john

Best Air Purifiers for Smoke Reviewed

March 23, 2021 by john

Air Purifiers For Smoke

Overview

The truth is that most air purifiers for smoke (when it comes to cigarettes and cigars) will disappoint. That’s because most are designed for pollen and dust and not smoke – the challenge is the tar. However 3-4 of the 10 available technologies for air purifiers may satisfy that need.

In this review I’m starting with tobacco smoke, but also will be handling smoke problems for:

1 – Cigarette & Cigar smoke removal

2 – Stove and Fireplace fumes

3 – Kitchen/cooking smoke

4 – Industrial smoke from pollution, factories, etc.

Air Purifiers For Smoke From Tobacco

Two problems exist with cigar/cigarette smoke, smoke and odor. Removing tobacco smoke from the air is easy, and many air purifiers for smoke can do that. The hard part is tobacco smell because of tar. Let’s handle the smoke part first, and here are the technologies that work for this:

1 – Ionizer Plates (also called electrostatic or truman cells)- include washable electronic plates (as with the Oreck Air Purifier, and Ionic Breeze), or electrostatic grids (Alive Air). This technology attracts and disable molecules of smoke via positive and negative electrically charged plates and wires. With this technology the air must go into and through through the purifier to be effective.

2 – Negative Ionization – Negative ion generators don’t use plates but send negative ions into a room disabling some smoke. Not as effective as the plate/grid method it sends the negative charge into the air which means the particles can drop and attach to the carpet or other surfaces in the room.

3 – Ozone Machines – Ozone is probably the fastest way of removing smoke. The downside is that ozone can irritate or even damage lungs in high levels (it is not recommended that you be in the room during it’s use). Brands include Ecoquest (formerly Alpine and now Vollara) however there are several inexpensive chinese brands available for low levels of ozone.

4 – Carbon – Carbon will very effectively remove smoke, however the carbon will need to be in high amounts and will have to be replaced often.

Conclusion

For smoke it is best to use the electrostatic air purifiers. In preference use the “grid” types as the “plates can generate ozone which could irritate sensitive lungs.

If you want to get rid of smoke and dust or pollen then a combination of HEPA and electrostatic would be the way to go.

Air Purifiers For Tobacco Odor

Cigarette smells are easy to remove at the time of smoking, but becomes a more serious problem when it gets into curtains, walls, carpets, etc. The air purifier WILL NOT get the odor out of walls and fabrics, no matter whether it uses ozone, ions or any of the ten technologies. This is due to the tar attaching itself to the actual molecules in these materials, and it will continue to emit smells for years. Cleaning or replacing the carpets, curtains (drycleaning may work) or painting the walls is the only way, unfortunately. That’s how deep tar gets into the molecules.

Conclusion

To reduce cigarette smell from your home you have to remove the cigarette smoke from the air as the smoking occurs, before it attaches itself to the materials in the room.

Fireplace & Woodburning Stoves

Smoke from Fireplace & Woodburning Stoves is best removed at the time the fireplace is on, before can attach itself to curtains, carpets,etc. (Unless you love the smell – as I do). Wood burning smoke is not as strong, or unhealthy as cigarette smoke and will not attach itself as deeply as tar. The use of electrostatic (found in many smoke air purifier as mentioned above) will remove most smoke.

The one thing I would include in this situation is a negative ion generator. Not only will it kill some of the smoke (although it’s not as effective as otehr means) more importantly it will make the air healthier, especially because wood burning will utilize oxygen in the room.

Kitchen Smoke & Cooking Odors

Cooking smoke (QUICK – before the smoke alarm goes off!) is relatively easy to remove with air purifiers that include carbon or electrostatic grids or plates. Cooking odors also are easily removed with electrostatic, carbon, negative ion or any combination of the three.

Conclusion

For kitchen smoke you’ll find most types of smoke air purifiers will clear the air rather quick. The exception is HEPA – which will remove dust and pollen but not gas particles.

Air Purifiers For Smoke From Car Pollution

At my house in Manhattan Beach California I lived a block from the ocean. But I had a pollution problem: Why was it that after washing the windows I’d would find a layer of black soot within a day?. Was it jet fuel? I lived close to LAX airport.

I finally realized that the car traffic nearby was the culprit. So despite living with an ever present ocean breeze the air was very polluted by nearby traffic. I put in a 9 stage Alive Air Purifier with a washable pre-filter, washable electrostatic grid (and HEPA filter). The black soot meant washing the pre-filter and grid every week or so. Better it than my lungs!

The carbon removed more of the toxic gases within the air, while the negative ion generator in it re-enlivened the air (pollution is positively charged ions which, by reducing healthy negative ions, can create headaches and will reduce both brain function and energy levels).

Conclusion

For Car Pollution – use electrostatic, negative ion generators, ozone, and/or carbon filters.

Smoke Conclusions

I hope this review of air purifiers for smoke helped your search for the right model. In general – electrostatic grids are the most affordable. Carbon and ozone are the most effective, although carbon will cost money and ozone can irritate lungs.

The comparison chart on this site and video reviews can show you which models include the technologies for smoke removal.

