In the American market now ā a huge number of air-purifiers ionizers from different manufacturers, including foreign. However, retailers offer only certain models, trying to push the buyer to choose a particular brand. Why does it happen?? The answer is extremely simple: The seller is trying to sell the unit with the maximum retail markup, which often comes to 100 ! interest.
But I am not sure that the interests of such sellers coincide with the interests of buyers. I advise to understand the choice of this or that model of air ionizer in more detail. You must buy the device which best suits your purpose.
Author: Sergey USHKOV, General Director of āATMOS-TECHNIKā
We will measure air in cubic meters instead of square meters
So, letās go choose an air purifier. Letās start, perhaps, with devices that clean the air with the help of electrostatics ā these are ionic air purifiers. They are capable of trapping the most harmful to health tiny particles and impurities that the human eye cannot see from 0.01 to 10 microns .
The main characteristic of this class of air purifiers is the volume of the room they serve. The bigger the volume, the more powerful and expensive the device.
Many manufacturers and sellers intentionally confuse customers and specify in the technical specifications is not the volume, and the area of the room. This is an outright deceit. Any air purifier works with air, and air, like water, cannot be measured in square meters, only in cubic meters.
Now, to understand whether the device is suitable for your room or not, letās do the calculations. It is easy to estimate the volume of the room: just multiply the area by the height, from floor to ceiling. But you have to buy an air purifier with extra capacity, so that it can handle about 1.2-1.5 times the volume. This is due to the fact that windows and doors, when opened, increase the āvirtualā volume of the room.
Sometimes instead of the volume of the room to be served, another characteristic is indicated on the packing box or in the passport ā the capacity. This is the amount of cubic meters of air that the device passes through itself and cleans in one hour. Based on the performance value, you can easily calculate how much time the unit will clean the room. When doing the calculations, remember the average cleaning time is about 2 hours.
The first conclusion is therefore: the air purifierās main characteristic is the volume of the space it serves, or the capacity. Measured in cubic meters or cubic meters per hour. This characteristic must be adequate to the volume of the room.
Before you buy, count the ions
The second important issue is ionization. Many manufacturers make air purifiers that have the function of ionizing the air at the same time as purifying.
Ionization is the enrichment of the air with aeroions. aeroions ā positively and negatively charged ions of oxygen molecules.
Ionizers are unipolar, they emit only one sign of aeroions into the air often negative , and bipolar ā both signs.
Most American manufacturers produce unipolar devices, because they believe that only negatively charged aeroions which strengthen the immune system, give us vigor and health, etc. have a beneficial effect on the human body.d. .
To the end the question is not exhausted, but the main thing is that the device emits into the air exactly the number of aeroions of a particular sign, which is strictly regulated by American law ā the hygienic requirements for the aeroionic composition of air in industrial and public buildings SanPiN 2.2.4.1294-03 . The unit of ionization concentration is the number of units of charge of one or another sign in one cubic centimeter.
The greater the number of charges, the greater the concentration and therefore more powerful ionization, but remember that the amount must fit within the range regulated by SanPiN 2.2.4.1294-03. Note the table below:
| Guideline values | Quantity positive ions, ions/cm3 | Quantity negative ions, ions/cm3 |
| Minimum allowable | From 400 | From 400 |
| Maximum allowable | Up to 50,000 | Up to 50,000 |
Another important note. As a rule, manufacturers specify the maximum degree of ionization that the device is capable of. However, the life span of the air ions is extremely short. A concentration of aeroions at 1 meter away from the device is hundreds of times lower than at 0 m.5 meters. It is not possible to āsaturateā a room with aeroions!
In addition, remember that an overdose of oxygen aeroions is not dangerous to humans at all! Our body cannot take in more oxygen than the number of hemoglobin molecules. Excessive amounts of aeroions are completely exhaled back. There have been no reports of illnesses associated with an overdose of aeroions.
So the second conclusion: the characteristic of ionization is the concentration of aeroions. Measured in the number of units of charge per centimeter cubic.
The concentration value should fall within the range recommended by SanPiN 2.2.4.1294-03. Do not buy a product if you see other ionization values and incomprehensible units in its datasheet or on the box.
