john

I started using ionic air purifiers in the 1960’s for asthma and allergies. So do ionic air purifiers work for asthma? NOPE. I wanted help with asthma and allergies to cats, dogs, dust and pollen. In fact it brought on an asthma attack. I’ll explain why shortly.

It was in the 1990’s that the Sharper Image model (an ionic air purifier) was finally removed from TV for the very reason that caused my asthma attack.

Do Ionic Air Purifiers Work For Allergies ?

NOPE! Well maybe I would more truthfully say it will help with allergies to smoke and odors. It will not be effective in helping dust or pollen.

The plates use positive and negative charges to attract pollutants. They just don’t work well since most dust and pollen does not have very much electrical charge. The static electricity effect from the plates (which also creates the zapping noise in the Oreck air purifier, often complained about) will attract a little dust. Just not very much.

The Problem with Ionic Air Purifiers

The problem with some Ionizers is this:

The washable “plates” in ionic air purifiers can often create dangerous levels of ozone. This created confusion for consumers because most consumers don’t understand the difference between ions, ionizers and ozone.

Ionizers are different from ozone machines. While Ionizer plates aren’t made intentionally to create ozone some ionizers (because of their design) happen to create ozone.

What Do ionic Air Purifiers Work For?

Ionic air purifiers will help with smoke, pollution and odor. If you are a smoker, or have someone close by who smokes the ionic air purifier would be a good low-cost way to remove smoke. That’s because the washable plates would save you from having to replace HEPA filters.

The other scenario for ionic air purifiers is to remove car and truck fumes from inside your car or home.

Conclusion

An ionizer is different from ozone machines, but can create ozone. The fact that an ionizer doesn’t work particularly well for dust or pollen may be the reason to look at air purifiers that use HEPA instead.

Thousands of people have asked me: “What’s the best room air purifier?”

And I always respond with these 3 questions:

1) What’s your air problem? (IE: asthma, allergies, odor, mold, etc.)

2) Is it a small room or a large room? (Square footage)

3) And how much do you want to spend?

That’s because there are 10 different types of purification and each does something different. What works for one problem won’t work on others. An example would be an ionic air purifier (good for smoke and odor) when you have allergies to pollen which would require a HEPA air purifier. And because each air purifier covers a different square footage you don’t want one too small or too big. You can also pay too much for a unit that has expensive replacement filters.

When the Best is Not The Best

Many sites may claim having the ” best room air purifier ” but often it’s not the “Best” for your needs. Each room is different.

By following the video instructions below you’ll be able to narrow your search and determine the best match for your needs.

STEP 1: Learn the 10 Technologies

The video below explains the 10 technologies…

STEP 2: Square Footage Problems

High Ceilings and furniture does affect square footage (as is listed on most air purifier boxes). Most square footage is based on 7-8 foot ceilings, and is based on an empty room. Allow for this in your calculations.

I often receive emails and phone calls about small room air purifiers as well. Yes, many air purifiers are simply too big for, let’s say a 10 x 12 room. That’s only 120 square feet.

Informed Comparisons

Now that you have a list of technologies you want, and the square footage, you might want to view the comparison chart (see link below) and watch some of the video and written reviews on this site for the air purifier that fits your needs.

Best Room Air Purifiers Compared

My Favorite 100 Air Purifier

My favorite small room air purifier is the Alive Air Mini seen in the video below: The link below has more information on the Alive Air Mini and where to purchase it.

Overview

HEPA or OZONE? An Ozone Air Filter is really not a filter at all. And Ozone is just 1 of the 10 air purifier technologies available. Besides explaining the differences between them we’ll also cover the limitations of each, and the dangers of Ozone.

For a complete explanation of the 10 technologies, what they do, and which to choose for your particular need, I suggest watching the video on the home page

10 Air Purifier Technologies

Ozone Pro’s and Con’s

Ozone is simply an oxygen molecule (called O2 = two particles) that has an additional, yet very unstable, surplus particle (now making it O3). This highly unstable particle can be created by electrical charge. This can happen from lightning, or by electrical charge. With an Ozone air filter or purifier the machine produces more of these unstable particles.

