I was walking through the hardware store last night when I happened upon this display of ceiling fan air filters. A fantastic concept, for sure, by I wonder if they actually work.
The concept seems simple — you place the filters on two of the blades of a ceiling fan and, as they rotate, they pick up the dust and pollen in the air. My ceiling fans have been running nonstop for the past month so putting a filter on top of the blades seems like such a good idea. If the fans are going to be whirring above me, they may as well be cleaning the air, too!
And yet, even though it seems like a logical and simple concept, I didn't actually buy the filters. I'm very skeptical that products like this actually do anything to purify the air. Knowing how much dust and kitty fur that ends up on the fan blades, I would think the purifiers would simply get covered in it as well and not actually purify anything.
Has anyone tried these ceiling fan air purifiers? Share your experience in the comments.
Image: Jason Loper
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I don't see how this could possibly work on a scale as large as a room full of air that is attached to an entire house full of moving air. It just doesn't have the capability to filter enough air fast enough. Looks like an impulse buy catered towards uninformed overly paranoid parents.
I'd think that putting them on just 2 blades would throw the fan's balance off. Beyond that, if you have a fan that's a little nicer than the cheapie utilitarian fans, they'd be noticeable and ugly. My fan's over the bed, so just before I change the sheets, I just step up on the mattress and wipe the blades down.
This simply can't work. In order to filter the air you should force it through some collecting material, while an open fan just moves it around... and clearly air can't go through a fan blade where this "filter" is attached!
Yeah they would throw off the balance, I had the hardest time balancing my current fan without anything abnormal like that on it.
Not to get picky, but there is a "Made in USA" sticker on the front of the box, so I don't think it is a Chinese product. But I do agree, looks cheap and ineffective.
Fan blades are designed to be quite and produce optimal airflow, and this would just make the fan louder and less effective.
Thank you jenn_y! When people talk bad about something just because it is made in China it comes across to me like it is just an easy opportunity for China bashing.
It won't work. The particles will take the path of least resistance, which would be through the air on top of the fan blade. You need something to draw the air through the filter. It wasn't clear what constitutes the filter. It would need to be something that holds the particles. I would think a spinning box won't allow the particles to be held to the filter medium. Don't waste your money or wreck your fan.
As an aside, in order to maintain the fan's balance, you have to position these with great precision the same distance from the center of the fan, and exactly 180 degrees apart. Otherwise, it will start to wobble.
Seeing this immediately made me think of my time camping in Boy Scouts when an adult would send an unsuspecting new kid off on a search for a left handed smoke shifter.
I think this company's motto involves something being born every minute...
Well I got them and by the look of it they do work. My fans are no unbalance (I'm using it on 3 rooms). I was skeptical at first, but since the price was so low I gave it a try. I already change them once and will keep using them. Also note that I live in an apartment and I do not have the opportunity of have a really good air filter so using a portable one won't cover all the apartment and using multiples units would sky rocket my electric bill. So for me it does works!
These filters are wonderful.We have used them for about 3 years now and you will be amazed at the amount of dust and dirt they collect. We have a 3400 sq ft house and the reduction in dust is great for my allergies. If anyone is concerned if they can do the job or not give them a try and see for yourself . You will not be disapointed
I forgot to mention they DO NOT throw your fan off balance