Room Air Purifier Reviews

Archive for the ‘Best Room Air Purifiers’ Category

Room Air Purifier Reviews: Best Room Air Purifiers

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Improving air quality of rooms in the house has been a concern for numerous individuals, thus, making the use of a room air purifier important. Some even go to the extent of furnishing every room with a room air purifier. The manufacturers of room air purifiers have been employing different technologies to make their brand effective in confining air contaminants that especially affect the allergic population. Some technologies used to make room air purifiers effective are HEPA, Vortex and Filtrete.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower HEPAQuiet Room Air Purifier with Permanent IFD Filter

This room air purifier is built to effectively eliminate dust, pollen, mold spores and dander in larger rooms. Its permanent HEPA filters, which are easily cleaned through vacuum, eradicate 99.97% of all particles that go through them and 99.4% of minute particles like bacteria and germs. It uses a washable pre-filter that captures the larger particles. This room air purifier comes in 18 x 18 x 19.6 inches in size and weighs 23 pounds. It operates with a 3-notch speed control and a warning light to indicate the time to replace or clean the HEPA and pre-filters.
Vornado AQS500 Whole Room Air Purifier with Vortex Technology
The Vornado AQS500 Whole Room Air Purifier employs Vortex Technology, which was designed especially for the asthma sufferer, to efficiently generate a fresh flow of air in a room with a size as large as 324 feet or less with results as fast as 30 minutes. Some users attest that besides eliminating odors and cooling the room, their allergy symptoms and the need for medication abated upon using this room air purifier.

The AQS500 of this room air purifier is a two-filter mechanism that traps allergens like dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, mold spores, and dust mite debris. It is furnished with a remote control, timer, 3-notch speed, automatic shut-off, and a change filter indicator that denotes the time to change filters.

This room air purifier is 13-4/5 by 10-2/5 by 24-1/5 inches in dimension and has a 5-year limited warranty. The loudest sound it produces is as loud as an oscillating fan that one becomes used to and could still sleep on.

3M FAP03-RS Filtrete Ultra Clean Air Purifier

Designed for large rooms up to 350 square feet, this room air purifier measures 18 x 9 x 27 inches and weighs 19 pounds. Its white color makes many think that it will blend in any room. It features an electrostatic air purifier, ideal for large rooms, with charged fibers to attract suspended dust particles, thus, eradicating pollen, mold and dust mites. This room air purifier is also 99.9% successful in trapping large particles.

Many vouch that this room air purifier is effective in reducing allergy symptoms and pet odor but would have been more effective had it employed carbon pre-filter to eliminate organic odor.

Sporting a filter change indicator, this room air purifier makes use of a relatively cheaper replaceable filter that is easily available. Buying a 4-filter pack is recommended to enjoy savings.

Whole House Air Purifier Reviews: Best Whole House Air Purifiers

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Unlike those of room air purifiers, the mechanisms utilized by the different brands of the whole house air purifiers are distinctive from one another. While most whole house air purifiers require electricity in order to run, a type of whole house purifiers are non-electric. Since they are installed to benefit the entire house, most whole house air purifiers affect some other house mechanisms installed in the house, like HVAC system and furnace operation. Except for some brands, most whole house air purifiers are pricey but almost maintenance-free. Also, these whole house air purifiers need professionals for installation.

IQAir Perfect 16 Whole House Air Purifier

The IQAir Perfect 16 Whole House Air Purifier is a comprehensive non-electrical mechanism installed to distribute purified air to every room of the entire house with 95% air cleaning rate and 100% ozone-free operation.

As with many whole house air purifiers, the initial cash outlay is quite hefty, with a professional fee for installation already added to its cost. But because it requires low maintenance – no filter change required and long cleaning time interval requirement – this whole house air purifier saves the user time and money. Furthermore, it has no motor or electrical parts, resulting to great savings in energy bills. Being non-electric also ensures a completely silent operation and simpler installation using this whole house air purifier.

However, this whole house air purifier functions only with an installed and running HVAC system and one whole house air purifier is necessary for every HVAC system which means to say that we cannot literally consider it a “whole house” air purifier. Despite its setbacks, this is a great investment for houses already with HVAC and people with compromised immune systems (like AIDS, cancer and severe allergies) living in it.

