Anyone Know Much about Smart Air Purifiers?

Magnatolia on 26/12/2019 - 00:24

Hi all,

I'm in the market for home air improvement due to some health issues. Wanting to improve environment to assist in healing.

I've seen one that's due out in May (Kickstarter) which essentially feeds the contaminants to soil which is consumed by the bacteria in the soil and also draws in humidity which is turned into water to water a plant which in turn then produces fresh air. It's not out until May so I'm interested in some deals or good prices on a smart air purifier.

Something that covers a lot of contaminants, only activates when pollution is sensed, an app that rates the air quality, etc.

Anyone versed in this area?

Thanks heaps!

Electrical & Electronics Air Purifier

Comments

  • jace88 on 26/12/2019 - 03:11
    +5

    I've learnt not to buy from Kickstarters after being burnt twice.

    To answer your question directly, there's various "smart" air purifiers across various price points whether you look at the popular-on-OzBargain Xiaomi Air Purifier range (before the haze, you could get them for under $200 for an older model but now they're more likely to be in the $200-$250 range with coupons), or you could consider a more expensive Dyson Pure air purifier (up to $900 at RRP).

    Various reviews online have provided anecdotal suggestions that the automatic air pollution detection feature in smart air purifiers aren't always reliable at activating when they should (i.e. they take too long to kick in) but I find they are fine for our conditions here. I personally use a Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link which is the last generation model and was often on sale for the mid $500's with an extra filter, and find it to be good enough. I also have a couple of dumb air purifiers from when I lived in Singapore which also seem very effective and I just leave running nearly 24/7.

    • Kozhutki on 26/12/2019 - 04:24

      I was reading a thread on reddit yesterday that air purifiers can prevent (or at least handle) dust build up in a room with computer? Is this a thing?

      • Clear on 26/12/2019 - 07:55

        Yeah I'm cleaning my filters every month as there is a buildup of dust on them.

        • jace88 on 26/12/2019 - 10:17

          Same. I originally bought the air purifiers for pet dander but then realised it helps suck up dust too (although wife always reminds me its not a substitute for vacuuming)! Maybe it’s all in the mind but I felt I can sleep better and breathe easier since we had them.

        • Kozhutki on 26/12/2019 - 13:14

          Would you say you've gotten your monies worth just based on that? If so it might be something I should invest in as my room can gather dust up reasonably quick. It's not something I can really avoid though, fan on 24/7 and windows are always open.

          • Clear on 26/12/2019 - 14:38

            @Kozhutki: Yep it's definitely paid for itself. Has also come in super handy in bushfires.

            • Kozhutki on 26/12/2019 - 16:02

              @Clear: Don't have issues with the bushfires but I'll definitely look into it more, thanks for the help!

      • kranix on 26/12/2019 - 19:57

        Somewhat. If you want that, you really ought to get a whole-house unit that creates positive air pressure. That's what I got. Otherwise, the dust can still easily blow in from the rest of the house. See my comment below.

        • Kozhutki on 27/12/2019 - 04:35

          thanks for the write up, i'll read it when I finish work!

  • dragonfly090 on 26/12/2019 - 07:56

    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07PGRH2L7/ref=gbdf_tit_m-3_a71…

    this is coming up in 3 mins - flash sale on amazon

  • whooah1979 on 26/12/2019 - 08:54
    +1

    https://www.consumerreports.org/air-purifiers/air-purifiers-…

    However, scientific and medical communities can’t definitively link the use of air purifiers to health benefits because reported health benefits are inconsistent among participants and there have been very few long-term studies.

    There are also limits to what an air purifier can do. An air purifier can only remove allergens while they’re floating in the air. Larger, heavier allergens, such as mites, mold, and pollen, settle to the ground so quickly that the air purifier can’t capture them all in time. Studies are inconclusive on air purifiers’ ability to tackle gases.

  • kranix on 26/12/2019 - 19:15
    +2

    I wrote this comment back in October. Here's a lightly edited version:

    Rule Number One is to not take advice from random, uninformed OzBargainers. Air quality and purification is a science, and {insert product here} fanboys (especially problematic with Xiaomi products, I notice) are not your best source of wisdom.

    With that said, I've researched this very carefully to manage my own asthma and allergies and I've spoken with a number of experts on the matter. Air pollution is a serious issue in Australia. In my case, the main triggers have been rural dust and smoke from wood heaters in my neighbourhood.

    I strongly recommend that you first try and measure and identify your problem. Do you have an allergy? Are you sensitive to particles in the air? What kind of particles? Is it a seasonal problem?

    I've tried a number of measurement tools out there. Dylos units are great, but pricey. I really like my Atmotube Pro and it's good that I can carry it wherever I go. You want something that can measure PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. Once you get some numbers, you can also measure the effectiveness of any actions you take. Otherwise, you're just spending time and money for no measurable effect.

    Can you reduce the problem with better cleanliness? My Dyson V8 does a pretty good job of managing my dust allergy at home. Combined with some antihistamines and a good nasal spray, and my issues with dust have dropped significantly.

    A good purifier can make a huge difference, but there are a lot of overpriced gimmicks out there. The only scientifically-proven method for particle filtration is a HEPA filter. You want something that meets the H13 standard (medical grade like they use in hospitals). Stay away from less-effective "HEPA-like" or MERV (American style) filters. Activated carbon can also be good to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gasses and odours. Then all that's needed is a powerful fan to force the air through the filter.

    I've experimented with a number of in-room units, starting with a small Cli~mate model (cheap to buy, but expensive to maintain the filters) and ending with a Xiaomi 2S. The Xiaomi is pretty decent and is relatively cheap to maintain. The best in-room unit would be the Squair, but the lack of a local distributor makes it expensive to buy in Australia.

    The ultimate is whole-house filtration. I ended up going with Sanctuary Air. The result has been astounding and the price was far less than I was expecting. Apparently it is possible to install these in flats as well. You get some additional benefits like positive air pressure, which prevents particles from entering your home in the first place and can reduce the need for dusting. By improving the circulation of air in your home, it can keep the air fresher and improve the efficiency of your existing heating/cooling systems. The power consumption is only 100W for the whole house, not much more than what a single room purifier would need. And the filters (medical-grade H13 HEPA and active carbon) are cheap and only need replacing after 3-5 years. I consider it to be an awesome, no-fuss investment for my whole family.

    • OzFrugie on 26/12/2019 - 20:48

      How much the install?
      How is it going to work with flat/apartment? I doubt strata is going to allow ducted system installation in a unit..

      • kranix on 26/12/2019 - 21:01

        I don't know about flats… they just mentioned that they have some installations in flats. For my house (4 bedrooms, 2 living spaces), it cost about $4500 from memory. Your milage may vary. The filters are pretty cheap, too.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join