 17,990 Where to buy: Amazon
At just Rs 7,999, Xiaomi's Mi Air Purifier 2S is one of the most affordable air purifiers on the market. The Mi Air Purifier 2S has an OLED screen that displays the humidity, temperature, PM 2.5 levels, and the mode that one has selected. The readings are more or less accurate but sometimes they do fluctuate on a large basis. One can suddenly see it dropping or rising by 100, which is alarming. One needs to just wait for a few minutes and the air purifier's readings will stabilise. It's a boxy and not-so-sleek design. It's not exactly an eyesore but you can say it doesn't contribute to beautifying a room. It is also quite loud on high-speed mode.  HuffPost India There's no remote control with this air purifier but there is a companion app that allows you to control the air purifier from anywhere. The Mi Air Purifier is a good value-for-money product but only worth it if you're strictly on a budget. Model: Mi Air Purifier 2S Price: ₹7,999 Buy it here:Mi Store
In case you need an air purifier for your car, or even want to walk around with one, Honeywell and Air Tamer have you covered. Indians spend a considerable amount of time driving around the city. If your commute is longer than 20 minutes, you're going to want to make sure you're breathing clean air for that duration. The Honeywell Move Pure 2 (Rs 14,999 on Amazon) will come in handy. After fifteen minutes of turning it on, the air purifier kicks in and brings the PM 2.5 levels down below 30. It's small and compact, sits on the dashboard easily and even on the highest fan speed, it isn't loud. It doesn't have any visual indicators, so you won't instantly be able to tell what fan speed it is on. It only tells you the PM 2.5 levels. You can comfortably play music and not be disturbed while you're belting away your favourite tunes. It's just a tad bit too expensive for a gadget that most people wouldn't consider an absolute necessity.  HuffPost India The Air Tamer is portable but pricey. Retailing at Rs 9,999, this air purifier has a battery life of 150 hours, a green LED indicator at the back to show it is on and a lanyard in case you want to wear it around your neck. The company claims it'll create a 3-foot radius of cleaner air around it, and that is largely true, though there is no indicator, so one can't tell for certain. On the other hand, hold it closer to the nose and one can feel that the air is somewhat cleaner. Model: Honeywell Move Pure2 Car Air Purifier (HAPC15M0025B) Price: Rs 14,999 Buy it here: Amazon Model: Air Tamer A310 Price: Rs 6,499 Buy it here: Amazon  |
| What to do to keep wildfire smoke out of your house - SFGate Posted: 24 Oct 2019 08:36 AM PDT 
You can protect yourself and your home from wildfire smoke, but it's best to seek out places with fresh air. You can protect yourself and your home from wildfire smoke, but it's best to seek out places with fresh air. Photo: Amazon/SFGATEWith winds expected to push wildfire smoke from Sonoma Country over the Bay Area by Friday morning, Bay Area residents need to prepare themselves and their homes for smoke. People commonly reach for filtration masks in such situations, but their efficacy is unproven. Additionally, masks may prove harmful for people with respiratory conditions. Thankfully, masks aren't the lone protective measure. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District and San Francisco Department of Public Health have provided advice on how to deal with wildfire smoke. Most pointedly, it's best to seek out places with fresh air and filtered air systems, such as indoor malls, libraries, community centers, civic centers and local government buildings. It's also worth considering how a power outage may affect you while wildfire smoke is in the Bay Area, too, so below you'll find advice on how to prepare for wildfire smoke, and what products you may considering buying. Face masks for wildfire smokeYou'll see people wearing N95 masks—the kind you'd wear while sanding or painting—during a wildfire. As SFGATE previously reported, it's still best to seek out places with fresh air, and in fact, an N95 mask can do more harm than good. "We reach for them because they're easy, and sometimes they make you feel a little better," Dr. Jan Gurley, director of public health emergency preparedness and response with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, told SFGATE. "But there are no substitutes for getting to where the air is clean." If you do reach for a mask, understand what they are and how they work. With an N95 mask, the 95 number means it blocks 95 percent of particulate matter. An N97 blocks 97 percent, and an N100 mask blocks 100 percent (really 99.9997). If you see a P instead of an N, like a P100 mask, that means the mask also blocks lead and asbestos. But an N100 and P100 should work equally well for soot. No matter the rating, a mask won't be effective if