Blueair Air 503 Purifier Review and Test Results

March 20, 2021 by john

Overview

When I first took my Blueair purifiers apart I immediately saw that they are going for particle removal, and trying to do it right. They are going for the higher-priced, high-quality end of the market. I wondered whether the high price of their units (in my opinion) was because:

1 – They are made in Sweden, rather than China (labor costs).

2 – They are modeling the IQAIR Purifier Company from Sweden which also goes for the high-priced, high-quality end of the market (£899-1200)

Most of their models are great for particle removal but what they don’t cover is germs, viruses, and bacteria. Often that is the trade off companies have to make – go for particle removal, and skip ultraviolet and other germ/virus technology to stay competitive. So we’re talking Hepa, or Hepa-like and electrostatic filters. I have several of their models and will be doing video reviews shortly to take you inside the machine.

I start my review with the popular Blueair 503 Model(formerly the 501).

Company History

The BlueAir company many originated in Sweden although I think the air purifiers are manufactured in China. In 1996 they have established themselves as a worldwide player in the air purifier market.

Pros & Cons

Pros

1 – Filter Change Indicator Light so as not to void warranty

2 – Durable steel construction

3 – Has wheel casters (great if you want to move it alot

4 – Quiet (although in quiet move doesn’t move much air)

5 – Energy Efficient

Cons

1 – Not a true Hepa filter – ‘Hepa-like”

2 – No pre-filter, short filter life (6 months) as a result – electrostatic probably clogs up more and is less efficient as a result

3 – The seating of the filters in the housing is not a tight seal and allows for some air to by-pass reducing the air cleaning efficiency

4 – Nothing to kill viruses, bacteria or mold/mildew

Specifications and Technologies

Blueair 503 Air Purifier

Purification Technologies: 3 – Electrostatic, ionizer, HEPAsilent (choice of HEPASilent particle and gas filters or Smokestop filters for better smoke removal.)

What technologies Missing: TIO2, UV, prefilters

Square Footage: 580 SQ. Ft.

Replacement Filter Costs:recommended to change every 6 months: 3 Particle Filters/3 Smokestop particle filters

Yearly Costs: £230/Year

SPEEDS-NOISE LEVEL: 3 speeds Low 32db & High -68decibels

Pros – Good for pollen, dust, allergens, smoke

Cons– Not good for viruses, germs, mold, bacteria

Warranty – Warranty: 5-year limited manufacturer’s warranty only valid if you replace the filters every 6 months

Number of Speeds – 3

Years In Business: 14

Air Purifier Rating

1. Technologies Included: (out of of 10 technologies) 3

2. Particle Removal (Allergens, Dust) 9

3. Immune System Threats (Germs, Virus, etc.) 0

4. Gas Removal (Odor, Chemicals, Smoke) 8

5. Longevity/Quality 10

6. Noise Levels 10

7. Ease of Use 9

8. Warranty 5 (very strict)

9. Customer Service/Reputation (reviews) 9

10. Price Value 5

Score: 68 = Good

Conclusion

The Blueair is one of the air purifiers which can handle cigarette smoke and I recommend it for people who smoke. On the allergy end it does a good job, but is a bit expensive and I might recommend something that does as well for a lower price if that is your need. Well-made, and sturdy.

Rabbit Minusa2 Air Purifier Review and Test Results

March 20, 2021 by john

Overview

Rabbit MinusA2 Air Purifier is a high class, great-looking model. But does it work better than other air purifiers? This review will answer those questions. This is Rabbit Airs third generation air purifier and is an upgraded version of the Minus2A SP-1004. Like all the Rabbit Air Purifiers they are made in Korea.

I loved the fact that someone is taking an interest in air purifier design, and technology, as many of the most highly rated models like Austin Air and IQAIR have stayed with a very boxy gray/white design with older technology. Some of the larger electronics stores like Frys and Best Buys were carrying the lower end Rabbit Air Biogs for awhile, and even the high-end MinusA2 (for a few months) because they look very modern. But the higher prices of the Rabbit Air meant most stores opted for more affordable units. Now you have to go online to find them. The technology is really ahead of others, although so is the price.

Rabbit Air Auto Sensors

The Rabbit MinusA2 has one air quality sensor which adjusts the fan speed when it detects particles in the room. Some of the other models on the market like the Alive Air Purifier use three sensors (Pollen, odor and dust). The challenge with sensors is the sensitivity level they are set for determines how they operate. Don’t get me wrong, I like the sensors, but because each home is different the way they are set in the factory means a wide variety of effectiveness.

While the Company recommends running the machine for 72 hours to give the sensors a clean air reference I found a very effective way to set the sensors in 3 minutes. Any time the unit is unplugged or the power goes out the sensors must be reset.

A very cool feature is that an indicator lamp on the ride side control panel (see the video) changes color from blue (clean) to red (poor) depending on the level of particles the Rabbit MinusA2 sensors detects in the air. The geeky side of me loves this feature, although you wont see it come on too often if you’re like me and run the unit 24/7. The air stays clean in my home.

