Lets Talk Air Purifiers

[simplygreen]

We are on the search for an air purifier. I'm on my 3rd sinus infection in 2 months, so I need to try something. Ozone, Ionizer, UV lamp, Hepa Filter, I don't know where to begin....We live in a very old house and have had some mold issues....Anyone have any reccomendations? Thanks

[theresa1]

After lots of research and talking with the company and others who have this purifier we went with the Austin Air junior about 5 years ago. One year ago we wanted to get a larger one for out whole downstairs, more research in case there was some great new option but Austin Air won again. Not cheap, not the most expensive by far. made in the usa, only change the filter every 4-5 years. Ionizing ones are controversial, issues with electrolytes or something like that.  Good luck. 

[marimara]

I just bought one last week.  I have major allergies, esp. indoor allergies, and it has been helping a ton already.  From my limited research:

You DON"T want the ozone or ioninizing ones because they change the air in a way that's it's not good for you.  Sorry to not have more info on this, you'll have to look it up.   It's bad for your lungs.

If you have allergies to mold or pet dander you HAVE to get a true HEPA filter, not the so-called "hepa type" which doesn't filter the smallest particles out.  

The UV light thing is ok, I didn't buy one that had it, I though it was overkill.

They have room size ones (small, med, large) and even bigger ones but they are pretty expensive.

What I did is, since I'm the one with the most severe allergies in the house, I bought a medium room size one from Target, the Honeywell Permanent Filter QuietCare HEPA http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=honeywell+17000&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6722185409722125742&ei=-oXeTM6gAYG0lQeMmqj3Aw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEwQ8wIwAA#

It has a permanent filter and you only replace the pre-filters every 3-5 mths at $12/pc.

I keep my doors and windows shut and run it for about 4hrs before bedtime on high/med and then at night I turn it on low.

Sinus lavage (nasal rinses w/saline water) is really helpful to clean sinuses as well.

[talia rose]

We LOVE our Austin Airs!

[bluebackpacks]

True!!

Originally Posted by marimara 

You DON"T want the ozone or ioninizing ones because they change the air in a way that's it's not good for you.  

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by simplygreen 

We are on the search for an air purifier. I'm on my 3rd sinus infection in 2 months, so I need to try something. Ozone, Ionizer, UV lamp, Hepa Filter, I don't know where to begin....We live in a very old house and have had some mold issues....Anyone have any reccomendations? Thanks

I've got asthma and allergies, so I've had air cleaners all my adult life. Yesterday, my oldest was tested and found out she, too, has allergies. So, I took to some internet research and even with that knowledge, ended up buying one based on price, not quality for the bedroom. Here is a link that may help you. http://www.air-purifier-power.com/top-10-air-purifiers.html

First thing, do not buy an ionizer or ozone maker, and if the filter comes with one (as the one my husband bought does) then do not turn on the ionizer part if it has it's own switch. Ionizers target organic material, which includes the lining of human lungs.

U V is good and if one is used, do not concern yourself with the air speed/particle collection data because it doesn't matter anyway, but UV works when the air has time to spend being UV-rayed, not when it's rushed through with a high speed fan. UV is particularly useful for removing bacteria and viruses from the air.

Hepa filter is essential for removing the particles that would cause sinus issues, whether it's caused by pet allergens, pollen, or mold because they are really tiny, which is what the HEPA filter is made to remove, really tiny things (talking less than .5 microns).

The AHAM and CADR rating is only useful for when your only desire/need is to remove visible to the naked eye dust and dirt and lint from the air. It collects big stuff quickly.

Keep in mind the cost of the machine + replacement filters/maintenance. Often people just buy the cheapest machine without thinking about how hard to get and how expensive the replacement filters are. The air cleaner will not work with dirty/clogged filters and those must be changed regularly, usually every 3-6 months. It helps if the air cleaner has a filter monitoring system.

ETA: My husband is returning this air cleaner he just bought and getting something better tonight after he gets off work because this one has so many things wrong with it: 

*hepa-type filter instead of a true hepa filter

*didn't come with the 2 extra carbon pre-filters it said it came with, only the 2 it needed after removing the foam filter that was just there for packaging appearances.

*it has an ionizer, even with a shut off knob, I'm nervous my daughters might turn it on and I won't notice for a while.

*the actual filters are insanely tiny in comparison to the size of the fans and the machine

the only positive is that the intake is on the opposite side as the outtake.

Edited by ~PurityLake~ - 12/10/10 at 1:32pm

[odenata]

We have this one as well, and I like it. 

Originally Posted by marimara 
What I did is, since I'm the one with the most severe allergies in the house, I bought a medium room size one from Target, the Honeywell Permanent Filter QuietCare HEPA http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=honeywell+17000&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6722185409722125742&ei=-oXeTM6gAYG0lQeMmqj3Aw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEwQ8wIwAA#

It has a permanent filter and you only replace the pre-filters every 3-5 mths at $12/pc.

I keep my doors and windows shut and run it for about 4hrs before bedtime on high/med and then at night I turn it on low.

Sinus lavage (nasal rinses w/saline water) is really helpful to clean sinuses as well.

[momofmine]

We have an Alpine air purifier, which was supposed to be really great, the people who sold it to me said all the talk about ozone being bad is wrong, and that it just brings the indoors to what a normal level of ozone outside would be.  I believed all of this, and it helped my allergies tremendously.  We live in an old, old house with lots of dust and a dirt basement with moisture issues and moldy smells when it rains, and we had to have something.  It really did work, and every time I turned it off, someone in the house would get sick after a week or so of it not running.  Something in me was always doubting it though, but basically once I plugged it in and it was working, I kind of just tried not to worry about it.  However, once I started reading more and more about the negative effects of the ozone, I finally just shut it off.  The people who sold and make the air filter could never answer my questions to my satisfaction, and it just always nagged at me, like something is not right about this.  I paid so much money for that thing, and all I can do is just hope that it didn't cause any of us harm.

The people who sold it to me even put one in a classroom, so honestly, I really thought it was safe.  And who knows, but I am not going to take any chances, so better to just not have it if you ask me.  I think a true HEPA filter is the best option after everything I have read.  And of course, reducing the source of the allergens and molds as much as possible through cleaning, limiting carpet and things that trap allergens, etc.