It’s the instability of that third “wheel” that makes it effective for mold, mildew, smoke, and odors. Unfortunately the instability can also damage or irritate tissue in high amounts (see the video). Brand names heap ozone air filter machines include multi-level brands like Alpine, Ecoquest, and Vollara (all the same company and design) as well as a few Chinese air purifiers. These Ozone molecules go out into a room and kill odor, mold spores, smoke molecules, and other gases. They don’t work inside the machine itself. The fan in an ozone machine works to send the highly ozonated air out into the far corners of the room.

Ozone Dangers

In the video below you’ll see why the Ionic Breeze Air Purifier was removed from television and why even the Oreck Air Purifier may inadvertently create ozone. By the way they are both called electrostatic. Electrostatic can create ozone, even though it was not intended to.

Conclusion

Ozone should not be considered a good choice for allergies to pollen, pet hair, or dust. I also would not use it as my everyday air purifier because of the health risks. It might be considered useful for smokers, or large amounts of smoke, odor, or for mold/mildew conditions.

For myself, I have an old ozone generator in the closed which I use on occasion to “treat” a room (while I am not in it) from musty, mildewy smells or extreme odor problems.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW…

Overview

Let’s begin by defining what an ozone ionizer air cleaner is and isn’t. There is a lot of confusion amongst consumers, due to the fact that some “ionizers” create ozone. Once we have ‘cleared the air” (sorry for the pun) about the differences we’ll talk about different air cleaners and ionizers models that you’ll find reviewed on this site.

Ozone and Ions are different.

What Is Ozone?

Ozone is an oxygen molecule (O2) with an added, unstable molecule added (O3). This unstable molecule is created by lightning, orby electrical charge. In the case of the Air Purifiers ozone machines are called “ozone generators and while very effective for mold, mildew, odors and gases too much Ozone can irritate lungs. Brand names include Alpine and Ecoquest as well as some Chinese air purifiers with Ozone added. These Ozone molecules go out into a room and kill odor, they don’t work inside the machine itself.

VIDEO: Ozone Ionizer Air Cleaner Dangers

What Is An Ionizer?

An ionizer uses electrically charged metal plates, and often charged wires, to create an electrical field that has both a negative and a positive charge. These plates attract pollution and odors. That’s because these toxins also have a charge so the plates act like a magnet. Models include the Oreck (truman cells), Ionic Breeze, and any air cleaner called ionic. They use washable plates or grids. The challenge has been that these “ionic plates” can create ozone as a byproduct of the electrical charge. So the term ” Ozone Ionizer Air Cleaner ” might better be called “ionizer air cleaner that creates ozone”.

The video below explains Ionizers and their pro’s and con’s.

Ionizer Pros and Cons

Conclusion

While ionizers are fine for removing odor and pollution they are not very effective at dust and pollen. This is because pollen and dust have little electric charge. But if pollution and odor is your main problem they would be an inexpensive way to treat these issues. I would just look for an ionizer that has plates which do not create ozone.

Ozone on the other hand is great for mold and odor, but you want to be away from the room you are treating when you run ozone.

A complete list of air ionizers and air purifiers, with comparisons, is available via the link below…

Ozone Ionizer Air Cleaner Comparison Chart

See The Chart Further Down

For Best Results:

Before jumping to the home air purifier comparison chart please read the following suggestions:

After 30 years in the air purifier industry I have watched people choose the wrong air purifier system hundreds of times. I’d like to help you avoid making that mistake. My suggestion, as the best way to begin, include these steps:

1) First: Learn the 10 technologies to determine which is best for your needs

2) Review the Home Air Purifier Comparison Chart below to find several models which match the technology.

