Originally Posted By chickendumpling I caN'T take it anymore! I love my house and despite all the hours I log on LP I am a good housekeeper (up at the crack of dawn and dusting and vacuuming between posts you know - I'm a regular Cinderella. ) But lately my house seems to be a little dust generator. Since we're not going to Seattle this weekend after all (grumblegrumblegrumble)I'm gonna change out all the a/c filters, vacuum the curtains and all stuff like that there but I really want to get an air filtration system. I don't wanna waste my time, effort or a bunch of money though so I was hoping maybe you guys might be willing to share what you know. I was looking at the Ionic Breeze @ Sharper Image but I dunno. Do any of you all have air purifiers? Which one? What do you like or don't like about it? I sure would appreciate any info. Thanks! Being chased by dust bunnies, cd
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Consumer Reports found the Ionic Breeze to be one of the more expensive filters and its performance was not as good as a couple costing significantly less. source: <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/ionizing-air-cleaners-505/ratings/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.consumerreports.org /cro/appliances/ionizing-air-cleaners-505/ratings/index.htm</a>
Originally Posted By LuLu I share your frustration with dust. I don't know about the filters tho. I decided that what I need is to have my air ducts cleaned - but I decided that from reading an ad selling air duct cleaning! So, I'm interested too in hearing if the air filters help with dust. I know part of my problem is having some unplanted areas outside (still working on those), and I should keep the patios swept a lot better. Talk about dust and dirt! The outside areas need cleaning weekly, who the heck has that kind of time! Good luck CD!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss The Ionic Breeze is the most popular only because Sharper Image has done so much advertising, it's the only air prurifier brand anyone knows. But as RT points out, Consumer Reports testing shows it to be one of the poorest air filters made.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger We just have a HEPA filter. Not too sure if it really does much. I'm thinking of getting a Roomba to keep the floors free of dust. That'll just leave the other surfaces. We also just had our doors and windows replaced, and that seems to help keep some dirt out. Before you could actually see daylight under the doors.
Originally Posted By avromark My house uses a Carrier 94+ High Efficiency Forced Air Furnace (Natural Gas), a Carrier Puron Central Air Conditioner with a VanEE Gold Heat Recovery Ventalator. Compared to homes without a HRV is definately worth it's weight in gold, since my house was new construction each room even has it's own wall control. Dust levels are down, allergies don't really bother me anymore. I really don't know how good a "room unit" would do.
Originally Posted By avromark Err according to documentation make that a Carrier Performace 93+ furnace, and a Performance Puron Air Conditioner (Middle of the Road of Carrier's Premium Series). Although if you have the money I suggest going for the best.
Originally Posted By debtee Yes we have one in our house but as I'm here in Sydney not much help to you in the brand I have. Ours is BRILLIANT! It cost a lot of money but well worth it. I wouldn't be without it now, in fact I can really notice it if we stay at a house or hotel that doesn't have one now especially overnight. The air is just fresher and there is MUCH less dust around the house and you can see all the dust collected on the filters when the filters need changing. It makes you realize just how dirty the air is. I have 2 Golden Retrievers in the house with us and I could not stand the dust and smell they create without our air filtration system. It also balances the ions in the rooms, I did get all the scientific info when we first purchased it and took notice then but really I can't explain it all now, except to say you won't regret buying one I'm sure!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad All you really need is a good filtration system on your furnace. I would suggest the Spaceguard or some other accordian type filter with a ozone and UV light add on inside the return box. They type of heating and air system that you have is somewhat irrelevant and these two things can be added to almost ANY existing system old or new for not tha much money.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Thanks for all the tips guys! <--- busily taking notes And big thanks to RoadTrip for the link. You tock man.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder I do not have an "air filtration" system per say, but we do have an ion air purification system. The subject is quite debatable, one of the most popular, as fore mentioned is the Ionic Breeze, sold by Sharper Image. I agree with whoever said that theory is probably due to wide spread marketing. Another popular one is sold by Brookstone, a smaller similar retailer of upscale trendy items. I have a Fresh Air system by Ecoquest. Personally, I like how it treats the air, it makes it smell fresh, to me it feels like a morning after a rain storm. I first noticed what they can do while once walking through a busy trade show and noticed that when I was in a particular area of the large building it just felt different, the air seemed fresher, I looked around and saw a sign that said something about "air" and followed it, as I got closer I noticed that the air got fresher. I was amazed. It took a couple years, but after that trade show I wanted one. I eventually came across 2 different friends that sold Ecoquest, so I finally bought one. They cost more than the Ionic Breeze and others, but I didn't care, I wanted the one I liked. I *think* the main difference between some of the others, and my Ecoquest Fresh Air unit, is that the Fresh Air system does *NOT* have a Hepa system or any other *filter* system, [other than it's internal filters] Ecoquest units simply produce ions. It does not claim to be an air filter, but rather an air *purifier* There has been a lot of controversy in that last few years about these products. A few agencies have reported negatively regarding ozone and ion producing units. All that information came about one month after I spent a fair chuck of change for our unit. [story of my life,... just watch home prices plummet again just after my escrow closes, it's a given after I buy] Still, with all the negative hype, I like my air purifier. I mostly like how it makes the air smell when I walk into my house. I bought it for no other reason, I did not care that it claimed to reduce pollutants in the air. Does it work? Yes, it does the function that I bought it for. Is it unhealthy? ... I dunno? Reports suggest that ion producing units can be harmful to some people. I know this... when using the "sanitation mode" which is supposed to rid your home of certain contaminants in the air... it suggests remove all pets and humans not be in the house while it's sanitising. It's also important to note that the unit I have is not mentioned in the Consumer Reports article. Here's more links... most on the negative side, I read them and took note, but for now I choose to keep using my Ecoquest unit. <a href="http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/104/107232.htm" target="_blank">http://www.webmd.com/content/A rticle/104/107232.htm</a> <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-04-04-air-filters_x.htm" target="_blank">http://www.usatoday.com/news/h ealth/2005-04-04-air-filters_x.htm</a> <a href="http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/2456" target="_blank">http://www.ewire.com/display.c fm/Wire_ID/2456</a> if interested, official Ecoquest website... <a href="http://www.ecoquestintl.com/index_home.asp" target="_blank">http://www.ecoquestintl.com/in dex_home.asp</a>
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF Something else about ionic devices... The instruction manual for our Sleep Number bed says that ionic air cleaners should not be used near the bed. Why this is, I don't know.
