Top Air Filters for Under RMB 1,000: Dr Richard's Self-Tests Show Cheap Models Do Well Too

Following his in-depth tests on the best pollution masks last year, Beijing-based physician, blogger, and obsessive air filtration tester Dr Richard St Cyr has recently been on the hunt for budget air filters to help us Beijingers fight off the filth that regularly assaults our breathing passages.

Today he posts his results from rigorous home testing on his blog My Health Beijing, demonstrating that at least in enclosed environments smaller than 40 square meters (such as his office and bedroom, where he conducted tests), low-priced machines can do as well as the top-of-the-line models.

His criteria for choice were:

Priced under RMB 1,000
Preference for well-known international brand names over Chinese models
HEPA-rated filter (or close to it)
Fan strength
Rated for at least 21 cubic meters

He tested the following:

Long story short? He appears to like the Xiaomi and the Midea models the best. Read Dr St Cyr's full results on his blog here.

So whether you're after the top-of-the-line products or budget-conscious choices, there's really no excuse for you to not have one of these in at least your bedroom, where you can give your lungs eight hours of respite from the smog.

And if you're still unconvinced of the damage such particulates can cause to your health and wellbeing then you might want to watch this.

Photo: Xiaomi

Comments

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Thanks for the reply! I've just moved into a new place, so after plastering, painting and doing some other (smelly) repairs, I've been particularly aware of the VOC issue. I have four Alen Air units, all of which have features for dealing with VOCs. I've been keeping them on full blast for the past six days, and I'm not sneezing nearly as much as when I first moved in.

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

VOCs can be a problem in many homes, and off-gassing of chemicals from furniture, walls etc can last for years. That's why if you can, get an air purifier that also removes VOC, formaldehyde etc with special second filter (not the HEPA). But my personal opinion is that the most important pollutant is PM2.5 and smaller particles, so a good HEPA filter is still the #1 priority. I've tested my home for VOCs and they weren't so high...if you're not sure, get your home tested.

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Richard Saint Cyr MD

Blog | Weibo | Clinic

Yes, promising for the price point -- but also eerily similar to a Japanese air purifier called Balmuda, selling for 6,600 RMB http://t.cn/RzOoQX0 Xiaomi loves to "copy" other designs... but the underlying concept remains that there are plenty of brands of air purifiers under 3,000 RMB from established companies which are perfectly fine for most of us...

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Richard Saint Cyr MD

Blog | Weibo | Clinic

I'm so grateful to Dr. St. Cyr for conducting and posting the results of these tests.

Dr. St. Cyr, if one day you find yourself with a few moments to spare, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the effects of indoor VOCs on health, and which air cleaners are best suited for dealing with that as well as that of outdoor pollution. Chinese construction is notorious for VOCs; every Chinese colleague, neighbour, and friend I know is well aware of the dangers of new (and old) construction, but generally just deal with it by opening windows or buying carbon to absorb immediately noticeable smells. However, I've read/heard that VOCs from poor quality construction materials can continue to be a problem years after construction is finished.

Thoughts?

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

Xiaomi's model seems very promising.