Amaircare Models 10000 & 8500 Whole House Air Purifiers

The Amaircare whole house air purifiers effectively prevent chemical, dust-mite, and pollen allergies in homes with 3200 to 4000 square feet dimensions to make air refreshingly breathable for allergic inhabitants.

The leading benefit of the Amaircare whole house air purifiers is the absence of noise common to several room air purifiers, as this brand of whole house air purifiers are typically situated in a utility closet or basement. They could constantly keep the air in the entire house purified but they when installed they ideally require a good furnace filter, a qualified technician who must follow building codes and additional room air purifiers making it all the more expensive.

As compared to IQAir whole house purifiers which do not require electricity to function, the Amaircare whole house purifiers appear to be more costly in this aspect. However, the Amaircare whole house purifiers are more adaptable to duct or non-duct installation.

G-7 Whole House Air Purifier System.

The G-7 Whole House Air Purifier functions through its G-7 Air Purifier System which utilizes four mechanisms in eliminating all types of pollution pervading the air and those fastened to surfaces like walls, floors, ceilings, carpets and furniture. This feature makes the whole house air purifiers superior over other air purifiers that only provide a 2-way mechanism and handles pollutants in the air only and is especially beneficial to allergy sufferers.

Like other air purifiers it abates smells due to cooking, pets, smoking and mildew. However, the advantage of this whole house air purifier is in its quiet operation and the absence of the need to replace filter. The pre-filter used in this whole house air purifier can be periodically washed. Its dimensions are 8.9 x 8.8 x 12.8 inches and weighs 16 pounds, making this whole house air purifier surprisingly smaller and lighter than other types of air purifiers.

Electronic Air Filter Reviews: Best Electronic Air Filters

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Air filters, a vital part of every air cleaner, have four major kinds: the mechanical, gas phase, hybrid and electronic air filters. They vary in mechanism and the particular air contaminants they eliminate. An electronic air filter works by confining allergens using electrostatic precipitators with a fan. With the use of electric charges, electronic air filters attract the air contaminants.

Some people discourage the use of electronic air filters because, although they are effective, their electric charge produces ozone as a by-product which is known to be environmentally hazardous. Moreover, electronic air filters are also costly as they consume electricity and need to be maintained. But when it cannot be helped but to use an electronic air filter, always verify the amount of ozone it produces when buying one.

Electronic air filters can come in the form of an expensive whole house air purifier or a cheap portable air cleaner, as long as it uses the mechanism of electric charges to trap particulates in the air. The hybrid air filter is a crossbreed of mechanical and electronic air filters, thus, also emits ozone.

Alpine Electronic Air Filter
The Alpine Electronic Air Filter boasts of using an electrostatic field media filter called the non-ionizing electronic air filtration system that can trap not just the usual allergens but also avian influenza virus, SARS and biological substances from bioterrorist attacks. A multi-layer electronic air filter is necessary to increase the electromagnetic field and trap critical nano particles. This type is ideal for homes, commercial buildings, medical units in the hospital (ICU, OPD, OR, ER), scientific laboratories and many more. Efficacy rate of this electronic air filter is 99%. A Thai company designed and manufactures this electronic air filter and exports to the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Asia.

Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner
Aprilaire Electronic Air Cleaner is a whole house electronic air filter which has a proven 80% efficiency in attracting very minute particles like virus. It has a special electronically enhanced media that permanently traps particulates unlike other electronic air filters that lose efficiency in the long run and requires constant maintenance. It is also proven to be 94% effective in eliminating disease-causing bacteria as tiny as 0.35 micron, and 99% successful in removing pollens and spores. In addition, this electronic air purifier also protects cooling and heating equipment and is offered with a 2-year limited warranty.

Oreck Air Purifier air7 Electronic Filter System
The Oreck Air Purifier that utilizes the air7 electronic filter system is a tabletop electronic air filter that is devised to attract up to 95% particles in a 30 square feet room. Its electronic air filter traps particles as small as 0.01 microns or 1/1000th the width of a human hair. The permanent electronic air filter is washable and works twenty-four-seven. This also has an added charcoal filter to eliminate household odors.

Electro Breeze Electronic Air Cleaner
The Electro Breeze electronic air filter, with its electronic magnetic field technology, is shown to perform 99% efficiency in trapping 1 micron particulates. This electronic air filter is easy to install and entails low maintenance. Over twenty years of operation, the technology of this electronic air filter has undergone upgrading. It is suitable for old large commercial buildings for retrofitting and new homes with allergy sufferers, as well.

