With the amount of allergens in the air, we've got our HEPA air purifiers operating both at home and at work. Air quality is expected to remain "unhealthy" throughout the week according to the government's Air Quality Index, so it's recommended you stay indoors, since the tiny particles can lodge deep into the lungs, causing serious irritation, mucous build-up and breathing problems.
If you or someone in your household has health problems or is environmentally sensitive, now might be a good time to research air purification systems. You can also operate your air conditioners, but be sure to operate it with the fresh air intake closed, perhaps investing in a 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Filter, an AC/furnace filter that will block out 90% of dust, smoke and smog particles. Below are four of the recommended choices from ConsumerSearch (plus our own recommendation from personal use)...
IQAir HealthPro ($695.00): rated the best air purifier overall, and it's expensive price reflects its serious nature. Hong Kong Hospital Authority use these during the SARS outbreak, so you know these machines mean business. The industrial shaped machine can scrub a 1,000 sq. ft. room and uses a HyperHEPA filter, and comes with a five-year warranty.
Alen A350($399): this smaller, slimmer wall mountable unit purifies air up to 400 sq. ft., is Energy Star compliant and come with an industry best life time warranty program. A true HEPA filter and a carbon filter removes particles and odours.
Whirlpool Whispure AP51030S($299): for rooms 510 square feet or less in size with a 330 Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR is the amount of clean air measured in cube feet per minute that an air cleaner delivers). Note that replacement filters for this unit are on the pricier side and the unit only comes with a one year warranty.
Honeywell Enviracaire 50250($182.25): this compact unit is rated at 250 CADR, and can serve rooms of 374 sq. ft. or less.
We personally use and like the Honeywell HFD-130 Germicidal Tower . The $160 unit just costs $5/month to operate on its highest setting, and works best in smaller rooms. We like the 12-hour programmable timer IFD ((intense field dielectric) filter indicator light reminds us when to give the filters a vacuum and wash (there's no filter to replace; you just need to water rinse the filter 4 times per year).
In regards to the Filtrete filters: They can be expensive and in my opinion are not worth the $15 each can cost. Also, keep in mind that you should never use any filter for more than 30 days. It doesn't matter how expensive the filter is, once it has a thick layer of dust and other detritus on it your heating system will struggle to suck in air and you will be using more energy than necessary. My Dad is an environmental engineer and owns an HVAC company so I've grown up always being told to change the air filter every 30 days.
Your best bet is to get a mid-range filter and replace it every 3 weeks to 30 days and will have better air flow and cleaner air. I buy the 3-packs of the mid-range pleated filters at Lowes or Home Depot for less than $10 and I change mine out every 2-3 weeks and it has really helped the air quality and the amount of dust in my home.
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I just ordered the Blueair 402 Hepa purifier ($399). I live just a few blocks from the 405 fwy in West LA and I've been putting off this purchase for awhile.
How does one actually go about using one? I normally like to keep my windows open to get the cross-ventilation. With the purifier running is it OK to have the windows open for at least part of the day?
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The Filtrete filters are very effective. Consumer Reports tested them, and found them to be more powerful than some professionally-installed whole house air filter systems. At $15 a pop or whatever they're also a lot less expensive (some of those whole-house systems have filters which cost more than $100 a pop, on top of the hundreds - or thousands - the systems themselves cost to buy and install).
3M's also selling a couple of standalone air purifiers that utilize their Filtrete filters. They're quite inexpensive.
I wish they'd sell a window fan that uses their filters. I've duct taped a couple of Filtrete filters to my window fans, but the rotary blades on my fans just don't have the oomph to drag much air thru the filter media. You really need a squirrel cage fan for that. Holmes used to sell a window fan that used a centrifugal fan, but it went out of production several years ago . . .
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edie: I think if you live close to the 405, each time you open your windows, you're going to basically let back in a lot of dirt and allergens. Air purifiers work by operating in closed environments, circulating the air several times per hour to continually filter out particles, so any time you allow outside contaminated air, you're going to compromise that system (especially if you leave windows open for several hours).
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Has anyone had experience with the Surround Air S3000? It looks decently priced with good reviews.
http://www.air-purifier-home.com/blog/labels/alen.html
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We have dark wood furniture and tons of natural light. Dust is very noticeable. I replaced my regular AC filter with a Filtrete Ultra. It has not eliminated the dust, but it is reduced considerable. I used to have use the lambs wool duster about every day. Now weekly keeps it looking pretty clean. But my SO, who has allergies, has not noticed much difference and still wakes up stuffy.
Consumer Reports says that Filtrete works as well as whole house filters and none of the air purifiers work significantly for allergies.
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TRUE HEPA air purifiers, trap the dust and particles with a minimum efficiency of 99.97%, up to 0.3 microns – as measured with my particle counter seen in
my">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pJMsskDQ0c&feature=related">my YouTube Air Purifier Videos – As seen on ABC 7
Over the years, HEPA filtration has become a marketing scheme deployed by both vacuum cleaner and air purifier manufacturers to lure customers to buy products that do not meet the HEPA definition. Most vacuums and air cleaners that I have tested on the market claim to be “HEPA,” however, lack the filtration efficiency and other important benefits that are intrinsic to HEPA technology – so they are “fake HEPA.” They are simply imposters that do not deliver what they claim – in other words, they do not trap the dust.
To precisely find real HEPA machines, I test products (where the air flows through) with the particle counter. It is important to note, that I not only test the middle of the filter, but also the side edges and other areas of the chasis, where more often than not, there is high readings due to leakage.
Also check-out my blog called Consumer Reporter - a vehicle to educate consumers about the vacuum and air purification market.
If you appreciate the information I provide on Miele vacuum cleaners via You Tube and my blog, please support my on-line store, KillDirt.You’ll get free shipping and no tax (as long as you do not live in New Jersey). We will be sure to make your shopping experience a pleasant one.
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