Portable Air Purifiers
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Attached is the link to Panasonics schematic for the ERV. It actually has double filtration. If you look on page three of the operations manual you can see both filters.
However, that is not the main purpose of the unit. The purpose is to exhaust polluted air and replace it with clean, fresh air from the outside. It reduces household chemical contaminates and staleness, not through filtration but fresh air.
The beauty of it is, it is not just pulling out interior air and bringing in outside air, but it is actually transfering the heat energy from one air stream to the other so you are not throwing heated or air conditioned air outside.
In other words, in the winter it is bringing in outside air, but it transfers the heat and humidity from the exhaust air stream and puts it into the incoming air stream so you don't have to pay to reheat or rehumidify the cold dry outside air.
The small amount you pay to run the fan in the ERV is just a minute percentage of what it would cost to heat the same amount of incoming air, if one opened a window and let in an equivalent volume of fresh air as that brought in by the ERV.
(Not to mention, an open window in the winter may give some rather uncomfortable cold drafts!
)
However, that is not the main purpose of the unit. The purpose is to exhaust polluted air and replace it with clean, fresh air from the outside. It reduces household chemical contaminates and staleness, not through filtration but fresh air.
The beauty of it is, it is not just pulling out interior air and bringing in outside air, but it is actually transfering the heat energy from one air stream to the other so you are not throwing heated or air conditioned air outside.
In other words, in the winter it is bringing in outside air, but it transfers the heat and humidity from the exhaust air stream and puts it into the incoming air stream so you don't have to pay to reheat or rehumidify the cold dry outside air.
The small amount you pay to run the fan in the ERV is just a minute percentage of what it would cost to heat the same amount of incoming air, if one opened a window and let in an equivalent volume of fresh air as that brought in by the ERV.
(Not to mention, an open window in the winter may give some rather uncomfortable cold drafts!
)
Just read the install and use instructions for the Panasonic ERV and unfortunately it is not recommended for use between Nov. and Apr. where I live so it would be of no use to me.
Gary
Gary
"Optional charcoal filters ..."
They are nothing of the sort and must be used with all electrostatic air "cleaners". Otherwise the amount of ozone generated (though many manufacturers claim is small" will increase. Also those filters also help catch what can be no small amount of dust/dirt that manages to bypass the prefilter and electrostatic plate.
I vaccum the charcoal filters (both sides) when taking the whole schbang out to clean the plates.
By the way, if one has any STPP in the house add a bit to the water bath when cleaning the plates. You'll be amazed at the dirt, dust and general filth that comes off in the water and the phosphates make sure it stays in solution and goes down the drain.
They are nothing of the sort and must be used with all electrostatic air "cleaners". Otherwise the amount of ozone generated (though many manufacturers claim is small" will increase. Also those filters also help catch what can be no small amount of dust/dirt that manages to bypass the prefilter and electrostatic plate.
I vaccum the charcoal filters (both sides) when taking the whole schbang out to clean the plates.
By the way, if one has any STPP in the house add a bit to the water bath when cleaning the plates. You'll be amazed at the dirt, dust and general filth that comes off in the water and the phosphates make sure it stays in solution and goes down the drain.
I didn't read the entire manual, Gary. I don't blame you, if you can't use it between November and April! Those are the times when you need it most, because the house is closed up.
If you did go iwth an ERV, you would have to go with the bigger through the wall units which have automatic defrost and can be used year around and will work in double digit subzero tempertures. In trying to make the Panasonic small and unobtrusive by deleting proper defrost mechanisms, they excluded it from markets who have extreme climates.
Down the road, you might want to consider an air forced central heating/cooling system. They can be installed in basements, crawl spaces or attics depending on your architecture. You have the ability to have continuous whole house air movement, filtration and humidification. They also have ultraviolet light systems (which I have) to kill molds and bacteria in the air stream.
In the interim, yes, you probably have made a good investment in the Oreck. It will at least clean out the particulates and the activated charcoal should take out some of the VOC, etc. if you keep the door closed in the room while you are using it.
Hope it works out well for you.