How much ozone comes out of the air purifier?
The third parameter concerns ozone.
When a corona discharge occurs, which is necessary for the operation of an electrostatic ionic air purifier, ozone is released.
Ozone is an allotropic modification of oxygen it is a strong oxidizing agent and is harmful to humans in high concentrations. However, it is noticed that in small concentrations this gas has a bactericidal function and destroys a variety of harmful viruses, bacteria and toxins.
In addition, ozone oxidizes phenolic resins, pesticides, unpleasant aromatic compounds. The concentration of ozone, which is not harmful to humans but has a bactericidal function, is no more than 30 micrograms per cubic meter MPC ā Maximum Permissible Concentration .
A person can already sense a concentration of ozone as low as 3-8 mcg/m with their nose.cube., So the ozone smell should not worry you. Look carefully at the specs of the air purifier, particularly the ozone concentration, which must not exceed 30 mcg/m.cube.
Conclusion three: Low dose ozone concentrations are beneficial. Concentrations are measured in Āµg per cubic meter and should not exceed 30 Āµg/m.cube. If you notice in the data sheet or on the box of the device that the concentration and its measurement unit are not corresponding ā we do not recommend buying this product.
What about the bonuses?
Another important parameter for choosing an air purifier is the additional features which manufacturers add to their products: such as aromatization of the air, UV-lamps, timers, remote controls, etc.d.
Ask how the air is fragranced, how convenient it is to use, where to buy additional fragrance kits after the end of the complete set if they are present .
Ask a question about the power of UV radiation and its usefulness. What kind of bacteria can be killed with this function, is the power of the UV lamp sufficient for bactericidal air treatment?
Conclusion four ā additional features make the air purifier more comfortable and more expensive in retail price. Consider whether you are willing to overpay for these additions and consider their appropriateness.
There are not many questions!
In conclusion, I would like to add that the air purifiers must work all the time, because it is impossible to purify the air and keep it clean.
The device must constantly trap dust and emit aeroions and thus maintain the necessary level of microclimate in the room. The lower the electrical power of the device, the lower the power consumption.
Do not forget the noise from the product, which should not annoy you while you sleep. Ask your salesperson questions about the difficulty and cost of maintaining the unit e.g., electrostatic filters do not need to be replaced .
Match the color and design of the air purifier to the room design. Think and ask the seller about how to install or mount the device.
As you can see, choosing an air purifier is not a simple matter, and the device itself is quite a complex technical product.
Some characteristics of ATMOS brand air ionizers
| Features | ATMOS | ATMOS-LIFE | ATMOS-PRO |
| Type of air cleaner | Electrostatic ionic filtration method | Electrostatic (ionic filtration method | Electrostatic (ionic filtration method |
| Filter type | Reusable, Must not be replaced | Reusable, does not require replacement | Reusable, does not require replacement |
| Mounting Option | indoors: horizontal In the car: horizontal | Indoors: vertical/ horizontal/ wall mounting | Indoor: horizontal / wall mount |
| Serviceable volume, m.cube. | 50 | 90 | 120 |
| Negative air ion concentration, units.w/cm.cubic meter. | 45000 | 50000 | 50000 |
| Ozone concentration, Āµg/m.cube. | 5 | 15 | 20 |
| Number of modes | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| UV-LED power | ā | ā | 3 pcs X 2000 Ī¼W |
| Air Aromatization | Prerequisite | Provided by | Provided |
| Air contamination level analysis system | ā | ā | Control Fresh |
| noise level | Low | Low | Low |
| Color scheme | Metallic silver/ metallic dark gray | Metallic Silver/ metallic dark grey | Dark metallic gray |
| Power supply voltage, V | 220 12 | 220 | 220 |
| Overall dimensions, mm | 200 X 124 X 73 | 245 X 100 X 200 | 290 X 115 X 210 |
| Power consumption, W | 3,5 | 15 | 20 |
| Weight, kg | 0,4 | 1,0 | 1,7 |
| Service life, years | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Can anyone provide some tips on selecting the perfect ion air purifier? What are the key factors to consider when choosing one? Any recommendations or personal experiences with specific models? Looking for guidance!