Winters have just knocked the door and again the soaring pollution in Delhi & NCR pollution is hot News. In October, farmers in mainly Punjab and Haryana burn the leftover stubble of their crops. Fires in such widespread area and easterly winds flowing towards Delhi and NCR region wreck havoc on the air quality. This year too the same old story is repeating itself despite so many measures by state governments. Till now, wind speed has been good which helps in dispersing the pollutants. Only the Best Air Purifier for Delhi pollution can help you tackle such a scenario.
The PM 10 index crossed over 650 ppm yesterday, the worst level in 2020 till date. Diwali is still to come, and its a slap on the face of those who used to blame the festival for all the pollution woes. Last year on November 3rd 2019 all hell broke lose on Delhi NCR. The AQI was pecked at over 700 in Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad. There was hardly any place left undisturbed by this environmental mayhem! Diwali is still away on Saturday, but see what is the pollution level already! NGT has banned crackers in all states where the AQI is poor. Brace yourself up for coming days, as things may get worse.
Where would one hide and for how long on such days of poor air quality? Due to this COVID crisis many people are working from home since months. People in MNCs doing tech jobs can stay indoors. But the vast majority of population have to venture out daily to earn their living, no matter what. Air Purifiers can save you indoors, what about outdoors? See Best Pollution Masks in India.
Best Air Purifier For Delhi Pollution
Some cities like Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad can have high pollution days. Delhi has high pollution levels almost everywhere. An ideal air purifier for should have all or most of the following-
- It should have a good coverage area, the more the better. Prefer those which can clean more than 200 sq.ft.
- Best Air Purifier for Delhi should have a TRUE HEPA filter. Check the product description or call on customer care to inquire about the HEPA filter quality.
- Latest Air Purifiers come with real-time Air quality indicators. They display the live PM 2.5 particle concentration in the room.
- If digital PM 2.5 is absent, your air purifier must have a color LED indicator at a minimum.
- Delhi and metros as high on vehicular pollution. See to it that a good carbon filter is present.
- Convenience features like Timers, sleep mode, Turbo mode, filter replacement indicator are good to have.
- It’s a waste to buy a large air purifier costing over 20,000 INR. Its always better to own smaller units instead of one giant.
- Look for reviews on trusted blogs like AirSwacch. Many blogs simply praise every air purifier they write about. AirSwacch always presents the unbiased views. All the Pros and Cons are difficult to determine from Amazon descriptions.
WHICH AIR PURIFIER IS BEST FOR DELHI
Its not so that Delhi’s air is filled with smoke and smog throughout the year. For the most part of it, vehicular and dust pollution dominates. For days or months when nearby states burn crop stubble, a separate post is devoted for that. Smoke combines with moisture in the air and forms smog. Stubble smoke is so harmful for our health, imagine we are literally inhaling carbon! Anyways there is no specialized air purifier for smoke. But, to combat the kind of pollution we face during stubble burning, you should go for larger air purifiers.
1. Philips AC5659 Air Purifier
This Philips air purifier model is the most powerful model available for sale in India. It can clean the room of a standard 220 sq.ft. room in a flash. It is actually meant to be used for larger areas ranging around 465 sq.ft. When used for smaller rooms, its performance is supreme but is not economical. Hence, go for it only when you are rich and hence have big rooms in your home.
Very well suited for those with allergies, the Philips AC5659 has a dedicated allergen mode. What it does is to remove allergy causing agents from the air. It also displays the level of allergens from Level 1 to 12 in the air like dust, pollen, mold etc. It has so many sensors and is arguably the best air purifier for Delhi money can buy.
FEATURES
- Activated carbon filter removes odors, harmful gases and VOCs. There’s a dedicated Gas level indicator as well to sense and display the level of harmful gases indoors. This feature is exclusive to it and no other air purifier in India has it.
- TRUE HEPA filter removes 99.97% of airborne particles of size 0.3 microns or larger.
- Digital PM2.5 level indicator gives an accurate insight into the air quality.
