8 best air washes: efficiency, which is better, pros and cons

Modern climate control technology for the home, washing the air, allows you not only to humidify the air, but also to make it cleaner. City dwellers breathe in polluted oxygen containing dust, allergens, exhaust from cars and emissions from factories and enterprises. All this can worsen our health and lead to chronic diseases.

Fortunately, today the stores offer a large assortment of air washers that can improve the climate in our house. But how to choose really effective equipment and what to look for? I will talk about this in detail in the rating, and also describe the pros and cons of popular models.

The difference between air cleaning and an air purifier and the principle of its operation

Some users confuse air washing with a purifier, but in reality they are different devices. Let's take a look at their features and differences.

Air purifiers operate on a dry basis, that is, thanks to a filter system, they purify oxygen from bacteria, viruses, aerosols and the smallest dust particles less than 1 nM in size. But washing the air, in addition to purifying it, moistens it. But unlike the first device, the second retains coarser dust. Its task is more to moisturize the room, and cleansing is a secondary action.

Most often, water acts as a filter in sinks and therefore a sufficient amount of it is required. The fact is that such equipment needs to humidify oxygen and use water to clean it from dirt. There are models in which there is also dry filtration, which allows you to retain coarse dust, wool and hairs, and smaller particles settle in the water.

Due to the peculiarities of the work, we can say that washing the air does not quite cope with the function of its purification, but it can significantly humidify and even maintain this indicator at the desired level. But it does not retain pollen and odors. Therefore, if you are allergic to flowering plants or certain odors, washing the air will not help.

But the sink is able to create the correct microclimate in the apartment, humidify the air to the required level and clean it of many impurities. This is especially important during the heating season, when the air in the apartments is very dry. It reduces the incidence of colds, relieves dry skin and improves the quality of inhaled oxygen.

Air washing is suitable for people who are doing well with their health and only need to maintain the right environment in the apartment. And also it is able to improve the quality of life for asthmatics and allergy sufferers, in whom the disease manifests itself in dust, but not pollen.

Rating TOP 8 air washes

Before making a rating, I studied the characteristics of each device, learned about their positive and negative sides, and also took into account customer reviews. I propose to get acquainted with the TOP participants:

ATMOS Aqua-1300

A compact and simple spherical device. The manufacturer indicates that it is able to humidify a room up to 35 sq.m. The tank is designed for 1 liter of water with a capacity of 60 ml per hour. The filter is ordinary tap water. The control is simple mechanical. But this device cannot be called an air washer, since the efficiency is low and even as a conventional humidifier it cannot cope with the declared capabilities.

In fact, this is just a beautiful ball that also glows. I used it for several days in a row, but the maximum humidity was raised by 8%. The dust lies around him, which means that he does not clean anything.There is no change in the room by air. Moreover, the room is small 10 sq.m., and he must process a room up to 35 sq.m.

Electrolux EHU-3610D / EHU-3615D

Washing with an ultrasonic air evaporator has additional cleaning barriers, consisting of filters: carbon, HEPA and pre-filter. This allows you to capture even the smallest particles and aerosols. A demineralizing cartridge is integrated inside to reduce scale formation. Touch control on the front panel, where you can change the fan speed, turn on ionization and aromatization of the room. Despite the well-known brand and the declared functions, the device has established itself among buyers from the negative side. It often leaks and thus spoils furniture and flooring.

It made me want to buy this sink, which gave a strong leak after an hour of operation. She stood on the bedside table with documents and completely flooded them. I immediately lost my trust in this brand. Therefore, I cannot say about the effectiveness of its work.

Ballu AW-320 / AW-325

Air washer with a traditional type of humidification, that is, rotating discs inside, half submerged in water. For disinfection, the manufacturer supplied a silver rod, but as practice shows, it is only a marketing ploy. Touch control from above. The display shows the current humidity reading. Many users complain about frequent breakdowns, crackling during operation and lack of cleaning effect. Over time, the drum and container may become moldy. With regular use, the water filter should be rinsed and cleaned once a week. It is more of a humidifier with the function of maintaining the desired humidity, but not a purifier.

An air sink is in a room of 17 sq. m. and works at full capacity, but does not moisturize enough. There is a hygrometer, but it seems to me that it transmits data inaccurately. At the first use, it made short clicks, but my husband finalized the design. It turned out that the axle there is a little shorter and the nuts had to be tightened. It seems to me that for that kind of money, one could get a better device.

Fanline VE400-8

Multifunctional humidifier-cleaner of Russian production with the traditional method of humidification using rotating discs. Dust settles on them and natural evaporation occurs from them. In addition, the device has ionization, which reduces the amount of small particles in the air, and ozone, which acts as a disinfection and elimination of unpleasant odors. But there is no blocking of the separate activation of these functions, which can be harmful to health when used together. The humidity sensor on the case may overestimate the data. Touch control panel. Water is poured directly into the 7 liter bottom sump. The most efficient operation is achieved with a full reservoir.