3) Watch the video reviews, written specs, and particle tests on this site to narrow your decision.

You’ll find a review on almost every brand name air purifier on the market via the left menu. A complete list of air purifiers reviewed is available on the site can be found using the link below:

Home Air Purifier Comparison List

STEP 1: Learn The 10 Technologies

There are 10 primary air purification technologies available. The video below covers all 10 and what they help.

Quick Review:

#1 HEPA Filters – Particles: Allergies, dust, pollen

#2 UV – Pathogens: Kills germs, viruses, bacteria

#3 Carbon – Gas: smoke, chemical fumes, odors

#4 Pre-Filters – Particles: Hair and Dust

#5 Tio2 – Magnifies UV effect making it much more effective

#6 Ozone – Gas: Smoke, odor, mold (May harm lungs)

#7 Negative Ion – Does remove some smoke, mold and pollution and has a positive effect on the physical body (sleep, breathing, energy)

#8 Electrostatic – pollution (soot), smoke, odor

#9 Water – Collects dirt, hair and dust by passing air through water

#10 Ionizers – Collects pollution and will kill some odor and smoke

Keep a list of the technologies in mind as you review the comparison chart to find models that match your needs.

STEP 2: Home Air Purifier Comparison Chart

Armed with the knowledge of which technologies you want look over the comparison list below with an eye toward which models match your criteria.

STEP 3: Watch the Complete Reviews

Via the link below, and the left menu, you’ll find complete reviews on all major brands of air purifiers. These reviews include:

1) Spec Sheets

2) Pros and cons

3) Video reviews

4) Written reviews and comments

5) Particle tests for many popular models

Best Wishes finding the right air purifier for you.

Overview

On this site you’ll find the best ratings for air purifiers based on particle tests (video), video reviews that take you inside each machine, comparison charts and consumer opinions. But to get the best air purifier for you watch the video below that will explain the ten technologies and how to properly determine square footage.

Once you have the technology you want and the square footage then read the comparison chart for models that match. After you have chosen several models then watch the complete reviews, videos, and particle tests on those brands from the left menu.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW FIRST TO LEARN ABOUT THE 10 AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES…

Why Most Ratings Miss the Mark

If you were to simply chose your air purifier based on Consumer Reports top ratings for air purifiers you might, like many consumers, chose an air purifier that is less than ideal. That’s because of the following:

1) Because each room is a different size, and since each air purifier is rated for a different square footage, many consumers buy air purifiers that are either too big or small.

2) The ten different types of air purification technology each work in different ways. I have seen, for example, people buy an ionic air purifier for pollen allergies, only to discover that HEPA is the only one that handles pollen effectively.

3) Most ratings don’t account for operating expenses. EX: If you buy the most expensive air purifier on the market you’ll also be paying 190 every 6-9 months for the replacement filters (See the comparison chart for replacement prices).

Importance of Particle Tests

Particle tests are the only way to determine whether an air purifier can remove dust and pollen effectively. Few particle tests exist online, but on this website you’ll find we have tested almost every brand.

Ratings for Air Purifiers That Include Video

Because of my technical background (or maybe my geeky nature) I like to see what I am buying, whether it’s a house, a car, or an appliance. Because any air purifier is only as good as the filters inside I have taken the time in every video review on this website to take apart each air purifier. This way you can see the filters inside each machine.

Finally the comparison chart (you can find it via the left menu or right column) on this website will give you a good look at filter prices, warranties, prices and filters included.

The link below takes you to my Top 10 air purifiers reviewed in video format.

I bought my 1st ionizer air purifier in the 1970’s. I hoped to get help with asthma and severe allergies. Did it actually work? Just the reverse: It brought on an asthma attack, and I’ll explain why shortly. It was many years later that the Sharper Image model was removed from the airwaves for this very reason.

The Ionizer Problem

The problem with some Ionizers is this:

The washable “plates” in many air purifiers create dangerous levels of ozone.