I’ve been involved with air purifier sensors and sensor designs with my air purifier tech designer friend. Here’s the challenge: There are so many millions of particles in the air the question is how many particles do you set it for? A smokers house, or carpeting with cat odors, is going to set off a sensitive odor sensor practically forever. The manufacturers problem with sensors has been the rate of returns when people cant get sensors to go on or off properly.

The Rabbit MinusA2 has something which resolves much of this – it has settings to adjust the sensitivity (see the manual).

This review continues after a brief review of the stages of purification.

Stages of Purification

Now let’s take a look at the filters and technology for cleaning the air. The Rabbit MinusA2 SPA-780A air purifier has 6 stages:

Stage 1 Pre-filter – gathers hair and dust extending life of HEPA. It is anti-bacterial.

Stage 2 Medium Filter” – This is a thin cloth pre-filter which is anti-bacterial to trap hair, dust, and bacteria. It seems redundant to the pre-filter, but it traps particles slightly smaller than the pre-filter.

Stage 3 BioGS HEPA Filter – removes dust and pollen. This is your most important filter.

Stage 4 Custom Filter – You get to choose another of 3 filters for either toxins, germs, or pet allergies. I’m not convinced these are all that different, or that much more effective (I have owned 2 of the 3) but the idea sounds like you’re getting something different. I think it is more marketing built into the design.

Stage 5 Activated Carbon Filter – absorbs odor and chemicals

Stage 6 Negative Ions – These go out into the room and kill odor and mold spores. This is good for your health and lungs as well.

Conclusion: There is a bit of redundancy with the filters. While the manual says replace them every 12 months that will depend on conditions. I had to replace the HEPA and medium filter after 9 months which set me back £100.

Four Modes of Operation

The MinusA2 has a Manual, Quiet, Auto, Pollen, and Sleep Mode.

In the auto mode a light sensor measures the level of light in the room and will turn off the mood light after several minutes and shut the machine down to slow speed.

“Sleep mode” is very cool and happens automatically. The Sleep Mode Indicator turns on in the Silent Mode (very quiet) and with the “auto” function on. What happens then is it automatically switches off Mood Light and Air Quality Indicator.

I can’t figure out how “pollen mode” does anything different since all the filters are in operation no matter what you do.

Weird ‘Mood” Lights

A switchable mood light in the Rabbit minusA2 is an idea popular in Asia according to one of my friends, but doesn’t go over in the US. The light fluctuates (see the video) between pink and blue in the low speed. It is bright but can be turned off.

According to Rabbit Air the mood light can affect your health. “Mood light on air purifier helps to normalize blood pressure, pulse, and facilitate deep breathing, which puts a person in a state of long-lasting calm and relaxation.” I’d like to see some science on that wild claim. I’d think with their “high-tech” approach they’d know better.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1 – Very sleek design

2 – Effective 5-stage filtration

3 – Wall mounted option

4 – Great controls and electronics

Cons

1 – A bit loud on low at 26 decibels

2 – Replacement filter package is expensive

4 – Only covers 400 square feet or less (despite claims of 800)

Specifications and Technologies

Yearly Costs: £100-150

Decibel Level: 26/

Warranty – 5 Years

Number of Speeds – 5

Filters – 4

Notes: The Rabbit Air Brushless DC (Direct Current) Motor (BDCM) is the most current technology and for me the way to go with an air purifier. Many manufacturers (IQAIR and Austin Air for example) still use the old “brush motors” which are louder, produce ozone, and do not last as long. These BDCM motors are quieter, ozone free, and produce less electromagnetic currents while using less electricity. I’ve had my Alive Air Purifier running for 5 years now 24/7 and it is rated for 100,000 hours of operation. So far so good.

Air Purifier Rating

1. Technologies Included: (out of of 10 technologies) 7

2. Particle Removal (Allergens, Dust) 9

3. Immune System Threats (Germs, Virus, etc.) 3

4. Gas Removal (Odor, Chemicals, Smoke) 7

5. Longevity/Quality 9

6. Noise Levels 8

7. Ease of Use 9

8. Warranty 10

9. Customer Service/Reputation (reviews) 9

10. Price Value 6

Score: 77 = Excellent

Rabbit Minusa2 Air Purifier Conclusion

If it weren’t for the cost, and replacement filter cost, of the Rabbit MinusA2 I would recommend it highly. I love the design, looks, and filters in it, although I found some of the extra filters redundant. Great for allergies, I only wished they had UV or other germ and virus killing technology. I like the Warranty as well. It’s a bit small for the cost. If money isn’t a concern, looks are important to you, and dust/pollen are your main concerns, then this might be a great choice for your home.

If you need to cover 2 rooms you can buy 2 Alive Air Purifiers (7 technologies) for the price of one Rabbit Air MinusA2 (6 technologies). You’ll sacrifice looks, but save money in the process.

Compare Air Purifier I Use These Criteria

March 19, 2021 by john

Compare Air Purifier Criteria

10 separate rating factors are utilized to compare air purifier against air purifier. The top possible rating score is 100 points. Each rating factor has a maximum point value listed below.

I use a combination of objective criteria (labeled O) and subjective criteria (labeled S). Objective means it is supported by factual data. Subjective is more of an experiential rating factor. Subjective depends on the expertise of the reviewer. Combining both objective and subjective is the best way to compare air purifier against air purifier.

