LONGECITY

Hi

I live in a big city in a good place, but my apartment has air polution (big street with busses)

since I don't have money to move anywhere, I'm dealing with the environement.

I have some filter on my air conditioner.
I don't want to turn it on all day, any air purfiers or stuff that get smog, bus exauhst particles etc?

sorry if its the wrong forum but I'm dealing with physiology and epigenetics.
Edited by liorrh, 20 November 2007 - 11:17 PM.

Some good reviews are here.

consumersearch.com air purifier review

anyone use one at home?

I got some giant Honeywells cheap on eBay. Very noisy, so you have to turn them down to level 1 or 2 when you're in the same room. I vacuum the prefilters weekly to extend their life. If you want to remove chemicals as well as particulates, Austin Air Healthmate is cheap and well-regarded.

Make sure you get a HEPA, which has an actual filter. The ionic type are ozone generators (an asthma trigger).

best to make your own filter using an inline fan mated to an activated carbon filter with hepa pre-filter - like a 'can filter'

most of the store bought filters are weak and over-priced

This is what I use: http://www.venta-air....com/index.html

Cheap to run, works really well, simplicity, etc.

best to make your own filter using an inline fan mated to an activated carbon filter with hepa pre-filter - like a 'can filter'

most of the store bought filters are weak and over-priced

Wouldn't it be better to go prefilter -> carbon filter -> HEPA filter? With your setup you could be blowing carbon dust into the room.

This is the little Honeywell I have for my room...only turn it on when I'm sleeping, and I don't use the ion function. Air filtration is something I have wanted to learn more about so I could figure out if this filter is any good or not!

http://www.kaz.com/k...4d724d726f0e7c/

I've used a couple of kinds. These days I just use plants.

I've used a couple of kinds. These days I just use plants.

Make sure you buy one with a True HEPA filter, versus a standard one.... this is the grade hospitals use and captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger.

I have three True HEPA filters throughout my house (Two Whirlpool Whispure 510's & one Honeywell 50250) house and my Allergies are non existent and my Asthma is much improved due to them. One of the best investments I've made in my home.


When I can afford it, I'll be selling my current air purifier and buy a couple Air Purifers from http://www.rabbitair.com/

Best on the market right now and more filtration capabilities then you can shake a stick at.

Read some of the reviews on Amazon.com also regarding these units.
Edited by jCole, 03 August 2008 - 04:12 PM.

I've used a couple of kinds. These days I just use plants.

Make sure you buy one with a True HEPA filter, versus a standard one.... this is the grade hospitals use and captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger.

I have three True HEPA filters throughout my house (Two Whirlpool Whispure 510's & one Honeywell 50250) house and my Allergies are non existent and my Asthma is much improved due to them. One of the best investments I've made in my home.


When I can afford it, I'll be selling my current air purifier and buy a couple Air Purifers from http://www.rabbitair.com/

Best on the market right now and more filtration capabilities then you can shake a stick at.

Read some of the reviews on Amazon.com also regarding these units.

I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this one:

http://www.amazon.co...d...4403&sr=8-3

Looks pretty good and covers 780 sq ft. However, my condo is somewhere between 1000 - 1200 sq ft. I am not sensitive to allergies, I just want better air. Also, the place was recently painted and the main reason for getting an air purifier is to get rid of the paint and other odors. So I don't expect things to be perfectly clean, but I do expect that the unit will cut back the odors and provide better air. Looks good all around though. Does anyone see any problems with the unit?

I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this one:

http://www.amazon.co...d...4403&sr=8-3

Looks pretty good and covers 780 sq ft. However, my condo is somewhere between 1000 - 1200 sq ft. I am not sensitive to allergies, I just want better air. Also, the place was recently painted and the main reason for getting an air purifier is to get rid of the paint and other odors. So I don't expect things to be perfectly clean, but I do expect that the unit will cut back the odors and provide better air. Looks good all around though. Does anyone see any problems with the unit?

