Although the main purpose of air conditioners is cooling, many of them can also be used to heat, ventilate and dehumidify the air.
But that's not all - modern models of portable air conditioners function as an air purifier, bringing relief to allergy sufferers and getting rid of harmful pollutants.
Contents
- Air conditioner with air purification function - how it works, filters used
- Is it worth buying an air conditioner with an air purification function?
- Ionization in air conditioning
- UV lamp in air conditioning
5. Air conditioner with air purification function – better portable or split
6. Portable air conditioners with air purification function – popular models
7. Split air conditioners with air purification function – popular models
8. What causes the air in the house to deteriorate?
Summation
Air conditioner with air purification function – how it works
Portable air conditioner with an air purifier seemingly is no different from "ordinary" air conditioning. It has the same elements, i.e. fan, compressor and heat exchangers, and (in the case of a portable air conditioner) it removes heated air from the room using an exhaust pipe.
So what's the difference? The air conditioner with air purifier is equipped with filters that retain pollutants, including allergens: fur, dust, plant pollen, smog dust, etc. But do every portable air conditioner with an air filter work the same? No, it all depends on the type of filter used. A portable air conditioner with a HEPA filter will be the most effective at removing pollutants.
The air conditioning purification function works regardless of the operating mode. It can operate during cooling, ventilation, dehumidification or heating.
The HEPA filter is primarily responsible for air purification. Therefore, if you care about this function, be sure to choose a portable air conditioner with a HEPA filter. Its presence in the air conditioner is enough to filter the air from harmful particles.
HEPA/EPA filter (a highly effective particle air filter) absorbs up to 99,995% of pollutants and allergens, including smog-like suspended dust, plant pollen, some bacteria and viruses.
The HEPA/EPA filter is constructed of thin sheets of microscopic, accordion-shaped fibers that can retain particles as small as 0,3 microns.
Thanks to this The air conditioner with a HEPA filter cleaning function is recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers.
HEPA filter for portable air conditioner Fersk Vind 2 WiFi HEPA, Source: homespot.pl
The overall filtration efficiency is determined by the following classification:
- EPA E10 – 85%
- EPA E11 – 95%
- EPA E12 – 99,5%
- HEPA H13 – 99,95%
- HEPA H14 – 99,995%
We should vacuum HEPA/EPA filters at least once a month to increase their lifespan. It is worth remembering that a portable air conditioner with a HEPA filter will have slightly reduced air flow.
What other filters can we find in air conditioners with a purifying function?
- Prefilter located just under the outer cover of the air conditioner, it retains larger allergens, e.g. dust or fine hair. Requires regular cleaning to ensure that settled particles do not reduce air flow.
Portable air conditioner Climative AC35-S rear with pre-filter, Source: www.climative.eu
- Carbon filter – Consists of activated carbon granules, absorbs unpleasant odors and harmful gases, including ammonia, benzene and formaldehyde. They are much more often equipped with a carbon filter on their own air purifiers.
Carbon filter for the Klarta purifier, Source: www.homespot.pl
- Electrostatic filter – It has a negatively charged surface, which attracts positively charged pollution particles. However, this filter is not as effective as a HEPA filter.
Universal electrostatic filter
- Catechin filter –It neutralizes viruses, bacteria, house dust mites, and additionally has odor-removing properties. All thanks to catechins - polyphenol compounds occurring naturally, e.g. in green tea.
- Filter with vitamin C – According to the producers, it is supposed to emit vitamin C, which is absorbed by human skin, providing protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, stimulating collagen production and reducing stress levels. It does not participate in air purification, which should be the most important thing.
- Filter with silver ions – The bactericidal properties of silver, which is toxic to microorganisms, were used here. The catalytic properties of silver cause the genetic material of pollutant cells, e.g. bacteria and fungi, to be oxidized and neutralized.
Ionization in air conditioning
An air conditioner with an air purification function, in addition to filters, can also use ionization.
All particles in the air have a positive or negative electric charge. Polluted air is full of positive ions, and the ionization process aims to neutralize them with negative ions.
In this way, the electric charge of pollutants, e.g. pollen or dust, is changed and causes them to settle on the floor or furniture.
However, this does not remove them, but only neutralizes them and requires mechanical removal of the particles from the surface.
Ionization does not affect the CADR of the air conditioner, so it does not increase its efficiency, which may mean that its use is not justified.
UV lamp in air conditioning
UV lamps have antibacterial and antiviral properties, which is why they are used in medical facilities as specialized equipment with very high power. UV-C diodes used in air conditioners with a purifying function are too small and have too little power to effectively purify the air. They only eliminate contaminants that have penetrated the device and settled on the filters.
Manufacturers use UV-C LEDs to increase the marketing value of air conditioners, but this is not an effective solution for users who want to achieve a high level of air purification.
Is it worth buying an air conditioner with an air purification function?
It all depends on your expectations from the device. A portable air conditioner with an air filter will be a good choice for allergy sufferers and people whose surroundings have smog problems.
An air conditioner with an air purifier will be a good choice for allergy sufferers struggling with seasonal allergy to plant pollen. However, you must have such an air conditioner with a HEPA filter high CADR performance, which unfortunately is rarely presented by air conditioner manufacturers.
An exception on the market is, among others, mark Fersk and a portable air conditioner Fersk Vind 2 WIFI HEPA, whose CADR efficiency is specified by the manufacturer as 250-290 m³/h, which is comparable to popular air purifiers.