At the end of this page you will find additional factors that were considered before final rating scores were given.

Rating Factors:

1) Value – 20 pts(S/O) – This is a somewhat complicated measure. The cost is an objective measurement. Cleaning Ability is a combination of objective fact and subjective feel. Cleaning ability will be ranked on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best. Two factors will define cleaning ability, What is removed (#3 below) and how well. What is removed contributes 5 pts as follows 15pts (from #3) = 5pts, 12 pts = 4 pts, 9 pts = 3 pts, 6 pts = 2 pts, 3 pts = 1 pt. The “how well” factor will be a multiplier. not well = .5 pts, well = 1 pt, very well = 1.5 pts, extremely well = 2pts. Value = Cost divided by Cleaning ability. <100 20 pts, <110 18 pts <120 16 pts, <130 14 pts, <140 12 pts, <150 10pts, <160 8 pts, <170 6 pts, <180 4 pts, <200 2 pts.

2) Quality – 15 pts(S) – Quality defines good products. Fit, finish, and workmanship up to 5 pts, cleaning medium(s) and/or cleaning technologies up to 5 pts, setup and ongoing support material up to 3 pts, and intangibles up to 2 pts.

3) What is Removed – 15 pts(O) – An air purifier is only as good as what it removes. Partial points are given in any category for sub par results. Particles >0.3 microns 1 pt, Odors and Gases 3 pts, VOCs 2 pts, Basic Microorganisms 3 pts, Particles <.03 microns 2 pts, Advanced Microorganisms 2 pts, Any other additional 1 pt.

4) Yearly Operating Costs – 15 pts(O) – Included would be standard consumable items like filters and UV lamps as well as electricity costs. Averaged over a 5 year period. <£50 15 pts, <£100 12 pts, <£150 9 pts, <£200 6 pts, <£300 3 pts.

5) Warranty – 8 pts(O) – A good warranty period generally shows that a company has faith in their products. <1 year 1pt, 1-<2 years 2 pts, 2-<3 years 4 pts, 3-<5 years 6 pts, 5+ years 8 pts.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning – 7 pts(S) – How easy it is to change filters, clean the purifier, and do other routine maintenance. Easy 7pts, mostly easy 5pts, some easy, some not 3 pts, not as easy as others 2 pts, most not easy 1 pt.

7) Manufacturer Years in Business – 5 pts(O) – The time a company is in business speaks for itself. Companies do not stay in business if they do not make effective products. <1 year 1 pt, 1-<5 years 2 pts, 5-<10 years 3 pts, 10-<20 years 4 pts, 20+ years 5 pts.

8) Look and Feel – 5 pts(S) – How the unit looks and how easy it is to use. Looks great and very easy to use 5 pts, looks good and easy to use 4 pts, looks ok and usable 3 pts, questionable looks and/or questionable usability 2 pts, questionable 1 pt.

9) Set-Up Time – 5 pts(S) – This is the time it takes to unpack, browse the set-up materials, place and start running. <10 min 5 pts, <20 min 4 pts, <30 min 3 pts, <45 min 2 pts, <1 hour 1 pt.

10) Noise Level – 5 pts(O) – Two factors form this rating, noise level on lowest an on highest setting. Low: below 35dB 2 pts, below 45dB 1 pt. High: below 35dB 3 pts, below 55dB 2 pts, below 70dB 1 pt.

Additional factors:

Area Coverage: The square footage that a purifier is recommended for. There are different ways to compute and compare. This does need to be taken into account when purchasing a purifier. Look for this information in the summary for each purifier review.

Air Change Per Hour (ACH): This applies only to passive technology. It is a measure of how many times a purifier can exchange the air in a given sized room per hour. The purifiers’ ability to “suck” the air through the technology (filters or other) is rated. This factor is best associated with cleaning ability and does find its way into my rating. Not all purifiers publish this information.

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): This factor is calculated by AHAM (The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). It gives a square footage measure indicating how much air is cleaned for three different pollutants: tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust. When AHAM have tested the air purifier they will a marked with the e AHAM Certified seal and CADR numbers. The higher the CADR rating, the more effective the air purifier is against that pollutant. The biggest drawbacks are that this rating does not factor well with all types of purifier and that only 40 or so manufacturers have paid their “dues” to be included in the certification. These numbers are included in the basic specifications for each purifier when given by the manufacturer. They are an additional way to compare certain models and are taken into account in my reviews.

I truly believe this rating system will give you a great way to compare air purifier against air purifier.

Return to STEP 3 Reviews from Compare Air Purifier Criteria

Review of Ecoquest Air Purifier Models

March 18, 2021 by john

The Ecoquest Air Purifiers, once popular for its effectiveness in purifying indoor air, are no longer in production.

I recommend considering the COWAY AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier as a worthy replacement.

It has gained a reputation for exceptional performance and advanced features.
For a comprehensive review of the Coway Air Purifier.

In summary, the COWAY Air Purifier is an excellent choice to replace the Ecoquest Air Purifier.

