The haze in Singapore is comfortably sitting in the unhealthy zone, with people escaping the city for cleaner air in neighbouring countries. The PSI in Singapore is hovering over the 300 mark and might hang around for a little while. In order to breathe easy, here’s some information about air purifiers in Singapore; plus where to buy them and how to choose an effective one.
Why you should invest in one
Air purifiers reportedly help remove pollutants and allergens swirling around, making air cleaner to breathe but you need to make sure you buy the right one for the job as not all of them are equipped to deal with conditions created by the Haze. Air purifiers built with HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air, filters are capable of removing 99.7% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger, making them better at managing the Haze than UV, Carbon or Photocatalytic filters.
Things to consider
- Selecting a model with an inbuilt fan will mean the machine can suck in air and clean it more efficiently. The downside is that it can be noisier. Check out the decibels in store before you buy.
- While a small air purifier will do the job for small room such as a bedroom, a large room demands a larger unit so be sure to check how much ground the model can reasonably cover.
- Placement matters when deciding where to put the unit. Locate the air purifier where the most air can pass through it freely.
- With some tender loving care, your air purifier will care for your family more effectively. Change filters and clean the electrostatic collection plates regularly.
Hitachi Air Purifier
Hitachi’s range of purifiers is equipped with an allergen-free HEPA filter to eliminate bad air particles. They also have an eco-mode to help you save 23% more energy (compared to its silent mode).
$399 onwards, from Harvey Norman, #02-56 to 62 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039596, p. 6311 9988.
Honeywell Air Purifier
Honeywell‘s medical-grade air purifiers use high-grade True HEPA filters, similar to those in hospital operating theatres. They also contain an activated carbon pre-filter to reduce odours.
USD88.22 onwards, from www.amazon.com.
Maier Air Purifier
Maier’s BioHEPA hybrid air purifier has a 7-filter system, and comes with automatic sensors to detect odours, dust and allergens. There are indicator lights to tell you how polluted the air in your home is. It also has a UV lamp to destroy microorganisms like germs, viruses, fungi and bacteria.
Price unavailable, from various stores including Home-fix DIY, #B4-01 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801, p. 6884 4586.
NOVITA Air Purifier
With a 4-step filter system (a washable pre-filter, a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, and a built-in ioniser), the NOVITA air purifier cleans air effectively while trapping micro-particles and other airborne chemicals.
$299 onwards, from Courts Megastore, 50 Tampines North Drive 2, Singapore 528766, p. 1800 222 6868.
PHILIPS Air Purifier
The PHILIPS air purifier comes equipped with a dedicated sleep mode, to keep air clean while you sleep. It has a 3-step filtration system, consisting of an anti-bacterial pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and a HEPA filter.
$279 onwards, from Best Denki, #02-33B Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994, p. 6732 8122.
SHARP Air Purifier
This one contains high-density plasmacluster ion technology and a True HEPA filter that helps remove airborne particles quickly. Its narrow structure takes up little space and they run very quietly.
$149 onwards, from Gain City, #03-223 to 232 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594, p. 6226 1212.