Air purifiers and Air Cleaner infomation

Alen A350

2009-04-01T07:32:00.002-07:00

February 2009. In tests, the Alen A350 air purifier has been shown to remove nearly as many allergens from the air as the more expensive IQAir HealthPro (*est. $750), and it's also a little quieter. Bear in mind, though, that the Alen A350 is meant to cover a smaller area -- 400 to 800 square feet vs. the HealthPro's specified 1,000 square feet -- and one expert recommends its use in rooms of about 250 square feet. Like the HealthPro, the Alen air purifier uses a three-in-one true HEPA filter along with a pre-filter and a carbon filter, and its $40 replacement filters are a lot less expensive. Overall, testers say the Alen A350 is a high-quality air purifier.

We found a good comparative review of the Alen A350 at Air-Purifiers-America.com, one of the few sources that tests air purifiers. The A350 is also included in a brief roundup by Reviewboard.com, receives a handful of posts from owners at sites like Epinions.com and Amazon.com, and is the subject of an in-depth review by the enthusiast site Air-Purifier-Power.com. It hasn't yet been tested by Consumer Reports, however.

Honeywell Enviracaire 50250-N

2009-04-01T07:32:00.001-07:00

February 2009. Owners and experts are generally fond of the Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 air purifier, with two major caveats. First, this low-priced air purifier isn't meant for big rooms, and second, the consensus is that it's very noisy (Ed Sherbenou of Air-Purifier-Power.com, who praises the Honeywell's cleaning power, says he refuses to use it in his bedroom). The Honeywell air purifier takes in air from all sides of its cylindrical design, expelling clean air out the top, but it doesn't pull as much air through its "permanent" HEPA filter as more expensive models such as the IQAir HealthPro (*est. $750), experts say. The consensus is that this model is fine for the price, but the Alen A350 (*est. $400) is better.

The Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 is listed as one of the top 10 air purifiers at Air-Purifier-Power.com, a retail site that goes into great depth about the pros and cons of various machines. It also pops up in Consumer Reports' roundup of 36 air purifiers. The Enviracaire air purifier also receives a fair number of comments from owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions.com and is one of the top rated models.

3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Filter

2009-04-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Furnace filter

Treats whole house
Good for capturing dust and pet dander
Inexpensive

Won't help much with smoke or odors
Can affect airflow

February 2009. Experts say 3M Filtrete furnace filters may be an inexpensive, common-sense way of improving the air quality in your home, rather than buying an expensive air purifier that may or may not do much good anyway. Consumer Reports suggests that simply replacing your furnace filter four times per year and other easy lifestyle changes may be all you need to do. User reviews indicate the 3M Filtrete works as it is supposed to, with some owners expressing surprise about how much dust and pet dander it caught. But if you have smoke or odor issues, merely changing your furnace filter is unlikely to solve the problem, and furnace filters can reduce airflow in your system.

There are fewer professional reviews for allergen-reduction furnace filters than for air purifiers themselves. Consumer Reports has good coverage that suggests you may not need to spring for an air purifier if you first try some no-cost or low-cost solutions. You'll need to look past the overall score in owner reviews at Amazon.com because all low scores concern pricing or vendor issues rather performance.

IQAir HealthPro

2009-04-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Best air purifier overall

Good for large rooms
Does not emit ozone
Endorsed by medical groups

High price
Loud at highest setting

February 2009. Oddly -- and frustratingly -- the IQAir HealthPro is recommended by Air-Purifiers-America.com on the basis of test results in a small room, but similar tests by Consumer Reports place the HealthPro in the lower third of a pack of 36. Based on what other reviewers say, though, it seems that Air-Purifiers-America.com is closer to the mark. Experts praise the HEPA-filtering HealthPro for its large coverage area (1,000 square feet, but it will work better in smaller rooms) and efficiency at removing particles, and say it's the best air purifier for people with severe allergies. However, a few owners and experts point out that this air purifier can be loud on its highest speed setting, and it's also expensive: The Alen A350 (*est. $400) performs nearly as well in tests at Air-Purifiers-America.com for half the price.

The IQAir HealthPro has been evaluated by the four best sources for air purifier reviews: Consumer Reports and Air-Purifiers-America.com, which both perform detailed testing (though in this case with contradictory results), and it's also reviewed at the enthusiast site Air-Purifier-Power.com, and AllergyBuyersClub.com, a retailer that points out the pluses and minuses of the products it sells. The HealthPro is also reviewed by Reviewboard.com and receives a handful of posts from owners at Amazon.com.

Why AirFree is better than the others traditional Air purifiers: "Airfree" Ozone Air Purifiers HEPA filters Air Purifiers Ultraviolet Air Purifier

2009-04-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Why AirFree is better than the others traditional Air purifiers:

"Airfree"

Ozone Air Purifiers

HEPA filters Air Purifiers

Ultraviolet Air Purifier UV

How does it work?

AirFree utilizes heat to sterilize the air dragged into its patented ceramic core by air convection. Inside the ceramic core, the air is sterilized at high temperatures (between 200 to 260 degree C). Any living microorganism, bacteria, virus are 99.99% incinerated immediately regardless of how small and dangerous they might be.

Ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. Except the concentration of ozone have to greatly exceed the safety standards, then it would be effective

Utilizes filters. Viruses, bacteria and allergens are not destroyed but captured in the filter which should be replaced regularly in order to maintain a decent status of efficiency.

UV light would pass through the bacteria cell and change their DNA arrangement, in order to stop their reproduction. It WILL NOT KILL bacteria immediately. And many bacteria would be killed but need long period of time to expose under UV. That means they may killed by pass through the air purifier many times.

Health hazards

AirFree has been specially designed to eliminate all the airborne viruses, bacteria and allergens without emitting any form of gas or residues e.g. Ozone.

Ozone can damage the lungs Aggravation of asthma Throat irritation and cough Chest pain and shortness of breath You can easy to find much hazards on article from EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency)

Because this machine relies on a filtration system, which only captures some of the allergens but without destroying them, it is possible that they can be released back to indoor air again. Filters can become breeding ground for bacteria, mold and fungus Virus would pass through HEPA filters, some serious disease is come out from Virus.