This has caused much confusion for consumers. And most consumers don’t know the difference between ions, ionizers and ozone.

Ionizers do something different from ozone. Ionizers aren’t made intentionally to create ozone, they work in a different way, but some ionizers just (because of their design) happen to make ozone.

Perhaps the important major point about ionizers is that they are not particularly good for pollen and dust. The plates simply do not work well since most dust and pollen does not have very much electrical charge. The static electricity from the plates, which also creates the zapping noise often complained about, however does attract some dust.

What Exactly Is Ozone?

It’s oxygen (O2) that has an extra molecule added to it. It’s this extra molecule that is short-lived, unstable, which can actual kill odor and that can irritate lungs. So while ozone can also clean the air the way they work is different from ionizers.

Several “ozone-machines” are available for sale today with popular names like Ecoquest or Vollara. These ozone machines send ozone out of the machine into the room, they don’t clean the air inside the purifier itself.

The same way ozone can kill mold and odor too much can also attack cells in the respiratory track and sinuses bringing irritation.

The Ionizer Air Purifier

An Ionizer Air Purifier cleans the air inside the machine itself. By charging steel plates with electricity (+, -) it attracts charged pollution and odor molecules like a magnet. The Oreck (truman cells are plates) and the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze are the most well known ionizers. Their plates are washable.

These flat “plates” have a tendency to create ozone because of the positive electrical charge. But it’s not what they are trying to do.

Conclusion

An ionizer is different from ozone machines, but can create ozone. The fact that an ionizer doesn’t work particularly well for dust or pollen may be the reason to look at air purifiers that use HEPA instead.

Overview

To choose the air best home purifier , at the best price, I am going to suggest watching the video below. This way you can determine which technologies you want, and also what the square footage is. Once you have the tech you want then reading our handy comparison chart (see the left menu for it) and watching our comprehensive video and written reviews will help you choose the right one for your needs.

If you know the technology, and just want to begin watching the air best home purifier video reviews on each model you’ll find them via the left menu. We have tested and reviewed over 200 models to date.

Most Common Air Purifier Mistakes

When it comes to air purifiers most consumers make the following mistakes:

1 – They choose air purifiers that are too small for the area they are trying to cover

2 – They choose the wrong technology. The most common example is purchasing an Oreck Air Purifier which can handle smoke and odor but which does a poor job on dust and pollen because it fails to include HEPA. Hepa is what Doctors recommend most.

3 – They pay too much. Air Purifiers are very profitable, and the infomercial models are very overpriced.

4 – They fail to look at the replacement filter costs. Most air purifier companies overcharge for their replacement HEPA filters and UV bulbs. The comparison chart on this website shows the different prices of these. Every 6-9 months you will have to pay for these filters. Some less expensive air purifiers can actually cost you more once you factor in filter costs over time.

For Allergies – Make Sure It Is Tested

If you have allergies to pets, pollen or dust then you’ll want to make sure that the air purifiers you are looking at offer particle tests. This is the only way to properly determine whether an air purifier will remove the dust and pollen causing your allergies.

So while almost all HEPA air purifiers should remove allergens down to “0” you’ll find some that do not. You’ll see particle tests done in real time on many of the models reviewed on this site. To find the air best home purifier for allergies make sure you watch the particle tests.

For Dust – Make Sure It Has HEPA

While electrostatic air purifier and ionizer tout that they help with dust the fact is that HEPA filters, a cloth like filter similar to those you’ll find by your furnace, are the better choice. Electrostatic plates or truman cells simply do not attract and hold very much dust.

Which Best Buy Air Purifier is Best?

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW…

Overview

In this review I’ll be answering the following questions:

1) What are the most popular air purifier models on the market?

2) What brands sold at Best Buy stores are any good (if any)?

3) What do you consider the top Best Buy air cleaner ?

Because I live in Minnesota, near their headquarters, I’ve had a chance to watch their test cases on air purifiers in their local stores.

