Air purifier. Worth it? Recommendations?

[nerp]

I'm thinking about getting an air purifier for my living room/reading room which ideally would help reduce the amount of dust in the air and improve overall air quality. I am acting under the assumption the market for these devices is filled with a lot of smoke and mirrors and lies and deceptions. I suspect you really get what you pay for but it's easy to pay way too much for something, too.

So does anyone have any recommendations for a solid product that's worth the money?

 

[Iron Woode]

hepa box-fan filter FTW.

 

[El Guaraguao]

lol air purifiers....

 

[Sea Moose]

http://www.daikin.com.au/products.asp?sid=4

 

[mmntech]

I'm mildly allergic to grass pollen so I bought a HEPA based air filter for my bedroom. Also to keep the dust down because I have a lot of electronics in there. Does it work? Sort of. It does a good job if you keep the fan running on high. In quiet mode, it's the next best thing to useless. Of course I'm not going to listen to it all night.

 

[Sphexi]

Honeywell used to make these large round ones that were meant for like 800sq/ft, they discontinued them a few years back tho. I found one new on ebay for cheap, it sits in our living room on high all day, and low when we're around. As someone else pointed out, mostly keeps the dust down, and if you have open windows it's pointless to run, but it does help a little. My wife has some mild allergies to cat fur and crap like that, since we've gotten it she hasn't had any issues.

My bad, thought it had been discontinued, but I can find it still. Honeywell 50250, it's the three stackable filter one. No special ionic crap, just pure throughput.

 

[Ksyder]

Hepa purifiers are fantastic. I've had about 4-5 different models and the one I like best is something along these lines- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16896112005

They are expensive and the replacement filters are also pricey but in the past I've lived with people that smoke in the house and so the best I could do was run an air cleaner. They also work great for reducing cooking odors in the kitchen.

They can be loud when on the highest speed and cost a few bucks a month on electricity if you use them a lot (I would leave them running in the living room overnight) but it is one of those things that is just worth it if clean air is important to you.

The thing to be aware of in my opinion is the air flow pattern of the unit that you choose. I had some that blow clean air out of the top in a cone shape pattern, one that blows straight up, and one that exhausts clean air out of the bottom in a disc shaped pattern underneath where the dirty air enters. I've found that the 360 degree type placed in the middle of a room works best, at least for odors from smoking.

I've noticed when the filters need to be changed, the clean air coming out starts to have a funny smell. Also, the pre-filter usually picks up the big dust particles and you can wash the pre-filter and it extends the life of the paper filter a bit. I've also found that the bigger air cleaners obviously are better if you have very dirty air since they are much more powerful with a bigger motor and larger surface area of the filter on the unit. Air cleaners with ionizers tend to work great for smoke odors but I've heard that the ozone that these emit isn't healthy so I stopped using them.

Also make sure whatever unit you purchase has 3 speeds, the two speed ones are only low and high so its either too much or not enough power.

 

[lxskllr]

I liked ionizers, but I don't quite trust them. I read some stuff indicating they could cause cell oxidation, but I don't know how valid the reports were. The ionizer definitely left the air smelling good though.

 

[Brainonska511]

You're probably better off vacuuming and dusting regularly if there is enough dust in the air that you think you'd need an air purifier. Though, if you are going to get one, the ones with HEPA filters are definitely better. Those 'ionizer' ones are pretty much bs.

 

[irishScott]

http://www.air-purifiers-america.com/

I've had an Alen T300 for years. Works like a charm, and quiet enough that I can sleep to it. Get a HEPA. Ionizers usually don't filter nearly as much and can create ozone, which can have long-term health consequences.
http://www.air-purifiers-america.com/product.asp?product=T300

 

[TridenT]

Better off making your home AC have all that shit built in.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ Merv 11 ftw

 

[TridenT]

^ Merv 11 ftw

I prefer Merv 20.

 

[thescreensavers]

BS they dont make merv 20 AC air filters lol, I thought it only went up to 15, I guess 11 sucks ha

 

[TridenT]

BS they dont make merv 20 AC air filters lol, I thought it only went up to 15, I guess 11 sucks ha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_Efficiency_Reporting_Value

They don't, but it's basically multiple passes through those same pockets of air to attain supah air.

 

[thescreensavers]

ah I see. Extra extra clean air

 

[TridenT]

ah I see. Extra extra clean air

My perfect world. :awe: I'm so tired of pollen allergies!

 

[thescreensavers]

^ Zertec!

I have these merv 8 filters that you can cut up and size, I think I might use some of the extra material ontop of the filter in my car so I can get the supa clean air.

 

[TridenT]

^ Zertec!

I have these merv 8 filters that you can cut up and size, I think I might use some of the extra material ontop of the filter in my car so I can get the supa clean air.

My car doesn't even have an air filter for the cabin.

 

[nerp]

Thanks for the info. That cheap honeywell unit on newegg looks compelling but it's rated for less than 400 sq ft. Considering the ground floor to my house is 3x that, it sounds inadequate.

 

[dullard]

Better off making your home AC have all that shit built in.

That is a bad idea for most people. The filter on the furnace/AC is to protect the furnace/AC. Putting a strong filter on your furnace/AC means that the furnace/AC fan will have to work extra hard and it means that the hot/cold air won't be able to be properly pushed to the far vents in your home. You'll end up with a low lifespan of your furnace/AC and horrible temperature gradients throughout the house.

Instead, get the sub-$1 filters to protect your furnace/AC and replace them monthly. Then get a separate HEPA filter unit if you need clean air.

Only those people with specialty furnaces/ACs specifically meant for a HEPA filter should have it built in. Note: I realize you were probably mentioning this option, but it isn't feasible for most people.

 

[Juddog]

I have a small air filter for my room, definitely seems to help. It's a HEPA filter, and the main reason I use it is I get really bad allergies in the summer, as a secondary function it helps keep the dust from my computers. Well worth it IMHO.

 

[vi edit]

I gotta ask...do you people that have air purifiers spontaneously combust into a frenzy of sneezing and runny eyes when you walk outside the pristine confines of your home?

 

[Magusigne]

I'm thinking about getting an air purifier for my living room/reading room which ideally would help reduce the amount of dust in the air and improve overall air quality. I am acting under the assumption the market for these devices is filled with a lot of smoke and mirrors and lies and deceptions. I suspect you really get what you pay for but it's easy to pay way too much for something, too.

So does anyone have any recommendations for a solid product that's worth the money?

You want a REAL product that works? It's going to cost you. I've tried ionizers and the cheap air purifiers. Did NOT work.

Ponied up and bought a used IQair purifier (Retails for 899) and it made a HUGE difference.

 

[Wag]

<Waves magnet in air> There you go, I just ionized the room.