Ozone is a by-products of most UV light, it can not be controlled stably, especially when the air ventilation of the environment is not good, Ozone would accuminlated. And UV light is very dangerous, it would affect the eyes and skin, we can not direct expose under UV light for long time.

Effectiveness

Airfree is extremely efficient!! - Including 99.99% ONE PASS killing ability.AirFree is proven to have a better technology over the other outdated air purifiers systems such as HEPA, Ozone and UV etc. Airfree technology has been tested in any aspect and proven to be very effective by several leading independent institutions Worldwide.

Ozone air purifiers do not remove particles (e.g., dust and pollen) from the air, including the particles that cause most allergies. Ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. You can easy to find much hazards on article from EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency)

The common HEPA filters are ONLY able to capture particles not smaller than 0.3 microns. The 80% of all airborne viruses and allergens are quite smaller.

Many bacteria and virus would be killed but need many times to pass through the UV light. The energy of UV light would not strong enough to kill all bacteria and virus under ONE PASS. And UV light is effectiveness when the bacteria is become Spore.

Noise

Completely Noiseless No Fan. No moving parts.

No Fan

Very Noisy.The rotation of the fan create a fastidious noise that can disturb your sleep and working.

Some UV air purifier would construct with fan. The rotation of the fan create a fastidious noise that can disturb your sleep and working.

Maintenance costs

None No maintenance required No filters to be change or replace

None

Replacement filters are very expensive! You should consider these costs in addition to the initial cost of purchase.(Be careful that It is very dangerous during we replace the filter, because bacteria and dust particles may easily come out.). All moving parts would have depreciation e.g. fan, it also need cost to replace.

All UV lamp would have life time, and the lamp is the "Heart of the machine", so it is usually need much money to replace. All moving parts would have depreciation e.g. fan, it also need cost to replace.

Investment Cost (compare in same size of room)

Low

Medium

High

Air purifiers and Air Cleaner infomation--funny viedo

2009-03-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

笑死..又有一個問題港女..超過100萬人巳觀看)
有d好似做戲咁,大家覺得真的假?

Air Purifiers: For Bedroom, Office and Whole House

2008-05-17T01:56:00.000-07:00

Air Purifiers: For Bedroom, Office and Whole House
Air purifiers are an essential component to maintaining an allergen free and healthy home - but how to choose one that really works? Our picky testing team approves only the best performing air purifiers and then we even tell you all the flaws before you buy. Honesty and customer satisfaction mean everything to us.

We rate the IQAir as the best all around air purifier especially for those with severe allergies; Blueair is superb as a quiet bedroom air purifier and inexpensive to run; AustinAir is a good, economical and durable air purifier; Allerair makes excellent air purifiers for smoke control or for multiple chemical sensitivities; Hamilton Beach is a good value for the money; Airfree is a completely silent air sterilizer for mold. Replacement filters for all models are also available. For gas, odor and smoke removal see our chemical air filters.

How To Buy Air Purifiers

2008-05-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

Air purifier reviews to selecting the best air cleaner for your environment. We carry only HEPA air purifiers that do not emit or produce ozone. Beware of air cleaners that do not need filter replacements as many of these units have performed poorly both in our testing and in Consumer Reports. Since there are many different air purifiers on the market, please check our Buying Guide for recommendations that can guide you to making an informed decision.
The primary factor in the selection of air purifers is to address the allergens you are allergic to. Understanding this factor is essential in determining which HEPA air cleaner is designed to remove that particular allergen. If your primary objective is to remove the allergens, you should select air purifiers that sized appropriately for your room. Many air purifiers can remove the large particles such as dust and pollen as well as smaller particles such as mold, bacteria, animal dander, and house dust mites. A HEPA air filter is essential in trapping these type of particles and removing them from your environment. It is important to note that more than 90% of all particulates are 0.3 microns and smaller which is why a HEPA filter is the only solution to reducing your allergies. These smaller particles may include viruses, some bacteria and germs, smoke and smog. For the majority of the people, HEPA air purifiers are capable of removing 90% of the particle size range is the best recommendation.

Once you have determined which type of particles you want to remove, you will then need to select an air purifier that is sized appropriately for your room. We recommend selecting a unit that can cover a larger room so you can select a lower fan speed to minimize the fan noise. Smaller units will need to have their fan settings turned higher to obtain more air flow to be effective in removing particles. Many air purifiers can remove the large particles such as dust and pollen as well as smaller particles such as mold, bacteria, animal dander, and house dust mites. A HEPA air filter is essential in trapping these type of particles and removing them from your environment.

Our Recommendations
Air Purifiers America recommends air purifiers from IQAir or Alen. These air purifiers remove over 95% of all air borne particles such as: pollen, mold, dander and dust. These units are designed for bedrooms of 300 square feet or living rooms larger than 400 square feet.

Air Purifiers America does not recommend the Friedrich C-90B , Sharper Image Ionic Breeze or Oreck XL air cleaners as these units generate ozone which is harmful to the body according to laboratory research conducted by California DHS' Indoor Air Quality Program. See a detailed review of all air purifiers tested.

Smoke Eater Air Purifiers Smoke Eliminators

2008-05-08T01:54:00.000-07:00

Smoke Eater Air Purifiers Smoke Eliminators

Replacement filter changes are simple, no tools required and the manufacturer provides a 10 year warranty. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. Visit our new and enhanced Sharp Support Center to access support materials on your Air Purififrs product. Rugged, stainless steel housing ensures a lifetime of reliable performance. Americans turn on their taps and get water that exceeds the legal limits for dangerous contaminants. Visit our new and enhanced Sharp Support Center to access support materials on your product. This stylish air purifier is also the absolute quietest unit we've ever tested. Easily converts to an under sink configuration. This stylish air purifier is also the absolute quietest unit we've ever tested. Great taste and certified performance for about 9 cents per gallon. The page you have requested no longer exists. Durable, all steel construction and very energy efficient.