The water evaporates for a long time, apparently because of the large tank. The humidity in the room rises depending on how dry it was before. But overall it works well. The spent liquid is yellow and there is a suspension in it, which means it cleans.I do not like that ozonation and ionization can be turned on together, and this is the production of nitric acid. And also the motor resonates strongly throughout the body and the plastic turned yellow after a year.

Polaris PAW 2202Di / PAW 2203Di

Air humidification and purification occurs in the traditional way, that is, when passing through rotating discs that are immersed in water. It can work continuously for up to 15 hours. The reservoir is designed for 2.2 liters with a capacity of up to 120 ml / h, which is suitable for rooms up to 20 sq. m. Touch panel on top. On it you can choose one of three modes, turn on auto mode or night mode. And also provides ionization, which allows you to better purify the air. There is a timer with shutdown from 1 to 8 hours. There is no hygrometer, but there is a humidification scale: low, medium and high. You can turn on the child lock.

I mainly use it at maximum speed, then washing the air is more effective, but humidity does not rise above 40%. The operation is very simple and it is convenient to fill in water. The device turns itself off when the water runs out and blinks, saying that it needs to be refilled. After application, there is a deposit and there is a lot of dirt in the remaining liquid. Therefore, I can say that the car wash is effective. Of course, it won't get rid of dust at all.

Boneco W2055DR

In this sink, the air is sucked in by the fan and falls on the moistened plates, and then dust and other dirt settles in the water. The device is supplemented with an ionizer that produces air ions that capture dust and settle on the floor and furniture. Therefore, the concentration of small particles in the air decreases and wet cleaning is required after the device is in operation. There is also a silver rod inside that disinfects water. But its service life is no more than 3 months and replacement is required. Without it, the liquid in the sump can begin to bloom, which negatively affects the washing efficiency.

Perfectly moisturizes rooms, and if you need to quickly, then put it closer to the battery. I clean the pallet once a week with a regular bottle brush. There is no difficulty in this and replaceable filters are not needed. At night I put it without a tank and pour water directly into the pan, otherwise the sink gurgles a lot. And it's bad that the indicator cannot be turned off. Shines strongly.

Winia AWI-40

Floor sink with traditional humidification method. It is programmed to maintain humidity from 40 to 60% if turned on in auto mode. If the water in the tank runs out, the humidifier-purifier stops working and the indicator signals this. All parts can be easily removed and washed. There is no separate tank, so you need to pour water into the sump, which is quite convenient. Air intake is on the sides, after which it passes through the wet discs and then exits through the top filter. To prevent mold from forming in the tank, a silver ionizing filter is installed there. It needs to be changed frequently. The ionization function is questionable. Touch control with the establishment of a timer for turning off the sink.

In general, the sink suits me, but it does not fully wash the air, as expected. It moisturizes perfectly. And even in the heat, I pour ice water into it and then the temperature in the room drops and becomes comfortable. It works quietly and the sensor is convenient for switching modes. It is easy to clean, and remove limescale with water and citric acid. Mine about once every three days and the dirt inside is visible.

Venta LW60T

It works on the principle of cold evaporation and is designed for large rooms and offices. It does not form condensation or white deposits. It is possible to scent the room with aromatic oils. The device itself is compact, and there are wheels for moving to transfer it from one room to another. The display is Russified and you can set the desired humidity on it, which the sink will maintain. The 12 liter tank is extendable and the discs are easy to remove and clean. It is possible to set a sleep timer, block the buttons from children, and also control the device through the remote control. Has a self-cleaning function.

Excellent air cleaner for office space. Saves in the winter, when the heating is very dry and it becomes difficult to breathe. I set the automatic mode, in which the standard parameters of humidification are supported. This is enough for me. You don't need to add water often, which is good too. And when it ends, the sink turns off and signals. In general, a smart and necessary device.

Tips for choosing a home air washer

Before buying an air washer, you should pay attention to important points that will help you purchase a really high-quality item and not overpay for unnecessary functions:

1. The area for which the device is designed. The sink can be used effectively only in one room, since the walls interfere with the natural circulation of air. Therefore, focus on the largest room in your apartment.
2. The type of humidification is different. Traditional implies the natural return of moisture due to the rotation of the drums through the water. Ultrasonic breaks down particles into a fine suspension and is less noisy. But unlike the former, they can form a plaque on furniture and require only distilled water.
3. Several degrees of cleaning due to the presence of dry filters. They trap dust and dirt of different sizes, so the water in the tank will be cleaner and the air at the outlet will be of better quality.
4. Ultraviolet light neutralizes and destroys mold, fungi and viruses. It is necessary where allergy sufferers often get sick or live.
5. Aromatization is used extremely rarely, and if it is very important for you, then you should pay attention to this option.
6. The timer will allow you to limit the operating time of the equipment. For example, when you leave home.
7. Auto shut-off in the absence of water in the tank will allow the sink to not run idle.
8. The hygrostat is often inside such devices and therefore overestimates the performance. Better when it is portable.