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Singapore is blessed enough to have great air quality. It’s especially true when you compare it to our neighbours. Great as our quality is though, we’re still at the mercy of the elements. Of course, haze is also a recurring issue. With global warming set to become more evident in the next few years, chances are we’re in for some tough times ahead. So why not get something like the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier to prepare?
It used to be that I could care less about regular air quality in my house. That all changed when I adopted a cat with asthma. To make sure she’s comfortable, I had to monitor the air in my house at all times. No joke, right now every single room in my HDB 4-room flat has an air purifier in it that runs whenever the cat is in the room.
Now that I’ve had the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier for a couple of weeks, what do I think about it?
Read on and find out!
What is the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier?
The focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier is basically what the name says. It’s a 2-in-1 machine that has both air purifying and dehumidifying capabilities.
Here are its specs, direct from focuswater’s website.
Our review unit was provided by the kind folks at focuswater. Thanks so much!
On first brush, the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier looks really simple and unassuming.
Made from smooth hard plastic, the unit is nearly featureless (save for its vents) apart from its handful of controls at the top of the machine. There’s a slot for the HEPA 13 filter at the side of the machine (which is concealed when covered), and another opening for the water sucked out from the air at the back.
It really doesn’t take a genius to use the machine, which is a plus point for me, as I hate to read manuals. You just tap the button to turn it on, tap another to turn on the air purifier and dehumidifier functions. So easy, so fuss free. Just tap tap tap and done!
Unfortunately, the folks over at focusair missed out a crucial setting; a manual timer. Perhaps the app lets you set timings for the machine but since I can’t access it, I have no idea. Either way, folks using the machine manually like me have no way to make the machine turn off (or on) automictically, which can be an issue if you’re leaving the house and don’t want to run the machine till you get back hours later.
I usually let the machine run on its highest setting, which produces a steady drone as it works. Unless your room is super quiet, it won’t be noticeable at all once you’re playing music or watching TV. Despite it being about two meters away (probably less than that to be honest) from me when in my study, I couldn’t even hear it running when I was gaming or watching Netflix.
Hell, I’m writing the review now with it running and I can’t even hear it over Alien Romulus playing on my TV.
It’s loud, but not loud enough to be noticeable is pretty much what I’m saying.
The unit features a removable HEPA 13 filter too, which means that it can trap dust, pollen and everything that’s .2 microns or larger. That means mold spores and even some bacteria and viruses can be caught. A HEPA filter is good, but it also means you’ll need to be proactive in changing them out every few months. Make sure you have some spare filters and you’ll be set!
The bottom line is that, it should result in cleaner air for the room the machine is operating in.
Now this is a tricky thing to prove. I mean how do you prove that you’d be sick without the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier working? All I can say is that I’ve not had issues with flu or cough or allergies in the last few weeks.
My asthmatic cat isn’t as affected by her asthma too.
While she does get her attacks still, they happen at a reduced frequency and for shorter periods. Can I attribute it to the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier? I can’t honestly say, but the machine is usually with my cat in the spare bedroom in my house now.
The focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier also features app integration with focusair’s Smart Life app. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make use of that feature because it requires a 2.4Ghz router signal. Mine only supports 5Ghz.
Even without the app though, I had no issues running the machine via its manual controls.
Prior to using the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier, I’ve been using the Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier. At about SG$150, the air purifier is decent enough but a bit lacking on features.
In comparison, the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier is now on sale for SG$199. That amount gets you an air purifier and dehumidifier with app controls. It has an effective reach of 20m2 for both its functions, making it perfect for HDBs and small condo units. If you live in a big mansion (or have multiple floors in your location), you’re screwed though.
To be honest, I’m actually quite impressed with the machine.
I live on the 14th floor, which is the top storey in my HDB.
A couple of years back, my aircon units conked out and I had no air-conditioning for close to 3 months. The heat was bad enough, but it was the humidity that was the killer. I would constantly sweat, not just from the heat, but from the sheer humidity. It was like a sauna sometimes, hot and muggy and wet.
You could literally see fungus growing on clothes (I realized that too late and had to throw a ton of shirts away) and even the walls (despite using paint that were supposed to protect against such growth). My family literally had to clean the house regularly to stop these issues from being health hazards.
From then on, I’ve realized that my house can never be without air conditioning. What I should have done also, was to get an dehumidifier unit.
While my aircon is working now, I barely run it in my spare bedroom. It’s always my study, the living room and my bedroom that gets the aircon, rarely the spare bedroom. It only gets an aircon burst every few weeks to stop mold from growing.
I used that spare bedroom exclusively as the test for the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier. Door closed, with the machine smack dab in the middle of the room, I let the machine work its magic every day for about 5 hours (from 12 – 5pm), for 14 days straight. As an aside, I’m not looking forward to seeing my electric bill for this month.
The purpose of my doing that was to see if there was any difference running the machine and just letting the room just stew in the heat. I’ve seen how bad it can become, now I wanted to see how a dehumidifier can help.
There is honestly a difference.
Despite two weeks of rain and blazing sun and insane humidity, the room is pretty much clean. There’s no sign of any fungus growing in the dark corners, the shirts are all pristine and the air feels remarkable fresher if it makes any sense. The humidity doesn’t feel as severe.
In fact, it’s noticeably less now. The room feels drier to be honest. The air quality seems to be cleaner too, but then again, that might just be my nose playing tricks on me. Without any instruments to tell me otherwise, it’s hard to be sure about this.
I am sure the dehumidifier bit works great though!
That’s something I can stand behind wholeheartedly.
There’s no better way to say that the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier is awesome than that methinks.
The Bottom Line.
The focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier makes a great case for purchase. Its SG$199 price point is supremely attractive, and is on par for with its competitors. Its features are good enough for a basic unit, and it even has app support!
It’s not a perfect machine though. It’s missing a manual timer function, the app only supports 2.4Ghz networks and its 20m2 capability means bigger houses are a bit out of its reach. The last part might not be an issue for most Singaporeans, but the first two are potentially big deal breakers.
Still, if you’re in the hunt for an air purifier or dehumidifier, why not get the focuswater 2 in 1 Air Purifier & Dehumidifier and kill two birds with one stone? Just make sure to know what you’re getting into.
TLDR:
Does exactly what it promised at a super price point.
The Good:
- Decent price.
- HEPA 13 filter integration.
- Very easy to use.
- WiFi/ app available.
- Two features in one machine.
- Not super loud, even on High.
The Bad:
- Users with 5Ghz networks are out of luck.
- 20m2 effective coverage means big houses or spaces will need multiple units.
- No manual timer controls.
Salehuddin Husin, EIC
Sal's been in the industry since the early 2000s. He's written for a ton of gaming and tech publications including Playworks, Hardwarezone, HWM and GameAxis. Recently, Sal served as a juror for the Indie Game Awards at Taipei Game Show 2020. A geek and hardcore gamer, Sal will play everything, on any platform.
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