This stylish air purifier is also the absolute quietest unit we've ever tested. A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Durable, all steel construction Bionaire Air Purifier and very energy efficient. Visit our new and enhanced Sharp Support Center to access support materials on your product. Plus, you'll save money on every refill. Great taste, great performance, contemporary design and countertop convenience. If you are looking for the absolute best in air filtration, IQAir is your choice. Durable, all steel construction and very energy efficient. Rugged, stainless steel housing ensures a lifetime of reliable performance. Please choose a site section from the sitemap below. If you are looking for the absolute best in air filtration, IQAir is your choice. Great taste and certified performance for about 9 cents per gallon. If you are looking for the absolute best in air filtration, IQAir is your choice. Americans turn on their taps and get water that exceeds the legal limits for dangerous contaminants. Durable, all steel construction and very energy efficient. Free shipping on all orders over 60. This is Comparison Of Air Purifiers the only water filter you'll ever need. Rugged, stainless steel housing ensures a lifetime of reliable performance. Easily converts to an under sink configuration. This is the only water filter you'll ever need. A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized. Visit our new and enhanced Sharp Support Center to access support materials on your product. A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. This is the only water filter you'll ever need. Visit our new and enhanced Sharp Support Center to access support materials on your product.

Air Purifiers - Newsletters

2007-12-25T02:57:00.000-08:00

Air Purifiers - Newsletters
Hello and welcome to ClearFlite Air Purifiers newsletter index page. We hope that you will find the newsletters to be informative and the specials to be interesting. We will address common problems and those associated with conditions like asthma and allergies. We will also have the manufacturers answer common questions about their products and the field in general. If you have an idea for a newsletter article or an article that you would like to write please let us know. We would love to have your input.

Air purifier technology and the affects on contaminated air are being discovered in the news. The popularity of these systems can be attributed to the success of the industry. They have been brought into the spotlight and featured on many news programs, newspapers and magazines due to their ability to clean indoor air. Air purifier technology makes indoor air, whether it is in residences or commercial businesses, safer and healthier for people to breathe. They have become more popular for use in commercial businesses and in public places.

After the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, many of the residents of New York City were left devastated. The collapsing of the buildings and the materials inside the buildings made the air in New York City thick with smog. The quality of the air was brought down to a minimum due to the ashes and soot that were circulating throughout the city. When the World Trade Center was brought down, there was over 400,000 tons of rubble and steel that were removed from the site. The collapse of this amount of steel made toxins apparent in the air. The air was found to be full of sulfur dioxide, PCBs, dioxins and benzene along with many other harmful contaminants. When people are exposed to these types of toxins in the air that they breathe, they can experience headaches and dizziness. Some people can feel nauseous and people who already suffer from asthma or allergies may experience attacks.

The indoor air of the buildings around New York City was also found to have contaminated air due to the tragedy. New York City schools, restaurants and office buildings no longer contained healthy and safe air for residents to breathe. Residents and workers inside these buildings were starting to experience symptoms that are attributed to breathing in contaminated indoor air. The only way to clean this toxic indoor air was with air purifiers. The government and local businesses worked quickly to purchase and provide these public places with the air purifier technology they needed to become safe environments again. Many air purifying companies lent a hand in the process by donating air purifiers to the needy businesses. Most of the donated systems were given to the New York City schools so the children who attended these schools would be able to breathe safely during the day.

After much research and time trying to solve contaminated air problems, the government soon found that air purifiers were the best way to keep this problem under wraps. The government now requires air purifiers to be installed in Government Building HVAC systems. The government implemented this law in order to be sure that their buildings were free from mold and bacteria. In order to keep its workers safe and healthy, the government has imposed this law so the indoor air in their work environment is free of toxins. With the implementation of this law by the government, the public became aware of how important clean indoor air can be and how effective air purifiers are at keeping indoor air clean.

Air purifiers took the spotlight in the news when the bird flu virus was becoming a concern to Japanese residents. This disease was airborne and was found to be easily contagious and passed between citizens. After research and experimentation, the Japanese government found that air purifier technology was the best way to keep the air indoors clean and free of bacteria and viruses that can cause the bird flu virus. Air purifiers were found to be 99% effective in removing the bird flu virus from the air. It was also found that air purifiers were able to eliminate 26 other kinds of bacteria and viruses that were present in the indoor air. Due to research and the discovery of air purifiers, Japan was able to offer its citizens a solution to the problem of the bird flu virus. Many citizens soon purchased air purifiers in order to breathe easier and safer indoors.

Air purifiers are used in many residences to help the home inhabitants who may be sensitive to chemicals or suffer from asthma or allergies. They are also used to eliminate odors and chemical fumes that may irritate some people and cause negative physical reactions. Air purifiers also are now used in many commercial businesses such as manufacturing plants, beauty salons and restaurants. They are able to keep the indoor environment in these businesses fresh smelling and free of toxins. Due to their use by the government and in other situations, air purifiers have become more popular and have become spotlighted in the media.

Air Purifiers

2007-12-24T02:26:00.000-08:00

Dust mites live in even the cleanest homes, causing house dust allergies and other problems. Second Wind Air Purifiers offer a powerful solution to these microscopic creatures

Air Purifier Humidifiers

2007-12-24T01:55:00.003-08:00

Air Purifier Humidifiers

xanthones, only a few have been seriously studied. The reverse side is a warm, cozy and soft fleece. Beautiful soft silk and fleece baby blankets, are naturally hypoallergenic, and add a glorious touch to any baby room or makes a perfect gift Size 39. The micron tiny size allows them to stay airborne for hours and increases the likelihood of these irritants landing in or on you. The micron tiny size allows them to stay airborne for hours and increases the likelihood of these irritants landing in or on you. Choosing an Air PurifierHow to buy the right Air Purifier. Try leather, wood, plastic or vinyl. Here are just a few of the many benefits users have found. No additional information is available on this model. View Nilfisk Advance Allergy Vacuum Cleaner Products . Orders Normally Ship Within One Business Day. View NeoTec Ionizer Air Purification Products . The Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air quality is 5x to 10x more polluted than the air outdoors and is a top environmental risk. Vacuum thoroughly using a HEPA filter vacuum and bags that seal in dust. View Chi Energizer Health Products . What Air purifier humidifiers makes True HEPA special is its high particle capture efficiency. Austin Air HEPA Air Cleaners/Air Purifiers. In recent years increasing attention and concerns have been drawn to the alarming increase of indoor air pollution in our homes, one of which is the confinement of pollution in our furnace and duct systems. Choosing an Air PurifierHow to buy the right Air Purifier. Its wavelength is the same as the radiant heat from the sun and all life requires the sun. Healthmate Jr Air Purifier Asthma, allergies, chemical smoker eater air purifiers sensitivities, compact 299. View Nilfisk Advance Allergy Vacuum Cleaner Products . AmbiFresh eliminates toilet odors without chemical sprays or artificial fragrances. No additional information is available on this model. Bring real fresh air into Humidifers your home, office and workplace. Get the 1st 3 mos 1/2 price at only 4. Note These allergen irritant reduction tips are some, but certainly not all, the methods typically found in researching the topic of allergy control in the home.