Now Discontinued – Ecoquest Air Purifiers

Overview

I have such mixed feelings about Ecoquest Air Purifiers because even though they work very well in two specific areas of air purification there is a list of downsides. Ecoquest is now sold under the name Vollara (hence the Ecoquest Air Purifiers have all been renamed). It has been a MLM product in each version. Before that it was Living Air. I originally knew it as Alpine Air Purifier, which i believe was it’s first “incarnation”.

If you’re wondering why it changed identities so often it’s because of the problems they had with Ozone dangers and the EPA. They also were making some pretty bold claims about what their air purifiers could help. (The recent switch to Vollara may have been financial, I’m still investigating). The name change allowed them to stay in business when the lung problems from ozone began. Too much ozone can harm lungs. For an explanation of Ozone watch the video below.

You’ll also find a review of the Ecoquest Flair Air Purifiers here.

What I have always loved about Ozone is it’s ability to clean a room and kill mold and odor. Better than anything. It won’t help with dust or pollen however. I have used it effectively for mold problems, stale air, odors, and when I wanted to “shock treat” a room to make it very fresh. I don’t recommend it as an everyday air purifier because the ozone can harm lungs as I mentioned. My day-to-day air purifier runs 24/7 and uses negative ions and HEPA to remove dust.

SHOCK TREATMENT WITH OZONE: Here’s how I have used the Ecoquest air purifiers I have owned over the years: Every week or so I crank it up and leave it on in a room for several hours. Then I shut it off, open the door (or windows) and let the remaining ozone dissipate for several hours before I go back in. i like doing this to my bedroom, bathroom and on an occasion when I have a mold or odor problem (kitchen, garage, or basement).

UPDATE: I was happy to see that Ecoquest added HEPA and UV in with the Ozone to eliminate dust and kill germs.

Stages of Purification

Now let’s take a look at the filters and technology for cleaning the air. The Ecoquest Air Purifiers use 3 to 5 stages

Stage 1 Lint Screen with impregnated carbon

Stage 2 Ozone

Stage 3 Washable HEPA filters

Stage 4 Tio2

Stage 5 UV

Specs and Tech

Pro’s

1 – Best Mold Killer Available

2 – Good for cleaning smoke

3 – Good for “dis-infecting” or purifying a room

4 – Additions of HEPA and tio2/UV bring dust and germ elimination into the picture

Con’s

1 – MLM makes price very high

2 – Ozone can be a problem for asthmatics and allergically sensitive people

3 – Replacement of Uv bulb and plates can make maintenance expensive

4 – VOLLARA HAS CANCELLED ECOQUEST WARRANTY WITH NAME CHANGE

5 – Loud on High, low air flow

Specifications and Technologies

Ecoquest

Retail Price:

Purification Technologies: 3-5

Square Footage: 20-3000 SQ. Ft.

Replacement Filter Costs: UV = 25 (6 months). Ozone Plates 30-60 (1-2 years)

Yearly Costs: 60-80

Decibel Level: (test coming)

Warranty – It was a 3 year warranty which did not cover the plates or bulb maintenance. However, Vollara has canceled warranty coverage on the former company’s products even though they just changed the name.

Number of Speeds – 3

Filters – 2

Air Purifier Rating

1. Technologies Included: (out of of 10 technologies) 4

2. Particle Removal (Allergens, Dust) 5

3. Immune System Threats (Germs, Virus, etc.) 5 (with added Tio2/UV)

4. Gas Removal (Odor, Chemicals, Smoke) 9

5. Longevity/Quality 9

6. Noise Levels 5

7. Ease of Use 10

8. Warranty 0

9. Customer Service/Reputation (reviews) 4

10. Price Value 3

Score: 54 = Fair

Conclusion

I like the Ecoquest Air Purifiers (or call them by their aliases: Alpine, Ecoquest or Vollara.. your choice) for mold and treating a room. However I don’t put it ahead of my Hepa, UV, negative Ion, Carbon air purifier. I just use it for problem areas and occasional shock treatments of rooms in my home and our offices.

If you’re looking for ozone for mold and odor removal there are now smaller, less-expensive Chinese ozone air purifier models available (some for 100) which will do the same thing. The comparison chart below offers some suggestions.

Ecoquest air purifier review: Summaries and Detailed Reviews.

Reviews are only as good as the underlying rating criteria used.

After you are done reviewing, STEP 5 Buying lists the best places to buy Ecoquest purifiers.

Ecoquest Purifier Summaries

Model: Fresh Air

Excellent Rating Up

Up to 3000 sq ft

Conclusion: My #1 pick for whole house air cleaning.

Detailed Review Below

Model: Ecoquest Air Purifier Breeze AT

Excellent Rating

Up to 2500 sq ft

Conclusion: A less expensive alternative vs. the Fresh Air.

Detailed Review Below

Model: Ecoquest Air Purifier Ecobox

Excellent Rating Up to 1500 sq ft

Conclusion: A versatile and cost effective air purifier.

Detailed Review Below

Model: Ecoquest Air Purifier Ductworx

Excellent Rating Up to 2000 sq ft

Conclusion: A good companion to any particle removing air purifier.