I don't know anything about the unit, but if it's just a HEPA filter, it probably won't do much for paint odor. To get that, you would need an absorbent like activated charcoal. The smells are volatile molecules that will go right through a particulate filter. Can you open windows or ventilate in some way?

best to make your own filter using an inline fan mated to an activated carbon filter with hepa pre-filter - like a 'can filter'

most of the store bought filters are weak and over-priced

How would one go about putting this together?

best to make your own filter using an inline fan mated to an activated carbon filter with hepa pre-filter - like a 'can filter'

most of the store bought filters are weak and over-priced

How would one go about putting this together?

What size inline fan?
http://www.wormsway.....asp?sku=CF0062
Worth every cent, eliminated all odors even with exaust being vented into another room. Don't buy expensive fans though, I used a 6 inch inline fan (4 inch inline fans are too weak so don't use) with 6x4 reducers on each side that I got at Home Depot for $24.00 and it vents just fine and works great. I don't understand why centrifugal fans cost so much?

best to make your own filter using an inline fan mated to an activated carbon filter with hepa pre-filter - like a 'can filter'

most of the store bought filters are weak and over-priced

How would one go about putting this together?

What size inline fan?
http://www.wormsway.....asp?sku=CF0062
Worth every cent, eliminated all odors even with exaust being vented into another room. Don't buy expensive fans though, I used a 6 inch inline fan (4 inch inline fans are too weak so don't use) with 6x4 reducers on each side that I got at Home Depot for $24.00 and it vents just fine and works great. I don't understand why centrifugal fans cost so much?

Carbon filters like these on ebay? No apparent reserves.
http://search.ebay.c...fsooZ2QQfsopZ32

best to make your own filter using an inline fan mated to an activated carbon filter with hepa pre-filter - like a 'can filter'

most of the store bought filters are weak and over-priced

Couldn't really find an example of this hepa pre-filter.

I don't know anything about the unit, but if it's just a HEPA filter, it probably won't do much for paint odor. To get that, you would need an absorbent like activated charcoal. The smells are volatile molecules that will go right through a particulate filter. Can you open windows or ventilate in some way?

I think niner is right. I got the unit yesterday, but after a day, it has not made a dent in the odor. It looks like a good unit for removing dust, pollen, etc. from the air, but as far as covering up an existing odor in otherwise clean air, I don't think it's much good. I did not expect the HEPA filter to remove the odor, but it also has a charcol filter which should do that according to the advertisement here:

"This model also comes with a washable charcoal based activated carbon deodorization filter for the removal of odors, harmful gases, and chemicals. This air purifier covers up to 780 square feet and removes a wide variety of allergens and contaminants, including dust, pollens, dander, odors, chemical vapors and more." (http://www.rabbitair...EWPROD&ProdID=6)

Maybe it can remove pop corn and bacon smell well, but I don't think it removes paint odor or the smell coming from my carpet. I don't really smell cigar smoke actually. I think what happened is that the seller had the carpet cleaned instead of replaced and they used a detergent which was designed to cover up the smokey smell or whatever smell was there through using a stronger perfume. Anyway, I am not sure how to get rid of it short of replacing the carpet...which I really don't want to do. The carpet is fine, I just want the smell gone. If I open windows, it goes away, but always comes back just as strong once the windows are closed. Since winter is coming I will eventually have to close them all the time unless I want to pay more in heating costs. I am running the unit in turbo mode 24/7, but if after a few days, no good, then I will have to return it.
Edited by Ghostrider, 27 September 2008 - 02:37 AM.

Hey all,

I found this air purifier by Airwise - it's the manufacturer behind mercola's unit. Sounds pretty good to me.

http://www.waterwise.com/airwise/

This purifier:

is based on advanced technology that goes beyond mechanical filtration methods like high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and other methods like electrostatic filtration, ozone, ultraviolet light and ionizers. Airwise technology (photocatalysis plus WisePointeTM) oxidizes odors, fungi, mold and parasites.

Edited by katzenjammer, 10 October 2008 - 01:34 PM.

I use an Electrolux air purifier.

www.electrolux.com

Anyone have any updates for this - I am determined to get a good airfilter this winter!

http://greenupgrader...-for-fresh-air/

http://greenupgrader...-for-fresh-air/

This article suggests that all you need for clean air is to have some green plants in your house. I don't buy it. Plants are pretty and they convert CO2 to O2 and might even suck up some organic molecules, but they aren't going to do much for particulates and allergens. That's the whole point of HEPA filtration. If you want to have both plants and a HEPA filter, that would make sense.