worn improperly. Just having facial hair can kill a mask's efficacy, as particulate matter will get past facial hair. Masks should not be reused, and more notably, no such masks are available for children. An N95 mask will not properly fit a child, and therefore be ineffective. Additionally, wearing a mask could exacerbate respiratory issues, as they make breathing more difficult. Your best bet is still to go somewhere with clean air or seek out a sealed building with a filtered HVAC system. If you insist on wearing a mask, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District suggests using only N95 or N100 masks. Surgical masks or bandanas will not help. N95 masks N100 masks How to keep wildfire smoke out of your houseAccording to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, weatherizing your home is the first step to keeping smoke out. That means: Replacing windows and doors isn't something you can do in a pinch, or perhaps at all if you live in a rental. But you can seal leaks yourself with products like window weather stripping, sealant caulk and door sweeps. Air purifiers for wildfire smokeThe Bay Area Air Quality Management District suggests buying a "non-ozone producing air purifier (HEPA) to create a cleaner air room in the home" or "a MERV 13 or greater filter for your HVAC system to be used when experiencing a heavy smoke event." Amazon carries a variety of non-ozone producing air purifiers, and some of the best-sellers cost less than $100. You'll want to run this filter in the room where you spend the most time, like your bedroom. If you live in an apartment building, this is likely your best option. MERV 13 filters are inexpensive, running less than $10 per filter, and are usually sold in multipacks. But, as Francis Zamora, a spokesperson for the Department of Emergency Management told SFGATE, you only need to use a MERV 13 filter in your HVAC system during a smoke event, and not at all times. Do air conditioners filter wildfire smoke?If you're using air conditioning amid wildfire smoke, make sure to set it to recirculate air so as to not bring in smoky air from the outside, and make sure the filter is clean. If you have a window air conditioning unit, make sure it is properly sealed and the filter is clean. What to do if you're sick from wildfire smokeWildfire smoke inhalation symptoms include: irritation to the eyes and airways, cough, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Smoke can also trigger wheezing in people with asthma, emphysema or other respiratory conditions. If you're suffering from a cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms you think might be caused by smoke, contact your physician. Backup batteries during wildfiresAs SFGATE covered in its power outage preparedness kit, you've got plenty of options when it comes to external device chargers. Anker makes a variety of high-capacity batteries that can charge a smartphone several times without having to be plugged in. The PowerCore 20,000 mAh is available in a bunch of places. If it's fully charged, it has enough juice to recharge an iPhone 8 almost seven times. External battery chargers on Amazon External battery chargers at Best Buy External battery chargers at Target A Mophie phone case can also extend your smartphone's battery life, and you don't have to think about carrying an extra device around. Portable power stations during wildfiresThe Powerhouse 200 Portable Rechargeable Generator can recharge a Macbook Pro up to five times, and it has AC outlet/USB-C/USB/12V car outlets. These power stations are designed for camping and should keep an air purifier running if your power cuts out for a few hours. Portable power stations on Amazon Portable power stations at Best Buy Portable power stations at Walmart Portable generators during wildfiresA gas-powered generator can run appliances for brief periods. Don't run your generator without ventilation, and make sure to read its instructions. You'll need to know your appliance's wattage to buy the right sized generator. As the National Ag Safety Database explains: "If you want a generator to run a refrigerator and a freezer, the wattage of the refrigerator would be 800 and the freezer would be 1,000. To select the correct size generator, you decide if both refrigerator and freezer are to start at the same time. If so, you would need (1,800 X 4) 7,200 watts. You would select the nearest larger wattage generator. If you can be certain both appliances will not start at the same time, you would only need 4,800 watts (to run the refrigerator while starting the freezer)." The Sportsman Sandstorm Gasoline 4000-Watt Portable Generator was available at press time at the Walmart in San Leandro for $289. Portable generators at Walmart Portable generators at Home Depot SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.  |
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