Asthma, Allergy Sufferers and those wanting clean air, with the Amaircare HEPA Filters and Air Cleaners designed to clean the air in the entire home. Wipe cloud air purifiers down indoor surfaces frequently to remove animal hair and dander. Syndrome, as well as heavy metals and chlorine. The Entire Vacuum Cleaner Meets True HEPA Standards, Not Just The Filter. Use a tight fitting mask when cleaning. Infrared light is completely natural and safe. The black soot accumulating on the filter was in your air. Additional information on Air Purifier Guide or other products.

Air Ionizers

2007-12-24T01:55:00.001-08:00

Air Ionizers
IAQ news and respiratory health tips. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. Secure Online Transactions Verified by Authorize. Secure Online Transactions Verified by Authorize. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. Please find below a small sample of several of our clients and the units that they have chosen. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. Chemicals gases and odors have replaced consumer air purifiers

viruses and bacteria as the main threat to human health. Secure Online Transactions Verified by Authorize. Chemicals gases and odors have replaced viruses and bacteria as the main threat air purifiers to human health. One of our best testimonials is our current customer base. Chemicals gases and odors have replaced viruses and bacteria air purifier system as the main threat to human health. Please find below a small sample of several of our clients and the units that they have chosen. At AllerAir that's not just a promise, it's our guarantee. An AllerAir air purifier is safe, efficient, flexible and cost effective. We spend approximately 80% of our lives indoors, half of that in our own homes. Chemicals gases and odors have replaced viruses and bacteria as the main threat to human health. We educate our customers how to make wise purchases with reports by consumer experts. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. We also enjoy receiving testimonials from our many customers. One of our best testimonials is our current customer base. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. We spend approximately 80% of our lives indoors, half of that in our own homes. At AllerAir that's not just air ionizers

a promise, it's our guarantee. Today, our vornado air purifiers homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. We also enjoy receiving testimonials from our many customers. We spend approximately 80% of our lives indoors, half of that in our own homes. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. We also enjoy receiving testimonials from our many customers. Please find below a small sample of several of our clients and the units that they have chosen. Secure Online Transactions Verified by Authorize. Secure Online Transactions Verified by Authorize. An AllerAir air purifier is safe, efficient, flexible and cost effective. Chemicals gases and odors have replaced viruses and bacteria as the main threat to human health. An AllerAir air purifier is safe, efficient, flexible and cost effective. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. We spend approximately 80% of our lives indoors, half of that in our own homes. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings. We also enjoy receiving testimonials from our many customers. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. An AllerAir air purifier is safe, efficient, flexible and cost effective. IAQ news and respiratory health tips. One of our best testimonials is our current customer base. Today, our homes and workplaces are sealed tight to maximize energy savings.

Air Cleaning Technology

2007-12-24T01:52:00.001-08:00

Air Cleaning Technology

Air cleaning technology has many faces.
Many companies make claims they can solve all your air quality problems.

How do you know what they say is true?

Will their solution work for you?

We will provide you with information about the various air cleaner technology products.

We'll look at the pros and cons of air cleaning technology products.

Click on the following links below to learn more.

Advance Hydrated Photocatylic Oxidation Safe and aggressive technology that kills mold, bacteria, viruses and more. Also effectively neutralizes odors and VOCs.

Basement Dehumidifiers Gather the facts before you buy one.

Car Air Purifiers Why you should consider one.

Electronic Precipitators What you should know before you spend your hard earned money on one

HEPA Air Filtration Systems What they are and how they work

Home Ventilation Systems Home ventilation is a good defense against indoor air pollution

Ozone Air Purifiers How they work and what they do

Photohydroionization Advanced Air Purification Systems

Shower Filters How shower filters help improve the air you breathe

UV Air Purifiers Are they right for you?

Whole House Humidifiers Are you really sure you need one?

Whole House Steam Humidifiers Steam vs. Non-Steam

A Look Beyond "Air Purifier Reviews"

2007-12-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

Expert Air Purifier Reviews is designed to help you solve indoor air quality problems, look at some of the many air purifier technologies and find solutions for many of the causes of discomfort for those of you who have asthma and allergy symptoms.

I entered the indoor air quality industry as a service technician in 1974, where my role as a heating, air conditioning and ventilation trouble-shooter led me on a career-long quest to find better, smarter ways to solve homeowners' problems.

In the process, we've found what works and what doesn't work.

I continually research and educate myself to evaluate the best, newest, proven technologies and air purifying products from respected manufacturers and vendors.

The goal is to give you the necessary information to help you make an educated decision before you make a purchase.

Not every manufacturer tells the whole truth about their products.

I know how difficult it is for consumers to make a decision about what products to buy.

I've been doing this for over 30 years and it still can be confusing trying to cut through all the hype.

Before I recommend a product, I spend lots of time doing my homework.

Air Purifiers - The History

2007-12-24T01:44:00.000-08:00

Air Purifiers - The History

Air purifiers come in all shapes and sizes and each one has its own unique way of purifying the air. The start of the air filter began with the fire fighters. In 1823, John and Charles Dean patented a new smoke protecting device for fire fighters to use as they fought fires. This new device was a filter that protected the men from the dangerous acrid smoke and chemicals that were in the air. The same type of filters became widely adapted to underwater divers as well.