If you did go iwth an ERV, you would have to go with the bigger through the wall units which have automatic defrost and can be used year around and will work in double digit subzero tempertures. In trying to make the Panasonic small and unobtrusive by deleting proper defrost mechanisms, they excluded it from markets who have extreme climates.
Down the road, you might want to consider an air forced central heating/cooling system. They can be installed in basements, crawl spaces or attics depending on your architecture. You have the ability to have continuous whole house air movement, filtration and humidification. They also have ultraviolet light systems (which I have) to kill molds and bacteria in the air stream.
In the interim, yes, you probably have made a good investment in the Oreck. It will at least clean out the particulates and the activated charcoal should take out some of the VOC, etc. if you keep the door closed in the room while you are using it.
Hope it works out well for you.
I did consider an air forced central heating/cooling system (see reply #6) 2 years ago when I was looking to replace the electric heat. I had 3 heating contractors to the house and they all said that it was nearly impossible to do because of the way the house is built (the floor joists run in 2 different directions and there is a concrete block wall separating the utility room from the rest of the basement) and it would end up being very very expensive. I would also lose a lot of head room in the basement (which is finished). My preference would have been a central system.
Gary
Gary
That's too bad, Gary.
Just out of curiosity. Do you have aa central vacuum cleaning system in your house?
It seems like Canada is way, way ahead of the U.S. as far as having homes with central vacs installed. I have put one in every house/condo that I have had. Many people look at me like they don't know what I am talking about when I mention the system.
It seems like we have a wide open market in the U.S. for central vacuum systems and yet very few dealers. It is only in the upper elite homes that I sometimes see builders install one. And sometimes even these homes don't have one.
I feel like the U.S. is in the dark ages when it comes to central cleaning.
Just out of curiosity. Do you have aa central vacuum cleaning system in your house?
It seems like Canada is way, way ahead of the U.S. as far as having homes with central vacs installed. I have put one in every house/condo that I have had. Many people look at me like they don't know what I am talking about when I mention the system.
It seems like we have a wide open market in the U.S. for central vacuum systems and yet very few dealers. It is only in the upper elite homes that I sometimes see builders install one. And sometimes even these homes don't have one.
I feel like the U.S. is in the dark ages when it comes to central cleaning.
No, my house does not have a central vac. My previous 2 homes had them and actually I prefer not to use one. I found getting out and storing the hose cumbersome (although now there are ways of storing them in the wall, etc.). Also, for a quick clean up, a canister vac is a lot quicker and easier. I think most new build homes around here have central vac roughed in ie. the piping is in place but no vac unit.
Gary
Gary
whirlcool
Well-known member
You are right about homes being so tightly sealed these days. That Panasonic unit would do nicely and bring in fresh air. I have seen furnaces that bring in fresh air for combustion before as well.
An update. I received the Oreck air purifier last Fri. and have had it running constantly since then. So far I have not noticed any difference in the air quality but then the air in my house was not that dusty to begin with and I also don't have allergies. I've only noticed a very slight improvement with the overall stale air odour. I have 30 days to return the unit for a full refund so I'll wait 3 more weeks to see how it performs. I've had it in 3 different areas so far - hallway close to my bedroom, other end of the hallway at the top of the entry stairs which is next to the living area and currently it is in the kitchen entrance but facing the front entrance way where I always notice the odour the most.
So far I am not impressed with Oreck's customer support. The unit came with a DVD in addition to the manual. In the manual it say NOT to wash the filter in the dishwasher but rather just use dish soap, let it soak and then rinse however on the DVD it states that it can be placed in the dishwasher - contradictory. So I sent an email off to Oreck Canada on Sat. and so far still no reply. Yesterday morning I sent the same email to Oreck USA and no reply as of yet. I haven't tried calling the support line - that will be next.
After registering the unit with Oreck Canada, I received an email from them offering me $100 off the next unit I purchased and 50% off each additional unit as well as a free refrigerator air purifier ($50 value) and a free electric broom vacuum ($100 value). The advertised price on their website for the unit is $120 more than what I paid from the Home Shopping Channel.
