Electronic air cleaners??????

[insulinpumpuser]

Hi, all. I bought today at Sears a $299.00 electronic air cleaner. I've used them for years because you can wash the filters in the dishwasher instead of buying new ones. What do you guys think of these machines?? Thanks....Bill in Az.....

 

[tolivac]

I have two air purifier units from EcoQuest international-The "Fresh-Aire" model.The ones I have use UV lamps inside them.Besides filtering the air-they could sterilize it as well-killing mold spores,germs,virus that pass thru it from the UV light-To put it this way-the two years I have used these units--I haven't caught any colds or flu.also the amount of mold-mildew in the bathroom is WAY down.Had to replace the UV bulb in one of them.Think they are worth it.

 

[sudsmaster]

I use Ultra Filtrete electrostatic furnace filters (two filter mounts on the furnace intake system). These seem to help a lot with airborne dust in the winter months.

Consumer Reports regularly reviews air purifiers in it magazine. As I recall, they stated that all the ionic typs of air cleaners to be basically useless. They even got sued by Sharper Image for their statements panning the "ionic Breeze", but CR won that one, plus court costs/lawyer fees.

 

[brettsomers]

i have an ionic breeze. it IS a good deodorizer.

 

[sudsmaster]

That would be due to the ozone... a mixed blessing.

 

[brettsomers]

what do you mean, suds?

 

[tolivac]

The "Eco-Quest" units were not tested by CU-there is also contiversy between CU and another air purifier maker called "IQAir"A dealer here sells them-so far ECU,and another outfit has bought them for their med training areas.Also some dentists have bought the IQAir units.The IQAir units use filters instead of ionozation.The Eco-Quest units use a combination.I don't go by CU on many items-esp vacuukm cleaners and air purifiers.air purifiers sort of go hand in hand with vacuums.

 

[sudsmaster]

The Ionic Breeze machines emit significant amounts of ozone. As I recall, it's above recommended limits, so CR gave the Ionic Breeze based on that factor, as well as their finding that the device didn't do much to clean the air of particulates anyway.

Ozone is a good deodorizer, and it gives that "spring rain after thunderstorm" kind of fresh aroma. But it can also be toxic to living things.

 

[tolivac]

also the Ionic Breeze machines do not have a fan or blower to circulate the air-instead they are using the minute airflow thru its filter plates.I can agree on the ozone and no airflow on the Ionic breeze units.the EcoQuest units you can turn the ozone gen off-I use them with it off.I use them with the air filter elements and the UV lamp.The UV lamp can generate very minute amounts of ozone-much like the ones in older dryers.That also helps in killing bacteria,virus,or spores that are flowed over the lamps.

 

[petek]

I have a couple of the Sears electronic air cleaners. The floor model and a tabletop version in the bedroom. They work very well I find. It's amazing how filthy the electrostatic plates become after running for a week or two. The instructions said not to put them in the dishwasher but I've been doing it for years with no problem, when I do put them I only use a tiny amount of dw detergent just in case but they come out clean.

 

[toggleswitch]

My Ionic Breeze had the habit of causing (ionized/electrically charged) dust to attach itself to the walls and ceiling and blackened them with soot.

BYE BYE IT WENT!

Does a regular electrostatic precipitator such as one would have in a central furnace do the same thing?

Electrostatic precipitator - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[mrcleanjeans]

dust in the wind

no,because the dust is getting sucked in to the filter by a fan

 

[compactc9]

Wt work, we sell a lot of the Oreck air cleaners. They do work well. In a lot of ways, the idea makes a lot of sense. The dirt is charged with a positive eectrical charge, then it is attracted to the negativly charged collector plates. The main reason that I believe this type of air cleaner to be very effective, and economical, is that this is the type of air cleaners that they use on the Navy submarines.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Listen to the snap!crackle!pop!

We sell 'em too.And COUNTLESS people have told us their dusting has dramatically diminished,allergies have lessened alot,and everything is fresher.There's even an optional charcoal pad in the exhaust for extreme odors,and it really works.I like the fact that the collector plates can be washed as often as you want,and the electronic setup destroys bacterias and molds,unlike HEPA filters,which start out very effective,but quickly lose their powers,so to speak,because the tightly packed fibers clog up quickly,plus HEPA filters are very costly to replace.

 

[toggleswitch]

I believe Friedrich has a free-standing model that is effective.

http://www.friedrich.com/aircleaner/index.asp?campcode=surch

 

[petek]

Many of the electronic precipitator cleaners also have a negative ion generator (ionizer) as well. My Kenmores both do and they do cause that buildup of dust on the walls or floor around the unit. On the console it can't be turned off.

 

[brettsomers]

Useless Fact:

Friedrich is based here in San Antonio.

 

[tolivac]

I can remember Friedrich-a major builder of air purifiers.Don't they also build small air conditioners and room heaters?
Yes-I get the dust buildup on the wall and the table the "Fresh-Aire" units I have sit on.Dust them off with the vacuum.The Fresh Aire units need to be vacuumed out each month.Its amazing the dust that collects in there.They too have a plate thats an electrostat filter that I wash in the dishwasher.It gets pretty dusty over a month.

 

[toggleswitch]

Friedrich is based here in San Antonio.

That is why I like them. DOMESTIC! (so far) and really good quality, but formerly pricey.