WITH THE air quality in most metropolises swinging from hazardous to unhealthy most of the time, it would be a prudent expense to invest in a goodquality air purifier.

We recently brought home a Sharp FU-A80E-W air purifier after a comprehensive research online, talking to friends who had bought one, and, of course, after discussing it on social media.

An air purifier is a device that removes contaminants and pollutants from the air. It works like any filter by sucking in the air, passing it through a cleaning mechanism, and giving you clean air. Unlike water which is chemically treated, air is not purified chemically, but filtered.

THE LOOKS

The Sharp FU-A80E-W is a sleek looking device with nice clean lines and easy-to-read LED lights/ indicators. The device has both active and passive purification technologies. The dimensions in millimetres are 402 x 620 x 245 (W x H x D).

THE PERFORMANCE

The most important thing to look out when buying a purifier is whether it has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Consider your machine a glorified trash can if it doesn’t come with a good-quality HEPA filter. According to the US department of Energy, HEPA can/ must remove at least 99.97 per cent of 0.3 micrometers airborne pollutants.

The A80 is the top-of-the-line non-humidifying plasma-cluster — which means it does not have a humidifier attached to it. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers- (AHAM)-certified clean air delivery rates (CADR) average a strong 318.

The A80 has a pre-filter, which is a good thing. Let me explain why. Indian conditions are such that the air has heavy particulate matter, the PM2.5 and PM10 we keep hearing about in the news. It then has an activated carbon filter, whose main function is to suck out most of the gaseous containments in the air. Plasmacluster FP-A80U is a plasma-ion streamer, producing both positive and negative ions simultaneously. These ions attach to airborne water vapour and create hydroxyl radicals, which are very strong oxidizers.

It is commendable that this is one of the few devices able to purify air at a spectacular 62m2 (667 ft2) radius area.

The A80 retails online and offline from Rs 28,000 to Rs 34,000. The filters cost Rs 3,000 and needs to be replaced every 24 months.

THUMBS UP

There are several counts on which the SHARP FU-A80E-W scores over competition. There is no ozone, a once popular oxidizing agent which works well but persists in indoor air after use, posing health hazards. Plasmacluster oxidizers are short-lived and are considered much safer than ozone.

The top dry plasma-cluster is automated with auto mode running one dust sensor, which selects fan speed based on particulate levels. Energy star qualified, FP-A80U burns 98 watts on high fan, and a negligible 4.8 watts on low.

POSSIBLE CONCERNS

My only concern would be the two-year filter lifespan, which is relatively short for air purifier that comes with such powerful air suction. Still, for an air purifier of such calibre and the price at which it retails, you couldn’t ask for more.

Verdict: Most value for money!