Detailed Review Below

Model: Ecoquest Air Purifier Fresh Air To Go

Excellent Rating

Vehicle or Travel

Conclusion: A great travel companion.

Detailed Review Below

Model: Ecoquest Air Purfier Fresh Air Buddy

Excellent Rating

Personal Zone

Conclusion: Valuable for certain applications like airplane travel.

Detailed Review Below

Model: Ecoquest Air Purifier Fresh Air Focus

Very Good Rating

Up to 50 sq ft

Conclusion: A good purifier for small spaces; best with gases and odors.

Detailed Review Below

Ecoquest Air Purifier Detailed Reviews

Model: Fresh Air

Rating Score: 87/100 points

Summary

The Fresh Air is advanced air cleaning technology, quality workmanship, and cost effective cleaning all build into one purifier. The Fresh Air comes to us from a 21 year old company that has been an “outsider” in the air industry since they first started. They have approached air cleaning from a different direction. In order to appreciate this purifier, you must understand the basics of the technology and learn how to use it. Just like any “new” technology it takes time to be fully accepted. This technology is unmatched and unlike virtually every other mainstream purifier. Make sure to review the technology sections on this website to get a better understanding of active vs. passive technologies. This Ecoquest air purifier is worth a try.

Basic Specifications

The Fresh Air is designed for use in a space up to 3000 sq ft. Actual effectiveness will depend on location, settings, and space to be cleaned. The Fresh Air purifier is “active technology” as the purifier extends the cleaning out into the home or business. The five cleaning processes include: ActivePure oxidizing cell (like ozone, but mostly other cleaning oxidizers), needlepoint ionization, RF Pulse Ionization(+/-), UV light, and a cleanable pre filter. 5-speed fan, 3-year warranty on main unit, remote.

Rating Factors

1) Value: 24/24 points – The MSRP is £747. The square footage cleaned is up to 3000 sqft. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£747 initial + £100.95/year)/3000 sqft)/15 removal points)) = 98.12. 98.12 = 24 points – excellent value.

2) What is Removed: 15/16 points – Removal of Larger Particles >0.3 microns – Very Good Removal, 3-points. Removal of Smaller Particles <0.3 microns – Very Good Removal, 3-points. Removal of Odors and Gases – Very Good Removal, 3-points, Removal of VOCs – Fair Removal, 1-point, Removal of Basic Microorganisms – Very Good Removal, 3-points, Removal of Advanced Microorganisms – Good Removal, 2-points.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 9/15 points – The RCI Cell with UV light lasts about 3 years and is the only consumable. Everything else will last 5-10+ years if cleaned and cared for. Calculating electricity usage: 90 watts/1000 X £.0886/kwh x 24 hours/day X 365 days/year = £68.28/year. Total cost £100.95/year. Average to operate.

4) Quality: 11/12 points – The cabinet is a solid fit. The fasteners are stainless steel. Everything comes apart and goes back together solidly. Overall this purifier grades high in quality and gives Made in USA a good name. Getting the UV cell out is 6 screws; good, but no screws would be nice. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Excellent Quality, 5-points. Cleaning Technologies – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Support Material – Excellent Quality, 2-points.

5) Warranty: 6/8 points – The Fresh Air has a 3-year warranty on most of the purifier, however the RCI cell (UV Bulb area) has a 1-year warranty, the remote 180 days, and the ceramic plate 90 days. Very Good Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 5/6 points – The only routine maintenance is replacing the RCI Cell every 3 years. This task should only take 10-15 minutes. Easy Maintenance, 3-points. Wiping down the machine and/or doing routine cleaning (rinse and light scrub) of the ceramic plate should be done every 30-60 days. Not counting drying time, it took me about 15 minutes the first time and 7-10 minutes after that. Average Cleaning 2-points.

7) Look and Feel: 6/6 points – I found the Fresh Air stylish, compact and easy to use. Looks Great, 3-points. The remote works great. All basic controls are understood quickly. You may need to spend 5 minutes with the manual to fully understand setting square footage and using Away Mode. Feels Great, 3-points.

8) Years in Business: 5/5 points – Ecoquest has been Ecoquest for about 8 years, before then they were Alpine. Everything but the company founder came with the name change and the company has improved their product line dramatically since then. All told in business 22 years. They are located in Greeneville, TN.

9) Noise Level: 3/5 points – Quiet on low. Fan and air flow are needed for best performance. High is reasonable especially if located as recommended. Average Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 3/3 points – Easy Set-up.

total = 87/100 points

Conclusion

My #1 pick for whole house air cleaning.

Model: Ecoquest Air Purifier Breeze AT

Rating Score: 88/100 points

Summary

The Breeze AT is a slightly older generation Ecoquest air purifier that was the number one seller for several years. It is advanced air cleaning technology, good workmanship, and cost effective cleaning all build into one purifier. One of the main cleaning components is O3 ozone. There is some negative press out there on ozone, so do make sure to understand fact from fiction. Review the technology sections on this website to get a better understanding of ozone and active vs. passive technologies. For those interested in Ecoquest air purifier technology, but on a budget, this purifier may fit.