- Even displays from a set of 4 colors, the air quality from Good to Poor.
- As should be expected from such a costly air purifier, it has an APP for remote control.
- Has two fans to produce intense airflow which helps it clean the air quickly.
Why Is It The Best Air Purifier For Delhi?
The reason why we recommend this air purifier for Delhi is because of its large coverage area. This model is very costly no doubt about that. But, there is no shortage of rich and affluent people in India as well. Whosoever can afford to buy it would feel its sheer powerful air cleaning. The HEPA filters are TRUE HEPA and of excellent efficiency. This is a professional level air purifier.
2. Coway AirMega 150 Air Purifier
Air Purifiers from Coway are a new rage and the bestselling ones. After wowing US, Korea and so many countries, Coway has made a huge impact on the huge Indian market. Be it the online reviews or ratings, Coway Air Purifiers have taken even us by surprise. How often do you see 4.5 star ratings for a big product in over a thousand reviews? Coway air purifiers have the best quality air filters. At the end of the day, its the filter quality that matters the most. No body color, design or features would be useful if poor quality filters are used.
Coway AirMega 150 is a new model and is getting greater attention than any air purifier available in India. It is capitalizing on the success of the Coway Sleek Pro model. Amazon has transferred all the ratings of Sleek Pro to this model. This is kind of a deception as any new user who is not in touch with air purifiers would not know this. He’s think that thousands of users have used and rated the Airmega 150 favorably. Anyways, I contacted the technical contact of Coway, and he informed me that Airmega 150 has been created to be at par with the Sleek Pro. Users who have purchased it since its launch have good things to say about it. CHECK AMAZON REVIEWS
Performance wise it is not the the Best Air Purifier For Delhi Pollution. You see you have to shell out much more to wrap your hands around such a purifier. This model has made the cut to this list because of its affordable cost and optimal (not Great though) performance. It is an air purifier with relatively small sized HEPA filters. With a coverage area of over 300 sq.ft, the Coway AirMega 150 is simply awesome in its price! Although the real-time AQI is missing, still it has the LED color based indicator. We did not name the Coway Storm AP-1516 because it is very costly. Otherwise nothing beats the giant Storm. It can cover around 600 sq.ft area. It also has an impressive CADR of 492.
- Coway service is top notch even if any faults in the device are detected. They will simply replace the unit or change the faulty parts without giving you the jitters.
- Best to keep the Air Purifier in full fan speed before bed-time. Turn the mode to Auto-mode while sleeping for best results.
3. Coway Sleek Pro Air Purifier
Model Name – AP-1009
Number two in our countdown is the Coway Sleek Pro Air Purifier. There is a catch with this model now. It is about to be discontinued and its possible that by the time you’d be reading this line, it would already be. But, till then I’d like to keep it listed in this countdown for Best Air Purifier For Delhi Pollution. This particular model has brought other brands and air purifier models on the brink of extinction except Philips and MI. Now that we have the newer Airmega 150, you’d see two models from the same brand qualify to be the Best Air Purifier for Delhi Pollution, so be it! Check its ratings on Amazon. This particular model has fantastic reviews and Ratings on Amazon.
What we liked the most about Coway Sleek is its ease of use and cleaning. In just over 15,000 its a complete value for your money. Coway Sleek Pro has simple white body with round edges which look kinda cute. The console is pretty basic with push buttons. Still, they serve the purpose well. Models from Philips or Honeywell have touch buttons in almost all models.
- Three stage air filtration with very high grade HEPA and other filters.
- Pre-filter is present to prolong the life of HEPA and carbon filter.
- Customer care is very responsive and professional.
- Mood button to turn the lights completely off. The blue light looks soothing.
- Auto mode self adjusts the air purifier fan speed as per the air quality around it.
- Air Quality lights give an overall very nice look to the air purifier.
