As spring settles in France, Electrolux launches its Well A7 air purifier. The use of this type of device, which was initially thought to be reserved for periods of heavy pollution, is also recommended to neutralize pollen, the cause of allergic symptoms in 20 to 30% of French people. Stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, conjunctivitis, asthma due to pollens have they found a solution? “20 Minutes” tested the Well A7 to find out.
Recycled plastics
Sun, rising temperatures and pollen form for many an explosive cocktail capable of developing allergic symptoms. Swedish manufacturer Electrolux’s Well A7 air purifier comes at just the right time, as the National Aero Surveillance Networkannounces the start of pollination in France.
With its chunky vegan leather handle, the device looks like a suitcase that you could move from room to room. To be placed on the floor or hung on the wall, it is even customizable thanks to different colored fronts with their 100% recycled woven cover. On the top of the device, two touch buttons: On/Off and Smart/Manual.
Two modes for all uses
Smart mode automates air filtration in the room where the device is placed. Thanks to its sensors (PM1, 2.5, 10, TVOC), the Well A7 will thus adapt in real time to the quality of the ambient air by modulating its filtration at five speeds. We noticed this in particular when we were vacuuming next to it: the Well A7 instantly reinforced its filtration, the volatile particles having developed strongly due to our action.
For its part, the manual mode is rather to be used according to specific needs, such as when cooking, where the family follows one another in the bathroom, two rooms conducive to the spread of various odors and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Pollen absorbed
The Well A7 thus offers five levels of filtration. Under the hood of the machine, a mesh pre-filter, an ultra-fine particle filter and a carbon filter stand out in order. This set filters fine particles down to 0.3 microns, eliminates 99.9% of bacteria, but also absorbs VOCs that generate bad odors. PM10, inhalant particles of 10 micrometers that can irritate the airways and lungs, like pollens, are absorbed. Finally, an ionizer neutralizes the fine particles in the air by degumming them and precipitating them on the ground. More risk of them being inhaled.
An application to control the air quality
During our tests, we particularly appreciated the fact that the Well A7 was silent. You can without risk of being inconvenienced place it in a room to filter the air during the night. In addition, its application (Wellbeing, on iOS and Android) allows you to know at any time the quality of your indoor air, and in particular its PM10 content, these particles such as pollen which can currently cause torment. Electrolux has even developed a set of specific filters (“Breathe”, sold for 49 euros) to fight pollen even more effectively.
Finally, it seemed interesting to us to be able to start the filtration remotely and ensure that the air in our house will be cleaned up when we were going home from work. Too bad, however, that no notification is sent to warn in the event of detection of stale air. This purifier sold for 419 euros lacks a “Standby” mode which would thus make it possible to trigger an alert, without having to check the air quality of your home.