At about the same time as John and Charles Dean were inventing and patenting the smoke protecting device, there was also a man by the name of Augustus Siebe who was just beginning to market his very own diving respirator which was a helmet that could pump in fresh air through a tube and another tube that could pump the bad air out. Siebe soon went on to found a company called Siebe, Gorman, and Co. and developed gas masks for the war effort in 1914.

In 1849 Lewis Haslett got a patent for a device called the "inhaler" or "lung protector". This new device was a great improvement on the other devices that had been invented before and helped coal miners all over the world.

In 1854 a man by the name of John Stenhouse made a few improvements to Siebe's and Haslett's invention. He decided to add charcoal to the device. Through this he learned that by adding charcoal to the air filter, it could filter out harmful noxious gases from the air.

John Tyndall, in 1871 invented a respirator to aid in helping fire fighters breath. This was a great improvement to the ones that John and Charles Dean have created in 1823; these were portable.

HEPA Filter Air Purifiers were Born

During World War II the United States government was working with radioactive material and they needed to desperately come up with a way to filter out all of those harmful particles in order to keep the air clean and breathable for their scientists; the HEPA filter was then born. The HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is one of the highest efficiency air purifiers on the market. It is designed to filter out micro sized particles. It is known for filtering out 99.7 percent of all particles that are 0.3 microns in size.

Once a classified item with the government, the HEPA filter has quickly become declassified and now resides in many residential homes as well as commercial businesses, hospitals, and dental offices around the world. In the fifty's and sixties the HEPA filter became very popular with those who were designing and building bomb shelters.

Modern Air Purifiers

In just the last twenty years or so, the focus on filtering the air has turned to ways to purify the air as in home air purifiers. The past filters were great at removing foul odors, toxic chemicals, and noxious gases from the air, but they could not remove mold spores, viruses, or bacteria from the air. Outbreaks of the Ebola plague in Africa showed how important it truly was to be able to remove hazardous bacteria from the air by purifying it. This brought on the new generation of air cleaners and home air filters. These new air purifiers were electronic and they not only cleaned the air of noxious gases, but they purified it; removing bacteria, viruses, dust, pollen, and mold spores.

Today there is a large selection of air purifiers to choose from. It all depends on what your personal needs are whether it is just allergies, bacteria, viruses, or maybe you just want fresh air, there is an air purifier out there for you. There are styles that range from coronal discharge purifiers to plate or needle ionizers.

HEPA filters today are traditionally used in hospitals, isolation rooms, pharmaceutical, computer chip manufacturing, as well as in home air purifiers and business air purifiers. Not only has filtering technology created just HEPA filters, but there have been innovations on activated carbon filters that have been able to fit into smaller units for homes and businesses. The activated carbon filters contain pounds of activated carbon that is designed to trap and hold odors, toxic chemical fumes and noxious gases.

Through the years there has been many different designs and creation of air purifiers, each one better than the last; in an attempt to get clean, fresh indoor air.

Air Purifiers and Pets

2007-12-24T01:43:00.000-08:00

Pets and Air Purifiers

I. Introduction
"I have terrible allergies but I can't possibly get rid of my pets, maybe I need a home air purifier." Since ClearFlite began in 1990, we have been continually amazed at the love and adoration people have for their pets, despite their adverse health reactions to keeping pets in the home. We've even had several customers who were struggling to choose between keeping a spouse or keeping a pet! Fortunately, we've saved a lot of marriages with the right room air purifier in the right place for clean air.

The problems that arise from keeping pets in the home vary considerably depending on the type of pet, quantity, and how much of the house the pets are allowed to roam. Another consideration, if you are considering home air purifiers to help with pet allergies is the type of symptoms you're experiencing. Below we review the problems and clean air solutions in each pet category, and we recommend specific home air purifiers to remedy them.

II. Room Air Purifiers and Cats
Cats top the list because huge numbers of cat lovers are allergic to their pets. However, recent science points out that it's not their beautiful fur which is the culprit. It's the cat's saliva which contains an allergen that gets deposited all over the fur when the cat licks herself. When it dries, the saliva forms a fine dust sort of like dandruff but much, much finer, which is dispersed through the air when the kitty scratches or a loving owner strokes her. It's the most unfortunate of circumstances, since the best thing about having a cat is being able to sit and stroke it while listening to that pleasant purr.

Hairless cats are finding popularity now, however, in reality there are no totally "non-allergenic" cats. Even hairless cats wash, and the dust accumulates on their skin. Cat lovers often experience hay-fever like symptoms including itching eyes, running noses, skin rashes, and other such unpleasantries. As with other allergies, it happens because the human body reacts to the allergen by producing excessive histamine, leading to a rush on the medicine cabinet.

If you can't part with your beloved cat and wish to breathe clean air in your own home, the next best thing is to keep a room air purifier continuously running in the room where the cat spends the most time, and if possible to either keep the cat out of the bedroom or to run home air purifiers in there as well. The room air purifier must be able to absorb both the fine dust and the floating fur, in large quantities. We have found the Blueair 601 to be particularly effective in cleaning up airborne cat particulate.

We also recommend washing the bedclothes, rugs, and other room fabrics often and buying litter that isn't full of dust. Donning a surgical mask and giving the cat a good combing outdoors or in the garage is also a good weekly plan.

III. Home Air Purifiers and Birds
Birds compete with cats for the top honor of driving their owners crazy. We've had many customers call with this lament over the years: "I just paid $3000 for my gorgeous cockatoo and I'm allergic to it - get me clean air!!" Bird feathers are interlocking and each time a bird moves the tiny barbs that hold feathers together rub against each other and produce a super fine dust. The bigger the bird, the more dust for your air purifiers to deal with. Cockatoos and cockatiels seem to be the dustiest perhaps because the are desert birds. If that weren't bad enough, bird urine and feces can also contain allergens that turn into dust when they dry and become airborne. In the wild, Mother Nature in the form of wind and rain helps keep the birds clean, but locked in a cage, both people and the birds themselves suffer from the airborne products of their captivity.

