Comment by Mister_Snuggles
3 years ago
I'm not qualified at all to do a deep dive, but I've got a FORNUFTIG and a STARKVIND and can give you some thoughts.
The STARKVIND is a LOT bigger than the FORNUFTIG. Assuming you're getting the standalone model, it's probably the depth of two or three FORNUFTIGs. This really surprised me. The table version is very interesting because it eliminates that problem by being a functional piece of furniture.
The STARKVIND filters are different than the FORNUFTIG, so no filter sharing. Conceptually they're the same - a paper particle filter plus an optional carbon filter. At its highest setting it's louder than the FORNUFTIG's highest setting, but at its lowest it's virtually inaudible. If you leave it in Auto mode you'll hear it ramp up when it detects particulates in the air and ramp down when the air quality returns to normal.
The main reason I bought the STARKVIND was the Zigbee interface. The IKEA Home Smart app is functional, but after the initial setup I only use Home Assistant to control it. In Home Assistant there are sensors for particulates and filter life, and controls for fan speed and mode (auto/manual). I'm using the IKEA gateway for my STARKVIND since deCONZ support wasn't completely ready at the time. Overall, it lives up to expectations as far as control goes.
This is my use case more or less. Basically I want to be able to leave the house and say "hey google, clean this mess" and it'll start my strategically placed robot vacuums and run the filters on max while that's happening to minimise particulate spread.
Mostly though, I just want some extra power for larger rooms.
I run my STARKVIND in Auto mode most of the time, but from 4PM to 9PM I have scheduled it (via Home Assistant) to run on full power - basically to clean the air, regardless of what the sensor tells it, before bedtime.
What you're asking for is 100% reasonable and easily achievable.