Distinct from other electronic air filters, Electro Breeze employs three scientific principles: Impingement, Polarization and Agglomeration. Other electronic air filters only uses impingement filters.

Best Air Purifier Reviews: Best Air Purifiers

Monday, December 21st, 2009

This article will help buyers who are looking for the best air purifier in the market to decide on their purchase.  Installing the best air purifier is now a necessity due to various pollutants hovering in homes. These contaminants responsible for your search of the best air purifier include smells that originate from cooking, smoke, bodies, pets and litter boxes. Microbes like germs, bacteria, viruses, spores, and mold may also abound. Other contaminants are chemical fumes and gases emitted from benzene, nail treatment products and formaldehyde that can be eliminated by most air purifiers. Particulates like dust, dust mites, allergens, dander, and pollen make the air dense and unfit for inhalation.

They are also the culprits for asthma and allergy. In fact, approximately 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a certain type of allergy. This intensifies the need for homes to install the best air purifier. Accordingly, about $350 million is spent on air purifiers annually in the US.

Austin Air Allergy Machine, Jr. HEGA Home Air Purifier
The Austin Air Jr. HEGA Home Air Purifier is considered the best air purifier for allergic persons sensitive to both small and medium particulates. HEPA or High Efficiency Particulate Adsorption, common among several air filters, is the mechanism which addresses small particulates like dust, mold and pollen. However, medium-sized particulates, like chemical gases, are also common in cities and new houses and may not be addressed by HEPA alone. HEGA filtration, employed in Austin Air purifier, combines both HEPA small particles filtration with the carbon cloth’s gas trapping capability which makes Austin Air the best air purifier when it comes to trapping medium particles.

Weighing 18 pounds, Austin Air purifier is fit for the bedroom occupying 750 square feet of space since it must be set 8 inches from the wall.

Although considered noisy when operated on a high level, customers attest that this is the best air purifier to control mold problem, refreshes the air  especially for the asthmatic, despite the presence of pets provided that maintenance medication is  taken. However, it is not the best air purifier to handle tobacco smoke.

It is also the best air purifier when it comes to maintenance. Cleaning is easily done once a week with a vacuum cleaner without opening the filter. Pre-filter is easily and affordably replaceable annually. In contrast, the HEGA filter is expensive but is replaceable every 3 years, which makes it cost-effective in the long run since it lasts 30% longer than the usual carbon/zeolite filters. It consumes less electricity even when set on highest level. It comes with a 5year warranty on all parts and labor.

IQAir HealthPro Compact Air Purifier
IQAir HealthPro Compact air purifier also professes to be the best air purifier for people with severe allergies through air systems found to remove particles down to 0.01 microns with 99% efficiency. Categorized as compact, it has dimensions of 16×15x34 inches and weighs 34 pounds, although several users still find it too bulky to be labelled as such.

Its digital controls include a remote control (batteries included), integrated timer, filter life indicator, and 6-notch fan speed. At its maximum fan speed on an 8.5 feet ceiling, IQAir HealthPro air purifier covers a span of 1000 square feet.

Like other brands vying for the accolade best air purifier, buyers find it expensive but effective in eliminating pollutants, thus considered a worthy investment. It is appreciated for its easy installation, optional wheels for portability and immediate effects. Furthermore, it is also noted for its silence at low speed levels and low hum at high levels, a feature that is not found in several other air purifiers. One setback though that does not make it the best air purifier is its expensive filter replacements.

Austin Healthmate Jr. Air Purifier
With a capacity to clean air of a 700 square feet room, the Austin Healthmate Jr is considered the best air purifier for bedrooms, nurseries, kitchens, personal offices or studio apartments. It is proven to eradicate pollen, smoke, house dust, dust mites, bacteria, cigarette smoke, mold spores, pet allergens and dander. It comes in colors of black, white and sandstone.

Unlike some air purifiers, Austin Healthmate Jr does not cause hazardous ozone or ionization. It boasts of a 5-year money saving filter life, and a pro-rated 5-year guarantee.

 

Before investing your money on what you think is the best air purifier, you must distinguish features of different models that are important to you, especially since it involves not just your wealth, but your health, as well. As one brand of air purifier puts it, “We are what we breathe.”