If you're the type that would rather not be inundated with your Labrador's farts, then Solenco's 803 air purifier is an easy purchase. It's a bit steep at R5,000, necessary to provide enough power to clear out a large room, and smaller, cheaper models can be had for a few thousand less. But if you do go the 803 route, you won't be disappointed with its ability to clear the air. Rather quietly, we might add.
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Now that your budget isn’t being skimmed in search of those Eskom-fighting machines, it’s time to put that money elsewhere. Perhaps a cordless vacuum? Or maybe a smart fan to beat the heat? What about an air purifier? Now we understand that might not sit atop your list of priorities – it sure didn’t for us. But after a few weeks in the company of Solenco’s big-boy purifier – the 803 (nicknamed Thuza) – our tune has changed.
We mean that almost literally. A nearly full-time assault on the very air we breathe will have that effect. But in this case, that’s a good thing. It’s not cheap mind you, you’ll have to part with R5,000 before what we like to call the Crushinator will get into your car. But you’ll be glad it did, especially if you’ve got the room to accommodate it. If not, something like Solenco’s 204 might be more your speed.
Thuza crowd
The Solenco 803 is big. Real big. It’s relatively easy to move around in a pinch at 5.5kg (and measuring 275 x 278 x 534mm), but for the most part, you’ll want to leave it where it is. In the case of the 803, that’ll be the lounge or somewhere similar. Big, open spaces are the key.
If you’ve got room to spare, the 803 should blend into the background with ease. It’s an all-white affair, so if that does happen to clash with the feng shui, you might want to look elsewhere. More difficult was finding the “right” spot to stick it. Solenco reckons it works best with some space between it and a wall – the further out the better. So that’s exactly what we did.
With some difficulty, we might add. Did we already mention that this was one big boi?
Moving parts are kept to a minimum in the 803. A rather short cord sticks out the cylindrical back making it even more difficult to follow Solenco’s guide. Once you have, however, there’s a bunch of buttons sitting betwix the vents on the top – where the clean air is expelled. Solenco’s kept it simple; leaving you with a power, sleep timer, pairing button, and another to control just how hard you want the thing to work.
There’s no assembly required but you’ll want to release the clasp at the 803’s base to remove it and ensure that the filter is clear of any hindrances – like the plastic wrapping it arrives in. Stick it back in, close up the base, and it’s ready to go. It’s really just as simple as hitting the power button.
Dedicated to the craft
That’s the filter right there. It’s a big boy. It has to be – it’s the bit keeping the 803 in a job. It’s kitted out with four, separate filters; a pre-filter to prevent things like hair and dust from getting through, an H13 HEPA filter to stop smoke and pollen, a carbon filter designed to halt VOCs (chemicals from paint fumes, etc.) and odours, while the antiviral filter acts as a bouncer to any airborne bacteria or viruses that might want to infect you.
Once the air has passed through the filter, it’s got to beat one final challenge before it’s ready for your nostril’s consumption. A UV-C light – built into the 803’s substantial body – lies in wait to destroy harmful microorganisms that might have slipped past unnoticed. What you’re left with is pure, clean air. That’s the whole idea, anyway.
It’s worth noting that the filter won’t last forever. Solenco claims it’ll go 4,320 hours (or 180 continuous days) before it needs replacing, after which you’ll need to buy a new one, running you about R800 a pop. We’ve already managed to use up 121 of those precious hours, which noticeably gave the air quality around us a significant bump.
The best we can do is look at the connected Smart Life app to get a reading of the overall air quality near the 803’s home – as well as ply you with anecdotes that seemingly prove the 803’s worth. When it wasn’t saving us from a dog’s farts (we mean that literally), it was visibly purging smoke and associated odours from our living area. And, well, we happened to get sick whilst the 803 was taking a (forced) break.
We can’t prove the 803 would have stopped that cold from latching onto us, but we also can’t prove that it wouldn’t have, either. And make no mistake – there’s nothing to stop the 803 from truly running 24/7 for maximum protection. You’ll be expending some valuable hours, but if you really want it to, the 803 can run all night. It’s certainly quiet enough to manage the feat – perhaps not at max speed (54dB), but at the lower levels? You’ll sleep like a baby. We did.
‘Appy Days
If you aren’t all that keen on using the dedicated buttons on the 803’s top, you could always hook it up to your smartphone through the Smart Life app (Android/iOS) and control it remotely (AKA the couch). You’re getting all the same functionality, like the ability to switch between four fan speeds (Low, Mid, High, and Turbo), and automatic sleep timer powers. But what the app does best is keep an eye on the surrounding air quality.
At a glance, the Smart Life app would give a basic breakdown of the indoor quality – i.e. ‘Great’. After a few days of running at even the lowest fan speeds (we mostly let the ‘auto’ mode do its thing), we regularly scored a PM2.5 score of 4, which means the surrounding air is at a healthy level, with virtually no harmful pollutants in the air. That’s a big win where we’re concerned.
While the app’s use is certainly not mandatory to ensure the 803’s success, it’d be a shame to leave something so handy out in the cold. Even if the air quality isn’t a concern for you, the Smart Life app is an almost essential piece of kit when it comes to checking up on the remaining hours of your filter’s life.
Solenco 803 verdict
If you’re the type to wake up to a view of the Kelvin Power Station every morning, there’s a good chance you’d benefit from picking up an air purifier. Hell, anywhere in South Africa would benefit. But is Solenco’s 803 up to the task? In our opinion, yes – with its quiet, hardworking personality making it a must-buy for users looking to clear out a large, indoor space. If you’re looking to give the air in your bedroom a boost, however, you’ll want to grab something smaller (and cheaper), like the Solenco 204.
