According to a study by Perspectus Global, more than a third of Brits attribute their skin problems to air pollution.
Aesthetic Doctor Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme explains, “Pollution can exacerbate existing conditions such as acne, eczema and rosacea due to increased inflammation and oxidative stress”. But the impact from road vehicles, aviation and the capitol’s pesky densely packed buildings can do more harm than simply stressing out the complexion, it can affect our health too.
Air quality in London is frequently headline news, but the pollutants inside our homes are largely ignored. According to research from the World Health Organisation, indoor air quality can often be two to five times worse than outdoor. Dust mites, mould, microbes, allergens, pollution, bacteria and even viruses can linger in the air and lead to respiratory problems, skin irritations, coughs and colds. Enter: air purifiers.
Dyson has dedicated a large portion of its R&D funding to reducing the impact of harmful emissions and its Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde is designed to tackle the aforementioned in large spaces. But setting you back the best part of £1000 - is it worth splashing your hard-earned pennies? I put it to the test.
Stats
- Noise level: 56 decibels
- Room coverage: up to 100m2
- Filter type: HEPA H13-grade particle filter
- Filter duration: up to five years
- Dimensions: 830mm (h) x 434mm (l) x 415mm (w)
- Weight: 11.9kg
Set-up
Nearly dwarfing my 5ft3 frame, I hoped that the huge box in which the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde was housed would open to reveal a lot of packaging and a petite purifier inside. No such luck. In Dyson’s way, the brand has kept the cardboard accoutrements to a minimum but on account of its sheer size, it filled two recycling bags as well as the broken-down exterior.
The simple setup process required the affixing of the conical top to the base and plugging it in. You can connect it to the companion app or put it on Auto for a faff-free purifying experience.
Design
A heavy-hitting air purifier from a heavy-hitting tech giant, Dyson's Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde is no wallflower. The conical device is coming for your home's real estate but for large spaces, it's worth the square footage sacrifice. It's cumbersome but in the Singaporean label’s signature style, it makes for an attractive interior focal point, especially in the gold and blue colourway.
Functionality
The newly launched purifier has been treated to an upgraded filtration function and offers double the airflow of previous models (up to 87 litres of airflow per second, according to Dyson). The device is fitted with a K-Carbon filter to trap NO₂ while monitoring CO₂ levels and destroying the carcinogen formaldehyde - and for data nerds, provides reports on their levels in real-time. The results of the suite of 36 integrated sensors are shown in graph form on the built-in LCD graph, peaking and troughing when you're cooking, cleaning, blow-drying your hair or opening the window. It's strangely satisfying.
Cone Aerodynamics is the brand's new energy-efficient, low-pressure air delivery system, using the signature Dyson Coanda effect that you may recognise from the Supersonic hair dryer to project purified air more than 10 meters. There is a light breeze emanating from the machine in the process that is crisp, refreshing and makes you feel like you’re in the Alps. There is also a fan functionality that will come very welcome in the summer and you can play around with the angle of the projected air, ranging from 0 to 50°.
Whisper-quiet, the purifier produces just 56 decibels - the equivalent of a low whirring that is not overpowering and easily downed up by the TV.
As far as my gripes are concerned, the first and foremost is the price. This is something that has come to be expected with Dyson products (the Airwrap is £480!) and the sheer level of technology involved but it’s £100 more expensive than its predecessor. And, secondly, it’s not easily manoeuvrable, even though it’s on wheels as these do not roll well across carpet. It weighs 11.4kg so requires some level of upper body strength for full home purification.
Verdict
Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde
London’s air quality leaves a lot to be desired but it turns out, it can follow you home. WHO research shows indoor air quality can often be two to five times worse than outdoor with dust mites, mould, bacteria and more potentially wreaking havoc on your skin and respiratory health.
So, what’s the solution? Call in the big guns.
Dyson’s Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde is a heavy hitter in every sense of the word. The conical device gets to work cleansing air with an upgraded filtration function and double the airflow of previous models. It’ll shine best in larger spaces — where it hopefully won’t stand out as much — and will set you back the best part of £1,000. But at least it looks cool with Dyson’s technical wizardry packed away behind a gold and Prussian blue chassis.
It is embedded with Cone Aerodynamics, the brand’s new energy-efficient, low-pressure air delivery system that harnesses the Dyson Coanda effect to propel purified air more than 10 metres.
What she takes up in floor space, she makes up for in noise — or, rather, lack of it. Whisper-quiet, Dyson’s machine produces just 56 decibels at the top level, about the same as a fridge humming. This air-cleaning addition reports on the results of its suite of 36 integrated sensors in graph form.
Cue Alpine levels of freshness.
Buy now £929.99, Dyson