A room air purifier with the capability of absorbing the large quantities of super fine dust will help immensely in your bird room. We again recommend the Blueair 601 and the IQAir products (all models). If your species of bird doesn't have too much dander but the odor bothers you, the Austin Air Superblend models will help. Austin Junior home air purifiers are smaller and a nice size for bird rooms that are smelly but not super dusty.

IV. Air Purifiers and Dogs
Dogs can be as problematic as cats indoors although we seem to have fewer customers who have problems with dog allergies than cat allergies. Any person, however, with allergic sensitivities or asthma, may have problems with all animals. Dogs also lick themselves and the saliva dries and becomes airborne as tiny particles. The saliva may contain irritating allergens as may dried urine. In dry houses during wintertime, dogs seem to shed even more as any person who regularly uses a vacuum cleaner can attest. As with cats, there are no truly non-allergenic dogs, although certain breeds (like schnauzers and poodles) don't shed and make it easier to keep clean air in your environment.

Room air purifiers in the key living areas will help clean up the airborne pollutants from living with man's best friend. Keeping a dog out of the bedroom is always a good idea, but if not, using a home air purifier in the bedroom 24 hours a day is helpful, particularly if you run it on high an hour before bedtime. Bedding should be washed weekly at least. Electrostatic filters on the central heating system can work well with the strategically placed room air purifiers to clean the entire house. Combing the dogs out frequently (outside whenever possible) and bathing them helps too. We recommend the IQAir and Blueair 601 room air purifiers for dog dander. The electronic Friedrich C90B can also help if you are willing to clean the filters frequently. The room air purifiers with their odor filters will get both the particulate and the odors associated with family pets.

V. Other Furry Critters
"Mom, let's get a hamster!" Mom thinks, "hmmm, small size, don't have to walk it, easy to care for – sure! – but only one, no babies!" Small furry rodents (guinea pigs, gerbils, etc) also groom themselves, leaving saliva on their fur where it dries and flakes off. The animals in their small cages also come into frequent contact with their own urine which dries, flies off, and can contain more irritating allergens than the saliva. The kind and unsuspecting humans then pick up the cute little critters not thinking about what this does to the clean air in their home. Forgetting to wash their hands, they transfer the dried saliva to their eyes, noses, mouths, and skin. The dried urine or saliva on humans can result in sneezing and itchy eyes or skin. In wire cages, particles will escape and float around just like they do with cats and dogs. When they float by the human nose and are breathed in, irritation can result. If small animals such as hamsters or gerbils are the only animals in the house that might be causing troublesome airborne particles, a small room air purifier near the cage, such as the Blueair 402 or the Austin Junior will generate the clean air you need.

VI. In Conclusion - Clean Air with Air Purifiers
Pets enrich our lives and especially those of children and the elderly. Mammals living indoors (even humans – we shed tons of hair and skin that an air purifier can absorb) of the pet variety can cause allergic reactions in their owners. The degree varies greatly as do the times of the year that the animal may pose a problem. Winter can be difficult because humans and pets are stuck in tight houses waiting out the weather. Spring can be difficult because an allergenic might already be suffering from seasonal pollen allergies and the pets make things worse. HEPA room air purifiers running 24/7 in key living areas of the home (particularly where the pet hangs out), and the bedroom will remove a significant amount of the floating particulate resulting from dried saliva and urine, as well as fur and skin. Clean air is the the key to living with pets, a home air purifier in key areas will certainly help with asthma and allergy symptoms.

What is asthma and how do air purifiers help the symptoms?

2007-12-24T01:41:00.000-08:00

What is asthma and how do air purifiers help the symptoms?

Breathing is something we do on a daily basis and can take for granted. For asthmatics, breathing normally is an action that is appreciated every moment. Asthma is a disease that affects a person's lungs and air passageways and can make it difficult for him or her to breathe. Asthma affects approximately 20 million people in the United States. It is a disease that has no known cure but there are many ways such as air purifiers to treat asthma and suppress the symptoms of it.

Air Purifiers can help.

Asthma is a disease that consists of two main components. These components are constriction and inflammation, both of which occur in the lung passageways. Constriction is when the airways narrow because muscles tighten around them and inflammation is when the airways get irritated and start to swell. When both of these actions occur together, they cause the symptoms of asthma such as difficulty breathing and swelling of the lungs. A person experiencing an asthmatic attack has difficulty catching his or her breath and is usually coughing or wheezing in order to try to breathe.

Asthmatic attacks can occur at any time. Some can be severe and some can simply seem like a shortness of breath. Due to this characteristic of the disease, some people are still unaware that they have asthma and need to treat it. If asthma goes untreated, a person may experience a decrease in lung function. The disease makes a person's lungs work harder and without help or treatment from an outside source, a person suffering from asthma will have weaker lungs. Air Purifiers can help.

There are many contaminants in the air that can be asthma triggers. Some of the contaminants include pet dander, allergens, pollen, dust or chemicals. When these substances are breathed in, asthmatics are sometimes affected and can experience difficulty breathing. An asthmatic affected by seasonal allergies may also find that response to the allergies can lead to an asthmatic attack. The toxins found in indoor air can easily be filtered out of the air indoors with an air purifier.

There are simple things that can be done to prevent asthmatic attacks such as keeping pets outside, not smoking tobacco products in the home or dusting all furniture as much as possible. However, air purifiers are proven to be the most effective way to keep indoor air clean and safe. Most air purifiers are proven to remove 99.7% of all particles found in indoor air. Chemical fumes, tobacco smoke and dust can be absorbed into the filter of an air purifier. With these contaminants no longer present in the air, the probability of an asthma attack is very low for the sufferer.

The High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters, or HEPA filters, that are used in air purifiers are effective in absorbing most toxins in indoor air that can be related to asthma attacks. They are able to remove 99.7% of all particles that are 0.03 microns and larger. These particles can include pollen and dust particles, which are the main cause of asthma attacks among sufferers. If indoor air pollutants are not removed from the air, they can circulate an indoor room with no escape. The pollutants are then breathed in and can cause a severe or minor asthmatic attack. With an air purifier, these particles and pollutants are absorbed and cannot be circulated throughout the air.