Gary
So far I am not impressed with Oreck's customer support. The unit came with a DVD in addition to the manual. In the manual it say NOT to wash the filter in the dishwasher but rather just use dish soap, let it soak and then rinse however on the DVD it states that it can be placed in the dishwasher - contradictory. So I sent an email off to Oreck Canada on Sat. and so far still no reply. Yesterday morning I sent the same email to Oreck USA and no reply as of yet. I haven't tried calling the support line - that will be next.
After registering the unit with Oreck Canada, I received an email from them offering me $100 off the next unit I purchased and 50% off each additional unit as well as a free refrigerator air purifier ($50 value) and a free electric broom vacuum ($100 value). The advertised price on their website for the unit is $120 more than what I paid from the Home Shopping Channel.
Gary
Kind of late to chime in.. Gary, those table top Orecks and the similar ones you can get at Sears etc are only meant for one room not a whole house and they're not really powerful enough to do a typical livingroom let alone one that is open to the diningroom and/or kitchen. Ideally they're only good for a bedroom, with the door closed. If I were you I'd return it and get a refund. I've have a few of them that I've found at thrift stores and not impressed. Personally I think the Honeywell ones that use the round permanent HEPA filters that can be vacuumed are better and much cheaper. I've found a few of them at thrift stores as well for around $10-$15 each. I keep one in my bedroom and another in the livingroom but don't run that one much
like these ones ..
like these ones ..
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www.achooallergy.com
I decided I am going to return the Oreck. I went to Canadian Tire at lunch today and got the Honeywell (the same as you described Pete), which is one of the purifiers I was mulling over with the Oreck. The only thing I don't like about it is the size and that's what stopped me from getting it originally. I really won't have much choice as to where to place it.
Gary
Gary
whirlcool
Well-known member
Sorry you didn't like yours.
We put ours on the end table next to the table lamp in our den. It's kind of in the middle of the room. I think that may make a difference.
I reread that review I wrote for eopinions.com. That was a long time ago! We no longer allow people to smoke in the house. But we only know a very few people who still smoke anyway, and they don't visit that often.
We put ours on the end table next to the table lamp in our den. It's kind of in the middle of the room. I think that may make a difference.
I reread that review I wrote for eopinions.com. That was a long time ago! We no longer allow people to smoke in the house. But we only know a very few people who still smoke anyway, and they don't visit that often.
Gary, I hope the Honeywell comes closer to meeting your expectations. I can definitely notice the air in the house smells fresher with mine. The high cfm, 360 degree intake and exhaust directed upward create excellent air circulation in the room, much like a good ceiling fan. It's not exactly quiet though! I run mine when I'm out of the house and turn it down to low when I come home, and off at night. I replace the charcoal filter material 3 or 4 times a year, or whenever I notice it is plugged with dust and not capturing odors as well anymore. The HEPA filters last a long time. I have gone five years between changes with no decline in performance.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Aren't the charcoal filters for those Honeywell units quite pricey? We considered the Honeywell before the Oreck and the replacement filter cost made our decision for us.
I usually pick up several packages of the charcoal filters when I see them on sale at Menard's and once found them on clearance at Target and bought all they had. It's been a couple years since I've needed to buy any but I don't think a double-pack of the filters was any more expensive than a package of vacuum cleaner bags. It's definitely less expensive than the $16-$18 for the TOL Filtrete furnace filter I use.
The charcoal filter for the Honeywell is $16.95 here which is a lot less expensive than most of the filters that are used in the various other air purifiers. The instructions say it only needs to be changed about once a year. The Hepa filter never needs to be replaced - it can be vacuumed clean. I have to agree that the unit is noisy but no more so than the Oreck - high and medium speeds are comparable but low speed on the Oreck is quieter than on the Honeywell. There does seem to be a lot more air movement on the Honeywell.
Gary
Gary
I don't even bother with replacing the Honeywell wrap around charcoal filter because I don't think it really does anything for odors.. I just keep it there as a pre-filter and vacuum it off every couple of weeks.