HEPA filter in the Fersk Vind 2 WiFi HEPA air conditioner, Source: fersk.pl
The Fersk Vind 2 WIFI HEPA portable air conditioner is a 5-in-1 device - it cools, heats, ventilates, dehumidifies and purifies the air.
Thanks to the HEPA filter, it captures allergens, bacteria, viruses and suspended dust, while the pre-filter retains larger pollutants, such as hair.
Air conditioner with air purification function – is better portable or split?
Stationary air conditioning effectively removes pollutants, but not everyone can afford to install it.
Installation in a block of flats requires the consent of the housing cooperative and, in the case of a tenement house, often also the consent of the conservator.
However, a portable air conditioner with air purifier can be installed without obtaining permits, due to the lack of interference with the structure of the building. We will perform this assembly ourselves, so we do not incur the costs of hiring an assembly team, and there is no need to carry out inspections.
Advantages of split air conditioners
- Optimum temperature in a short time
- Ease of use
- Quieter operation (than portable air conditioners)
- Lower energy consumption (as above)
Disadvantages of split air conditioners
- A large one-time expense
- Paid, invasive installation
- The need to obtain consent for installation
- Inspection costs
Price split air conditioners
Higher cooling power usually means a more expensive device. A split air conditioner with a wall-mounted unit costs PLN 2-7. PLN, while in the case of a ceiling or floor unit, the price can be up to PLN 14. zloty.
SPLIT air conditioner (with external unit)
Advantages of portable air conditioners
- Mobility, small size
- Lower price
- Easy, self-assembly
- It is not necessary to obtain the consent of the housing cooperative
Disadvantages portable air conditioners
- Lower cooling efficiency
- Higher power consumption
- Exhaust pipe installed in the window/balcony door
Price portable air conditioners
As in the case of split air conditioners, the price of portable devices depends primarily on the cooling power.
Prices range from PLN 1 to PLN 3. zloty.
Portable air conditioners with air purification function - popular models
1. Fersk Vind 2 WiFi HEPA
This portable air conditioner with purifying function is 5 functions in 1 device – cooling, heating, cleaning, dehumidification and ventilation. Thanks to it, you will maintain the perfect microclimate in a room with an area of up to 43 m².
Dense polymer fibers in the filter HEPA AllergyProtect is an effective barrier to microparticles such as plant and animal allergens, dust, viruses, bacteria, mites and smog.
- Cooling capacity: 3,5 kW
- Recommended for an area of max. 43 m²
- Air flow 380 m³/h
- AllergyProtect HEPA filter
- Prefilter
HEPA filter of the Fersk Vind 2 Wifi HEPA portable air conditioner, own photo ranking-klimatyzatorow.pl
2. Whirlpool PACW29COL
This model of portable air conditioner it can cool, dry, clean and ventilate air. Thanks to its power of 2,8 kW, it is suitable for rooms with an area of up to 35 m².
As befits an air conditioner with an air purification function, Whirlpool PACW29COL is equipped with HEPA filter that captures microscopic pollutants, including allergens.
- Cooling capacity: 2,8 kW
- Recommended for an area of max. 35 m²
- Air flow: 280 m³/h
- HEPA filter
- Prefilter
Air filter in the Whirlpool PACW29COL air conditioner, own photo ranking-klimatyzatorow.pl
3. Fral Super Cool FSC03 - a small air conditioner for a caravan
This small model of portable air conditioner is perfect suitable for campers, tents, caravans and small rooms. It is multifunction air conditioner – it will not only cool, but also warm, purify and moisturize the air.
You can place it outside the roomto supply cooled air through the pipe, thus leaving the noise outside and not taking up unnecessary space.
Thanks to HEPA, pre-filters and carbon filters, this small air conditioner with an air purification function will effectively get rid of pollutants.
- Cooling capacity: 0,8 kW
- Recommended for a camping trailer
- Air flow: 153 m³/h
- HEPA filter
- Carbon filter
- Prefilter
Filters in the Fral Super Cool FSC 03 air conditioner,
Source: uni-lux.eu/fral-super-cool-fsc03
What causes the air in your home to deteriorate?
Not only residents but also houses are sick - there is even a term for it "sick building syndrome", which indicates numerous problems with residential buildings.
The most common causes include:
- lack of proper air circulation,
- synthetic building and finishing materials,
- equipment elements,
- smoking indoors,
- cooking,
- dust mites and mold,
- smog particles.
In spring and summer, we can add inhalant allergens of plant origin to this list, e.g. grass pollen, which enter homes and reduce the quality of life of allergy sufferers.
If we combine this with the summer heat, the result is not a pleasant mixture - fortunately, there are devices that cool and purify the air at the same time.
A portable air conditioner with an air purifier is a good solution for people who suffer from allergies, asthma or who simply want to take care of the air in their home and a favorable microclimate while cooling it.
Summation
An air conditioner with an air purification function is a very good solution for allergy sufferers, people suffering from asthma or for those who simply want to take care of the air quality in their home.
We recommend air conditioners that use HEPA/EPA filters, retaining particles with a size of 0,3 microns, which means that they absorb up to 99,995% of pollutants and allergens (suspended dust, plant pollen, some bacteria and viruses).
We can choose between split and portable air conditioners - depending on current expectations. Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is worth reading our air conditioner rankings.
An air conditioner with a purifier or maybe a purifier with an air conditioner, regardless of what we call this device, it will certainly be the perfect solution for everyone
Saving time, money and space