Choosing the Right Air Purifier

There are popular air purifiers and then there is a much more important factor:

Which best buy air purifier is best for you?

The answer depends primarily on the proper square footage, which of the 10 air purifier technologies matches your needs, and your budget. Other considerations include filter replacement costs (most often overpriced), warranty and guarantee terms, noise, quality, and customer service.

Don’t know the ten technologies? You can learn about all 10 technologies and what they help by watching the video on the home page:

Consumer Reports Air Purifier Purchase Mistakes

Consumers often purchase air purifiers only to discover that:

1) The air cleaner they chose did not help the problem they have

2) The air purifier was too loud for sleep

3) The replacement hepa filters were overpriced

You can avoid these mistakes by reviewing the comparison chart below.

Best Buy Air Purifier Models

The air purifiers sold on BestBuy.com (currently there are 20 models) are drop shipped from the supplier, not from BestBuy directly. This is also true for Target, Home Depot and other big box stores. Amazon does have a few models that they ship directly, with special arrangements they make with the manufacturer.

Best Buy currently sells these brands:

Honeywell

Blueair

Sharp Plasmacluster

Electrolux

Ionic Pro

[you can find reviews on all these models via the left menu]

My Suggestion</h2

>Because these companies do not service or ship directly my suggestion is to purchase directly from the company for better service, and cost. The exception is if you love BestBuys service or their policy protects you from problems with quality.

The Air Purifiers sold in their stores (when they do) are generally the less expensive models from Hunter and Honeywell. They are the more profitable models, and being small take up less space on their shelves. I don’t recommend most of the models they have in their stores. For awhile they sold (or tried to sell) some of the better rated models, but that hasn’t worked out for any of the big box stores.

WATCH THE VIDEOS BELOW…

Best Home Air Purifier

If you’re searching for the best air purifier unfortunately you’re going to get as many answers as there are websites. A much better question to ask is this:

“What’s the best home air purifier for my home?”

And the answer to that question is: “The one that fits your problem, the size of the room, and your budget”. Each persons needs are different. EX: two people have a dust problem but one person has a large 800 square foot living room, the other a 12 x 12 bedroom. Many people buy air purifiers too small for the job, and I’ve seen people needlessly spend 800 on a large air purifier for a small room.

Most popular air purifier websites use the confusion to make more money – by selling expensive air purifiers which may not do the proper job but that are labeled “Best”. Unlike other sites the reviews on this site give you particle tests, pro’s and con’s and specifications to help you find the best one for you.

In the following videos you’ll soon be headed for an answer to finding the best home air purifier – based on what you’ll be learning. But first here are the four necessary steps:

4 Steps to the Best Home Air Purifier ……For YOU!

STEP 1 – Discover and know the 10 air purifier technologies available to determine which will help your problem.

STEP 2 – Square Footage: Measure (or estimate) the square feet (Video #1 explains how doorways and high ceilings affect this number and how many manufacturers “cheat” the numbers).

STEP 3 – Examine the comparison chart to determine several models that match your discovery from Step 1 & 2.

STEP 4 – Watch videos and reviews of each model, including particle tests, via the left menu.

Follow these four steps, in order, and you will soon discover the best rated home air purifier for you.

STEP 1& 2: Ten Technologies & Square Footage

The following video explains the pro’s and con’s of the top 10 air purification technologies, and how to measure square footage:

In review the ten technologies are:

1) HEPA

2) Ultraviolet

3) Tio2

4) Pre-Filters

5) Carbon

6) Electrostatic

7) Negative Ions

8) Ozone

9) Zeolite

10) Water, etc.

Step 3 and 4

Now that you know the 10 technologies, and square footage, you should have a better idea of the specifications needed for your home.

Armed with the knowledge of step 1 and 2 you can now proceed to step 3 and 4. The comparison chart and reviews via the menu to your left, or via the link below, will help you determine which brands may be suitable.