4. Honeywell Air Touch i8 Air Purifier
Coway’s super performance but basic features are popular worldwide. How can Honeywell be forgotten in this countdown. Honeywell Air Purifiers are very well liked in India too. Before Coway came, Honeywell and Philips were the top brands. Honeywell Air Touch i8 has all the good things of Coway Sleek Pro PLUS a digital PM 2.5 display. It’s CADR is 300 which is similar to Coway AirMega 150 and Sleek Pro.
NEWER MODEL ALERT!
A newer model is the Honeywell i9.
Another smaller model from Honeywell with a CADR of 250 is the Air Touch i5. It too has a PM 2.5 display. As we pointed out earlier a high CADR and good filters is a must. Honeywell Air Touch i8 has all these. It can be a little noisy at times. The body is sturdy and looks are refined. If floor area is a constraint then air purifiers with round filters and 360º surround air flow are the best. A cheaper model from Philips is also available with round body. It’s the Philips AC0820 Air Purifier. Avoid buying AC0820 as I’ve seen that all those who buy it ultimately return it.
If your budget allows you, go for Dyson Pure Cool Link Tower. It is the Best Air Purifier For Delhi Dust. It has a mechanism which doesn’t let the dust that it collects to escape. Some air purifiers have a design flaw called high face-velocity. The fan creates such an air circulation that the pollutants collected on the filters are blown out. This is a dangerous situation for health. Dyson has a low face velocity and the collected dust is sealed away in a vacuum.
5. Philips AC3821 Air Purifier
Delhi’s climate is warm and dry for the most part of the year. In other words, the air humidity is lesser than it should be. There are air purifiers which can regulate the room’s humidity levels too. This way you get air devoid of pollutants and laden with optimum moisture. You must have felt discomfort in breathing when the air around is too dry? This is because our nasal passage loves to remain moist to keep us healthy. The Philips AC3821 is the best air purifier for delhi in dry weather.
One such air purifier is the Philips AC3821 Air Purifier and Humidifier. Philips AC3821 has a real-time pollution display plus a color LED air quality indicator. It is a costly appliance but it can cover a huge area of 861 sq.ft. This is the average size of a 2 BHK flat. In other words, this single air purifier is powerful enough to cater to a large area. Not just it cleans the air but also plants enough moisture to maintain a relative humidity of 50-70%.
CHECK ITS PRICE
COMPARABLE ALTERNATIVE!
The Panasonic F-VXF35MAD is also an air purifier-humidifier combo. It has a smaller coverage of around 230 sq.ft. and has an Ionizer which can be independently operated. With a water tank of 2.1 L, it is also a good option. It does not have any sort of air quality display, rest is all good. We have a detailed review of this model, just search it.
APART FROM BUYING AN AIR PURIFIER- DO THIS TOO!
There are many other things you can do to save your family from the adverse effects of inhaling the polluted air in Delhi NCR. Air Purifiers can produce speedy results and a much cleaner indoor air quality. Delhi and metros often witness dusty winds. Air Purifiers can help combat dust, allergens and air-borne pollutants like poisonous gases. But, this is all up to a limit. What if we stop the pollution at its source itself? Below are some tips.
1. Get A Humidifier For Room
Humidifiers can significantly improve the air quality in your rooms. Air laden with optimum level of moisture is good for your health. Plus moist air strengthens your body’s inbuilt defenses against pollutants. In dry and hot weather or smoggy days, humidifiers can prove to be a blessing. Patients who suffer asthma and breathing difficulties see a clear difference.
Humidifiers from Allin Exporters and Tesco are most loved by users. Humidifiers with timers and beautiful color LEDs are available. There are cool-mist humidifiers which have no hot parts and are safe to be kept around small kids. Most humidifiers have an auto cutoff feature when the water tank gets empty.
Best Cool Mist Humidifiers For Room
2. Wear Anti-Pollution Masks
Air Purifiers can provide respite only while you are at home or in office. For times when you have to compulsorily venture out, get a mask. Good quality pollution masks are very useful when you are on the go. We have a very detailed post on Best N99 pollution masks and it has N95 masks as well which you can purchase. A good quality pollution mask definitely helps in preserving your health in this pollution.