Basic Specifications

The Breeze AT is designed for use in a space up to 2500 sqft. Actual effectiveness will depend on location, settings, and space to be cleaned. The Breeze AT purifier is “active technology” as the purifier extends the cleaning out into the home or business. The four cleaning processes include: O3 oxygen/ozone oxidizers, DC negative ion generator, pulsating negative/positive ion field generator, and a cleanable pre filter. 5-speed fan, 3-year warranty on main unit, remote, With regular care, there are no consumables with this purifier.

Rating Factors:

1) Value: 24/24 points – The MSRP is £549. The square footage cleaned is up to 2500 sqft. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£549 initial + £23.28/year)/2500 sqft)/14 removal points)) = 98.36. 98.36 = 24 points – excellent value.

2) What is Removed: 14/16 points – Removal of Larger Particles >0.3 microns – Very Good Removal, 3-points. Removal of Smaller Particles <0.3 microns – Very Good Removal, 3-points. Removal of Odors and Gases – Very Good Removal, 3-points, Removal of VOCs – Fair Removal, 1-point, Removal of Basic Microorganisms – Very Good Removal, 3-points, Removal of Advanced Microorganisms – Fair Removal, 1-point.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 15/15 points – With regular care, there are no consumables with this purifier. If using the purifier in a smoky environment, the rear reusable filter may need replacing after a few years. Calculating electricity usage: 30 watts/1000 X £.0886/kwh x 24 hours/day X 365 days/year = £23.28/year. Total cost £23.28/year. Very inexpensive to operate.

4) Quality: 9/12 points – This Purifier has been out for 5 or so years. Several quality upgrades were made as well as some design changes for noise levels. Overall this purifier grades high in quality and gives “Made in USA” a good name. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Cleaning Technologies – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Support Material – Good Quality, 1-point.

5) Warranty: 6/8 points – The Breeze AT has a 3-year warranty on most of the purifier, however the remote 180 days, and the ceramic plate 90 days. Very Good Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 5/6 points – The is no routine maintenance. Easy Maintenance, 3-points. Wiping down the machine and/or doing routine cleaning (rinse and light scrub) of the ceramic plate and back filter should be done every 30-60 days. Not counting drying time, it took me about 20 minutes the first time and 15 minutes after that. Follow instructions for quick learning. The inside can get a bit dirty from small particles drawn through the purifier. It does take a little longer to clean then some of the newer Ecoquest units. Average Cleaning 2-points.

7) Look and Feel: 4/6 points – I found the Breeze AT a bit dated, but compact and easy to use. Looks Good, 3-points. The remote works good, but the scale for the square footage settings takes a little study to understand fully. You may need to spend 10 minutes with the manual to fully understand setting square footage and using SanAir Mode. Feels Good, 2-points.

9) Noise Level: 3/5 points – Quiet on low. Fan and air flow are needed for best performance. High is reasonable especially if located as recommended. Average Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 3/3 points – Easy Set-up.

total = 88/100 points

Conclusion

A less expensive alternative vs. the Fresh Air.

Ecoquest Air Purifier Ecobox

Rating Score: 84/100 points

Summary

At two pounds, the Ecobox is a versatile air purifier. It could be used for one room or more residential/ commercial cleaning or be used for travel (pesky hotel rooms). Add a vehicle adapter and it would work here as well. Not as powerful as the Fresh Air, but just as effective. There is information getting out to news stations on this product and we will be seeing more advertising and university studies published soon. I am impressed with this Ecoquest air purifier.

Basic Specifications

The Ecobox is designed for use in a space up to 1500 sqft. Actual effectiveness will depend on location, settings, and space to be cleaned. The Ecobox purifier is “active technology” as the purifier extends the cleaning out into the home or business. The Ecobox has multiple active technologies: proprietary ActivePure oxidizing technology, needlepoint ionization, RF Pulse Ionization(+/-), UV light, and a cleanable pre filter. 3-speed fan, 1-year warranty on main unit, remote, ActivePure UV Cell lasts 1 year and costs £78 to replace. Purifier plate should be replaced every 3 years at a cost of £15.

Rating Factors:

1) Value: 24/24 points – The MSRP is £349. The square footage cleaned is up to 1500 sqft. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£349 initial + £106.28/year)/1500 sqft)/15 removal points)) = 97.98. 97.98 = 24 points – excellent value.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 9/15 points – Ecoquest recommends replacing The Activepure Cell at 1 year and purifier plate at 3 years. Everything else will last 5+ years if cleaned and cared for. RCI cell cost per year = £78. Average purifier plate cost per year = £5.00. Calculating electricity usage: 30 watts/1000 X £.0886/kwh x 24 hours/day X 365 days/year = £23.28/year. Total cost £106.28/year. Average to operate.

4) Quality: 12/12 points – The construction is simple and innovative. Fasteners are durable. Everything comes apart and goes back together solidly. Overall this purifier grades high in quality and gives “Made in USA” a good name. Getting the UV cell is easy; finally, no screws. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Excellent Quality, 5-points. Cleaning Technologies – Excellent Quality, 4-points. Support Material – Excellent Quality, 2-points.