In a 1990 review of indoor air pollutants, published by The American Thoracic Society, it was stated that air purifiers containing the HEPA filter are able to remove a significant amount of particles from indoor air, making the air purifier and safer to breathe. Asthmatics who use an air purifier in their home are less likely to have an asthma attack since the pollutants that trigger the attacks are no longer present in the indoor air they are breathing.

There is no known cure for asthma and people diagnosed with the disease will have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. However, with the help of air purifiers, people are finding their asthma attacks are becoming a scarce occurrence instead of a daily struggle. By eliminating particles in the air that trigger attacks, air purifiers are helping people with asthma to cope with their daily lives. Asthma may be an uncomfortable disease but people are finding relief in the use of air purifiers.

Spring, Preparing for Allergies with Air Purifiers

2007-12-24T01:40:00.000-08:00

Spring, Preparing for Allergies with Air Purifiers
Employing air purifiers for the relief of allergies is just one aspect of getting ready for a new season. The coming of spring is often a mixed blessing to the vast numbers of Americans who suffer from allergies. We're glad that the hard, cold days of winter are over, but have little enthusiasm for the coming months of sneezing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Most people procrastinate about preparing for the season so that it hits them with a vengeance and only then do they remember. If you had allergies last year, there's a pretty good chance you will this year as well. Using air purifiers alone will help but a more holistic approach will help even more with your allergies. WHile air purifiers can help while you are in your home you must be prepared to face the pollen and pollution outside.

The following are tips on preparing your life, your home, and your work environment for allergy season. It is especially important not to procrastinate if you have children with allergies. Children have a tough time as it is concentrating in school when the weather gets nice outside. When you add the difficulties from allergy symptoms, and the medications that may need to be taken, it can be especially hard for them to do good work in school.

Get started right away, even if there is snow on the ground. Make an appointment with your doctor or allergist. Evaluate the efficacy of the medicines you took last allergy season and with your doctor, plan a strategy for this season. Get your written Allergy Plan together. Many insurance companies (such as Anthem) provide calendars with month to month tips on addressing these problems. Get your insurance provider and your doctor to send you everything they have. A phone call is easy to make. It's especially important that you understand your doctor's strategy for long term control and for quick relief. They may be different medications. Review the filter life of your air purifiers and if need be change them.

If you are planning spring or summer vacations, get on the internet and check out the weather and pollen conditions for the places you are intending to visit at www.weather.com . Integrate these into your Action Plan. Don't let an attack ruin your vacation, simply because you forgot to plan for it and to take the appropriate medications with you.

Be ready by the first day of spring. Get into gear and get your home into shape as an oasis for breathing. There was a good reason people did major spring cleaning in the olden days. During the closed-up winter days, the home becomes heavy laden with dust and dirt, dust mites in all those warm, wooly clothes and bedding, pet danders and allergens, smoke, soot, and ash from fireplaces and woodstoves, mold from closed up spaces, chemicals from all the grooming and cleaning products used, and viruses and germs to boot. Get your home, furnishings, bedding, carpets, upholstery, and clothes cleaned up. Do the same with your office if at all possible.

Most importantly, if you smoke, STOP! If you work around smokers, throw a fit and make them stop doing it around you. Second hand smoke is poison to allergy sufferers, and horrible for babies and children.

Once you've cleaned up your act, keep it clean with room air purifiers in key areas of your house. The bedroom is undoubtedly a key area. Many allergy sufferers experience attacks in the middle of the night, because the human respiratory system relaxes during sleep. Things you can handle during the day, will be more traumatic at night. You'll want to keep a good room air purifier running in your bedroom 24 hours a day with the door closed if at all possible. You want to sleep in the cleanest room possible. It will help you survive the daytime.

Decide where else in the house you or your family spends a majority of time, and select a room air purifier large enough to adequately cover that space. If you do lots of cooking or grilling on an indoor grill, you may want an air purifier for your kitchen that can absorb chemicals.

With the plethora of allergy air purifiers on the market, which one do you choose? It helps to know specifically what you're allergic to. However, if you're not sure, but just know that you can't breathe easily during certain parts of the year, the vast majority of allergy doctors recommend HEPA allergy air purifiers. HEPA filters were developed by NASA years ago for use in the space shuttle. HEPA means High Energy Particulate Arresting. That means it sucks up the pollens and stuff flying around in the air. Many companies sell HEPA air purifiers, some much better in quality than others. The best have 5-10 year warranties on the machines themselves. HEPA filters have to be changed. When you throw one out you'll be amazed at how despicable they are and you'll be very glad you didn't breathe all that stuff.

Other types of allergy air purifiers use ionization or electro-static technology to absorb the particulate. These can be very helpful, but HEPA is still the best way to go to get the vast majority of pollutants and toxins out of your air. Stay away from air purifiers based on ozone generation technology. Consumer Reports says "ozone generators should not be where people are." Grammatically incorrect, but still a good warning. It means they are fine for industry, but not for people.

It is also enormously helpful if air purifiers you choose have enough activated carbon or other media to absorb gases and odors. Volatile organic compounds (VOC's), paint fumes, formaldehyde outgassing, ozone, and other such unpleasantries can be absorbed in addition to the particulates such as pollen.

Purchase enough good quality air purifiers to clean your home and mark your calendar so that you change the filters when they need to be changed. Some air purifiers indicate when a filter needs to be changed and some don't. It really doesn't matter. You can easily mark your calendar with the manufacturer's recommendations, and simply change the filters when it's time.

It's also helpful to get the filters in your air conditioning system changed before allergy season starts. If you don't know where to get the filters, simply get the manufacturer's name off of the system and call them up. They'll either carry the filters themselves or let you know where to purchase them. Many systems have electro-static filters which can help keep the dust down. However, they don't absorb all the pollens and other pollutants so you still need room air purifiers in key areas of your house.

Just because you have allergies, don't banish yourself from the beautiful outdoors entirely. However, remaining indoors between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. are a good idea, because that's when pollen is usually emitted. Stay inside on very windy days too. Wash your hair and clothing when you've spent a lot of time outdoors, and wear a mask to mow the lawn. Or better yet, pay some teenager who is desperate for spending money to do it.

