I am in the market for an air purifier for home. I have looked all around and I have also checked out the rankings of them on Consumer Reports but I would like to get some opinions here on the boards. If you guys have an air purifier that you really like please let me know the brand and approximate cost and I will check it out.

I have found out the major costs involved with an air purifier are the replacement filters. They are very costly.

I was surprised to see the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra at the bottom of the rankings list. I would have thought that would have done better in the testings.

Thanks

I'd like some info on this too, especially the whole house variety that go into your furnace, if forced-air is your thing. After the fires of 10-03 here, it became obvious that I need something like that for the next time we're set aflame, plus I just like the idea of clean air. Can the ones that hang in bars be adapted to home use???

The Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra(or whichever version they put out next week in a new color scheme) is a crock of shit. They do nothing but collect, I don't know what that black stuff is it's collecting, but I never noticed a difference in air quality and it did nothing to improve the presence of cat dander in the air--even after putting two in a room, my allergies to cats was as bad as before. I usually wouldn't knock a product, but these things are expensive and not worth the money. Seems like they are no better than opening a window. Actually a great way to improve air quality in a room is to have lots of healthy, large plants in the room doint there natural thing.

Shore,

"Consumer Reports Bottom Line on the Ionic Breeze and the Environizer are quiet but ineffective. A comparable product, the Hoover SilentAir 4000, performed poorly in the standard test. Considering how slowly these three products worked, our advice is to avoid all three. There are much better choices."

Sounds like you were right about this piece of sh*t!!

[ February 04, 2005, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: gadbearr ]

gmginsfo;

The whole house variety you are searching for ranked as follows:

These have to be professionally installed and are added to the heating/cooling system.

1. Aprilaire 5000 cost $600
2. Carrier EACA cost $500
3. Trion SE1400 cost $700
4. Trane Perfect Fit cost $600
5. Honeywell F50 cost $600
6. Lennox PureAir cost $1100
7. Aprilaire 2200, 2400 cost $350

Wow, make sure you know the model number of the Aprilaire. The difference is ranked from number 1 to number 7!

I use an Aranizer in conjuction with a HEPA Filter. The Aranizer is the best unit of it's kind on the market for home use. It is available for HVAC and for wall mount. The price range is $300 on up. The Aranizer is an ozone generator that has no nitrous oxide emissions. There are ultra violet light units which mount in the HVAC duct. Both work on principles of activated oxygen. These are great for sanitizing the air. You still need something to remove the particles. You can use an HVAC filter. However, it may restrict air flow if your system has a weak fan. You definitely want a HEPA unit in the rooms you sleep and exercise in (if you do not go with a high density HVAC filter).
Another thing that will help immensely is a built house vacuum system. If that is impractical, a HEPA vacuum cleaner will make a big difference. When you are vacuuming you are filtering the air also.
This is yet another area where Consumer Reports is off-the -back. I like how they rate my car poorly yet at the same time say it is a recommended used car buy. It gets better with age? Their rating of bicycles is so wrong it is funny.

You really need to become familiar with the technology because you are going to have to use it. You can install most all of it yourself also.

Has anyone heard of or tried Living Air air purifiers? I hear them advertised all of the time, I just wonder how they do. I also have heard about one by Orek. I have an Orek vacuume, and I love it. I wonder if it is as good as the vacuume. I have one I purchased at Menard's, but I think it is little more than a toy with a filter. I can't even recall the brand name, but I think I spent about $100.

Can someone please post a link to the Consumer Reports story? It is really important to me for legal/employment reasons. I'd appreciate it a LOT.
Thanks