Best N99 Pollution Masks For Bikers
You need to be watchful to buy a right-sized pollution mask only. An ill-fit mask would not do any good.
3. Maintain Greenery Near Windows & Balconies
Plants come to your rescue here as well. You can plant some creepers near your windows. This would allow oxygen rich air to come inside. Plus dust and pollution would be stopped from entering your home. Splash the plant leaves occasionally with water to clean them. Keep the windows semi-open and draw curtains in front of them. Trust me it really helps this way.
Above is an actual image how I have achieved this setup at my home. There are many varieties of plants for indoor use. Such plants have been tested by NASA and absorb fumes which are commonly found in your homes. Sprinkling water on dusty roads is a common and useful practice. Recently Delhi Municipal corporation has deployed water sprinklers to bring down the PM 2.5 levels.
BEST INDOOR PLANTS WHICH REMOVE POLLUTION
4. Use A Vacuum Cleaner Wherever Possible
Your maid brooms your home daily setting up a mini dust storm isn’t it? Dust from the floor settles onto other household stuff. You can avoid this by asking her to only wet-clean the floor. Here are some of the Best Vacuum cleaners. Always keep your Air Purifier away from direct dust. Keep them covered in their case when not in use. Identify the time of the day when the air quality is the best. Open the doors and windows to let fresh air fill up. After that keep the doors and windows closed until night when you repeat this before going to bed.
Do read an extremely comprehensive post on the Best Air Purifier for Asthma.
5. Use Natural Room Fresheners
Room fresheners smell good and are very commonly used everywhere. Products with natural ingredients are safe for you and the environment.
What Pollutants Are Present in Delhi’s Air?
Delhi’s air quality is moderate for most part of the year. In months of October to December, the air quality takes a hit. Stubble burning, cold weather and people burning bonfires for warming water are the top reasons. Dust particles suspended in air contribute 22% towards worsening air quality. Hope someday the government plans to plant grass or does landscaping along the roads or in vacant plots. Dust can be greatly reduced if it is done on a war-footing.
You name the pollutant and you have it! Delhi’s air can get probably the worst after Beijing’s air in some months. Industrial units operate illegally and flout norms of pollution control. Crores of private vehicles cause severe pollution especially during traffic jams. Pollution from vehicles is the top contributor to Delhi’s pollution woes. Government has introduced a much cleaner fuel with BS VI which is a welcome step. Along with this we would suggest stricter implementation of PUC checks and punishments.
LOCK-DOWN BROUGHT DOWN POLLUTION
You have witnesses with your own eyes, how remarkably cleaner the atmosphere had become. Visuals of far-off mountains visible from cities were so common. Many people in metros, showed how a sky full of stars looks like at night! This sea change can be brought about, if our vehicular traffic is controlled. I don’t say the lockdown situation is a practically viable thing. But, its just an indicator of how much damage we do to the environment with all our activities. Perhaps nature put a comma with Coronavirus to set our thinking right.
Final Words – Best Air Purifier For Delhi Pollution
We must be conscious of our actions and fulfill our responsibility towards nature. Just with a little care and effort we can beat the Delhi pollution menace. Why leave everything on the government to do? This may sound cliché and boring but its for our own good. At least cut single-use plastic use, it will make a huge difference. Waste segregation if done at home can decrease the burden on overflowing landfills. Seen the garbage mountain at Ghazipur and Okhla? Every waste you throw away recklessly comes back to you in some way or the other.
Only a portion of the plastic and inorganic wastes reaches landfills. Majority of it is burnt off in nearby vacant plots. The leachate (word for concentrated toxic liquid) from the waste seeps into the ground and pollutes groundwater. Waste in landfills too often catches fire or is burnt and you breathe its fumes. This is how our waste mismanagement haunts us.
Its very sad state of affairs that nothing is pure in current times. Already the food is causing cancer, water is toxic, air is poisonous. Still, a small step in the right direction is necessary to lead us to our destination. Remember, what you sow is what your reap. I hope my tips could prove to be of some benefit to you.
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