Given everyone's obsession around here, I'm amazed this thread isn't more updated. It's AIR people - need to breath CLEAN AIR!!!! Okay, I sound insane. LOL!

How about this company? http://www.austinair.com/

http://greenupgrader...-for-fresh-air/

This article suggests that all you need for clean air is to have some green plants in your house. I don't buy it. Plants are pretty and they convert CO2 to O2 and might even suck up some organic molecules, but they aren't going to do much for particulates and allergens. That's the whole point of HEPA filtration. If you want to have both plants and a HEPA filter, that would make sense.

You are correct.

I watched the 'Kamal Meattle: How to grow your own fresh air' TED talk when it first came out. In that video Kamal Meattle mentions that they have ~1200 plants for 300 people. What he doesn't mention is that these are all in one room, and that the air goes through an air washer and UV filter before it is passed into the room with all the plants. You can't remove a lot of VOCs with a few plants scattered about the place. That said, I did purchase a few ~3ft Butterfly Palms for $45 ea (expensive - esp if you do not have a green thumb as these take a little bit of care to maintain), and have lots of Mother in Law's tongue as these came from, believe it or not, my mother-n-law who had lots of them to divide. In contrast to the palms, these are real easy to grow. And while some of my plants are still in clay pots, we've slowly moved most into homemade SIP systems.

I wasn't able to find the Specialist plant local back them.


Edit:Typos
Edited by frankbuzin, 28 October 2009 - 11:35 PM.

I'm getting this one - http://www.rabbitair...t...D&ProdID=59

I use a honeywell 50250:

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B00007E7RY

It has a lifetime HEPA filter that you simply vacuum every now and then, which is so important because replacing HEPA filters every 6 months will kill you financially. The disposable carbon pre-filters are about $20 for a year's worth.

Works really well and keeps our noses from getting stuffy at night from all the animals around (four cats and a dog in our house). Does an excellent job of eliminating odors too.

I use a honeywell 50250:

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B00007E7RY

It has a lifetime HEPA filter that you simply vacuum every now and then, which is so important because replacing HEPA filters every 6 months will kill you financially. The disposable carbon pre-filters are about $20 for a year's worth.

Works really well and keeps our noses from getting stuffy at night from all the animals around (four cats and a dog in our house). Does an excellent job of eliminating odors too.

Wow, the lifetime filter thing is interesting. Have they done any studies/comparisons with other filters and this model? Just seems weird that you can vacuum the filter and keep it forever.

I used to have an Austin Air filter, which claimed the filters lasted several years. After about 4-6 months, it became smelly (meaning it needed changing). I even sent it back, thinking it was defective, but the next filter ran out at the same rate.

The price of the filters eventually made me just keep the thing turned off all the time.
Edited by nameless, 30 October 2009 - 06:47 PM.

I use a honeywell 50250:

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B00007E7RY

It has a lifetime HEPA filter that you simply vacuum every now and then, which is so important because replacing HEPA filters every 6 months will kill you financially. The disposable carbon pre-filters are about $20 for a year's worth.

Works really well and keeps our noses from getting stuffy at night from all the animals around (four cats and a dog in our house). Does an excellent job of eliminating odors too.

Wow, the lifetime filter thing is interesting. Have they done any studies/comparisons with other filters and this model? Just seems weird that you can vacuum the filter and keep it forever.

I used to have an Austin Air filter, which claimed the filters lasted several years. After about 4-6 months, it became smelly (meaning it needed changing). I even sent it back, thinking it was defective, but the next filter ran out at the same rate.

The price of the filters eventually made me just keep the thing turned off all the time.

Replacement kit for Rabbit Air is $75, includes:

Order filter replacement kit every 1-2 years depending on usage. Filter replacement kit includes
1 Anti-bacterial medium Filter
1 BioGS HEPA Filter
1 Customized filter (Germ Defense, Toxin Absorber, or Pet Allergy)
1 Charcoal AC filter.