can air conditioning help to clean air indoors?

[fvw53]

Air pollution reaches sometimes dangerous levels in Bangkok.

This period I leave my windows open most of the day so that the polluted air can enter without obstruction.

Would it help to improve air quality indoors if I close windows and use air conditioning?

Toxic gas will not be stopped but I guess dust particles could ....or not?

[thedemon]

 

Yes running the aircon does help though obviously not to the same degree as a (preferably HEPA) air purifier.

 

For the last couple of years I have used an air purifier in my bedroom during the BKK smog season but for a year or so before that I only had a stand alone PM2.5 meter. Running the aircon alone would get the PM2.5 down to the 30-40 range which is supposedly a fairly safe level. However using both aircon and the purifier gets it into single digits.

[Dazinoz]

Buy a roll of filtrete and stick in front of filters. Helps a lot.

[lopburi3]

13 minutes ago, Dazinoz said:

Buy a roll of filtrete and stick in front of filters. Helps a lot.

Yes but they will get clogged very quickly and you do not want to completely cover AC intake as they greatly reduce airflow.  But keeping air outside will help a lot so open windows is not a good idea when air this dirty.  A dedicated HEPA air filter is a good investment (and they are starting to include with some airconditioners now).

[Dazinoz]

15 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Yes but they will get clogged very quickly and you do not want to completely cover AC intake as they greatly reduce airflow.  But keeping air outside will help a lot so open windows is not a good idea when air this dirty.  A dedicated HEPA air filter is a good investment (and they are starting to include with some airconditioners now).

yes it does block but also easy to change. But agree a dedicated filter is better. Btw I have a Hatari filter for sale on Facebook. 

[scoutman360]

Moisture in the air collects on the evaporator. When that happens, particulates in the air get caught by the moisture and drain outside. So, yes, it does help.

[rwill]

You can buy some PM 2.5 meters on Lazada or somewhere else.  They are not very expensive.  Then you can check for yourself.

[Lacessit]

Aircon filters don't take out much of the PM 2.5 , they are not designed for that. I usually run one or two air purifiers in tandem with the aircon during the smoke season, that gets me from 400 down to 40 on the meter.

[The Theory]

I bought this from Daiso, ฿60. They have different sizes. 

 

Edited January 21, 2021 by The Theory

[sometimewoodworker]

On 1/19/2021 at 7:33 PM, fvw53 said:

Air pollution reaches sometimes dangerous levels in Bangkok.

This period I leave my windows open most of the day so that the polluted air can enter without obstruction.

Would it help to improve air quality indoors if I close windows and use air conditioning?

Toxic gas will not be stopped but I guess dust particles could ....or not?

That party depends on the AC unit. Some have an extra ionisation option that makes them better than others, but even without that they will drop the particulate count.

[khunPer]

As the filter in an aircon gets dirty with dust and needs regular cleaning, depending of use of the aircon, it of course takes some dust particles out from the air.

 

However, it might not take much, and not the dangerous small 2.5 particles, but there should be relative good air purifiers available, you can have running in addition to, or instead of, your aircon.

 

Try to google "personal air-purifying devices", or search for "air-purifying" purifying on Lazada...????

[tweedledee2]

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Edited January 21, 2021 by tweedledee2
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[Hugh Cow]

Running a good air purifier in tandem wit the A/C is better. It also keeps the A/C filter and cooling coil cleaner so that it works at greater efficiency.

[moontang]

Running a hatari wall fan or even better, a ceiling fan, in addition to the ac will make it feel cooler, and assist in filtration.  I always had more dust on my ceiling fan blades than my ac filters. 

[overt2016]

Oops! I thought he said "her indoors"