In summary, if you start today and don't procrastinate you can face allergy season without cowering, pick solid allergy air purifiers, be careful as we suggested above and you will minimize your symptoms.

Ted Zajac, Jr.
MSE Johns Hopkins University

Watch This Before you Buy An Air Purifier

2007-12-24T01:35:00.000-08:00

Air Purifier Reviews

2007-12-24T01:16:00.001-08:00

Air Purifier Reviews

Picking the best air purifiers is a tough task because the needs of each allergy, asthma, and MCS sufferer are somewhat different. So, we have provided air purifier reviews for each each technology type and manufacturer and try to give you a brief overview of each. With reviews we must be careful because the application needs to dictate the solution rather than a rating. However we have done our best at allowing you to compare and make your own determinations. The technologies we have covered include HEPA, Ion Generators, Ozone Generators, The Ionic Breeze, and Electronic or Electrostatic Air Purifiers. We offer products from Austin Air, IQAir, Allerair, Blueair, Friedrich C90B, Whirlpool, and Honeywell

HEPA Air Purifiers:

HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filters were originally developed for the atomic energy commission and are used in commercial clean rooms to remove particles. This is a paper or polymer sheet with very tiny passage that allow airflow to pass though the material but not much else. Since the passages though the fibers of the media are so small you need a lot of surface area for a reasonable amount of airflow to pass though the media. Therefore the media is always folded in an accordion or zigzag fashion to get a lot of surface area in a small volume. There is also a hybrid version of the technology that Blueair uses where the passages in the HEPA are slightly larger to promote airflow but the air is charged with electrostatic wands. IQAir offers the most advanced version of this technology.
Our Review: HEPA Filters work well in the home for trapping particulates. The only downside is that the filters must be changed every 6-months to 5-years depending on the manufacturer. The review of any HEPA unit depends on the efficiency (how much air by-passes the filter), fan noise, filter life and price. In general this is a solid technology that works well.

UV air purifiers:
Ultraviolet light in the right intensity destroys the DNA of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.
Air Purifier Reviews: UV is not sufficient by itself because it removes few gasses and no particles. Therefore we recommend devices like the Allerair air purifiers that combine UV with HEPA and activated carbon.

Ion Generator Air Purifiers:
These are small air purifier devices that put out a stream of negatively charged Ions. These ions charge particulate pollution and when the particle bumps up against something it sticks due to the electronic charge. These devices are used on US submarines and are claimed to make you feel better and the sun shine more brightly. They are also used in the as air purifiers in the poultry industry to keep the feather dust down.
Air Purifier Reviews: We used these air purifiers years ago in bird cages. They do work as claimed (except the "sun shining more brightly" part) but have two problems. First, the particulates end up on your walls so your walls turn black near the device. Secondly, since they typically do not have a fan they only work in a localized area. In commercial applications of this product a lot of them are installed to be effective. Note that these devices do nothing for chemical problems and some put off dangerous Ozone. Needless to say when we compare these air purifiers with the other technologies we would not recommend this one.

Ozone Generators as Air Purifiers:
Ozone is an unstable molecule of three Oxygen atoms (O₃). Since Oxygen "likes" to be in two atom molecules (O₂) it readily gives up the lone molecule and oxidizes whatever it bumps into. So, any particulates or chemicals that the ozone contacts are oxidized. This changes them chemically and is very effective in commercial applications like cleaning flooded home or those with major sewage back-ups.
Air Purifier Reviews: Ozone is dangerous if inhaled, NIOSH and OSHA have strict limits on how much Ozone can be in a work place (it is a by-product of welding and other industrial processes). Luckily the FCC has tried to put the clamps on the crooked MLM firms that market these devices as home air purifiers.

Ionic Breeze:
These devices from the Sharper Image use a set of charged plates to grab the particulates and stick them to the plates.
Air Purifier Reviews: The money that the Sharper Image puts into advertising these air purifiers is amazing. We wrote an entire review on the topic which is in our Technology tab. In general these air purifiers are not effective because they have no effective way to get the air through the device in enough volume to make a difference. The Ionic Breeze can wiggle ribbons but it can not move large volumes of air though the cleaning plates without a fan. These units do not work!

Electronic or Electrostatic Air Purifiers:
This technology has been used in whole house filters for years and is also called electrostatic technology. These air purifiers works much like the Ionic Breeze with plates but, there is a fan that pulls airflow over the plates.
Air Purifier Reviews: These air purifiers have been good price-performance systems for several years in most air purifier ratings for removing particulates. So, this is a good choice for allergy sufferers but those with asthma and MCS or odor issues should pick a HEPA unit with more chemical adsorbing media.

The following air purifier reviews are intended as guidelines only. Your budget, and application are also key when you compare air purifiers. Please call us to find the best air purifier to match your specific requirements 800-497-8263.

Air Purifier Reviews by Manufacturer	Rating	Air Purifier Technology
Blueair : We rate these as premier because they offer style and quiet performance. This air purifier reviews at number one because of a great track record with our customers. If your life depends on clean air, these are the units to buy!	Premier	HEPA Type, Electrostatic, Activated Carbon
IQAir: We rate these to have technically the best air purifier technology. They clean nearly 100% of the air that passes though the unit but are premium priced.	Premier	HEPA and HEPA Type , Activated Carbon, Gas Phase
Allerair : These are well priced air purifiers that offer many of the features of the Austin Air but offer UV light options.	Very Good	HEPA, Activated Carbon, UV Light
Austin Air : These air purifiers are great units with a very long life HEPA and activated carbon filter.	Very Good	HEPA, Activated Carbon
Friedrich C90B : These units are highly rated by third-party testing agencies. They are bulky however and are louder than the units above.	Good	Electrostatic, Carbon Mat
Whirlpool : These air purifiers are effective and surprisingly quiet.	Good	HEPA, Carbon Mat
Honeywell : Classic in design these units are a bit loud. If you are noise sensitive step up to a higher end product.	Good	HEPA, Carbon Mat

Air Purifier Reviews provided by:
Ted Zajac, Jr.
MSE Johns Hopkins University

Air Purifiers Part 3 : Ozone Air Purifier Dangers

2007-12-24T01:03:00.000-08:00