5) Warranty: 2/8 points – The EcoBox has a 1-year warranty on most of the purifier, however the RCI cell has a 90 day warranty. Fair Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 5/6 points – The only routine maintenance is replacing the RCI Cell every year. This task should only take 10-15 minutes. Easy Maintenance, 3-points. Wiping down the machine and/or doing routine cleaning (rinse and light scrub) of the ceramic plate should be done every 30-60 days. Not counting drying time, it took me about 15 minutes the first time and 7-10 minutes after that. Average Cleaning 2-points.

7) Look and Feel: 6/6 points – I found the Ecobox stylish, extremely compact and easy to use. Looks Great, 3-points. The remote works great. The remote works great. All basic controls are understood quickly. You may need to spend 5 minutes with the manual to fully understand using the Away Mode. Feels Great, 3-points.

9) Noise Level: 3/5 points – Quiet on low. Fan and air flow are needed for best performance. High is reasonable especially if located as recommended. Average Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 3/3 points – Easy Set-up.

total = 84/100 points

Conclusion

A versatile and cost effective air purifier.

Ecoquest Air Purifier Ductworx

Rating Score: 77/100 points

Summary

The Ductworx is a great idea with a few challenges. The challenges occur when using the HVAC. Challenge #1 is that no particle removal is done by Ductworx. Because the HVAC ducts are metal, ionization does not work. Challenge #2 is that most HVAC systems run only part of the time. To combat these challenges, it is recommended that the Ductworx be used in conjunction with another particle removing purifier and that a slow speed control be added to the HVAC that runs the HVAC fan at a low speed conserving energy, but distributing the cleaning power regularly. Many schools and daycares have started to use this Ecoquest air purifier. Some installation is required.

Basic Specifications

The Ductworx is designed for use in a space up to 2000 sqft. The Ductworx purifier is “active technology” as the purifier extends the cleaning out into the home or business by using the air flow of the HVAC system. This purifier will not work in homes without HVAC. The Ductworx uses proprietary ActivePure oxidizing technology. The purifier comes with a 1-year warranty, ActivePure UV Cell lasts about 3 years and costs £178 to replace.

Rating Factors:

1) Value: 20/24 points – The MSRP is £695. The square footage cleaned is up to 2000 sqft. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£695 initial + £70.64/year)/2000 sqft)/9 removal points)) = 95.74. 95.74 = 20 points – very good value.

2) What is Removed: 9/16 points – Removal of Larger Particles >0.3 microns – Poor Removal, 0-points. Removal of Smaller Particles <0.3 microns – Poor Removal, 0-points. Removal of Odors and Gases – Very Good Removal, 3-points, Removal of VOCs – Fair Removal, 1-point, Removal of Basic Microorganisms – Very Good Removal, 3-points, Removal of Advanced Microorganisms – Good Removal, 2-points.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 12/15 points – Ecoquest recommends replacing The RCI Cell every 3 years. RCI cell cost per year = £178 MSRP/3 = £59/year. Calculating electricity usage: 15 watts/1000 X £.0886/kwh x 24 hours/day X 365 days/year = £11.64/year. Total cost £70.64/year. Inexpensive to operate.

4) Quality: 11/12 points – The construction is simple and innovative. Some installation is required. Overall this purifier grades high in quality and gives “Made in USA” a good name. Getting the UV cell out is fairly easy. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Excellent Quality, 5-points. Cleaning Technologies – Excellent Quality, 5-points. Support Material – Good Quality, 1-point.

5) Warranty: 2/8 points – The Ductworx has a 1-year warranty. Fair Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 6/6 points – The only routine maintenance is replacing the RCI Cell every 3 years. This task should only take 10-15 minutes. Easy Maintenance, 3-points. Little or no cleaning. East Cleaning 3-points.

7) Look and Feel: 6/6 points – The Ductworx is generally hidden from view near your furnace. Looks Great, 3-points. Install and run. Feels Great, 3-points.

9) Noise Level: 5/5 points – Runs with standard HVAC. If using optional always-on slow fan control, noise level would be less then when HVAC runs on normal speed. Very Quiet Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 1/3 points – Installation could take from 1 to 6 hours and may require a licensed electrician. Adding optional always-on slow fan control could take additional time. Involved Set-up.

total = 77/100 points

Conclusion

A good companion to any particle removing air purifier.

Ecoquest Air Purifier Fresh Air To Go

Rating Score: 78/100 points

Summary

The Fresh Air to Go is a versatile purifier. It packs well for airline travel. It plugs into virtually every type of outlet whether vehicle, foreign, or domestic. It also has multiple ways to mount so it does not slide around in your vehicle. I tested this purifier on a cruise ship and it took the “new” smell out of the cruise ship stateroom. I don’t like the new smell, so that was great. Small buttons make it tougher to adjust while driving and cleaning requires taking apart some small parts. The upside definitely outweighs the minimal downside.

Basic Specifications

The Fresh Air to Go is designed for use in a space up to 500 sqft. Actual effectiveness will depend on location, settings, and space to be cleaned. The Fresh Air to Go purifier is “active technology” as the purifier extends the cleaning out from the purifier. The Fresh Air To Go uses two active technologies: proprietary ActivePure oxidizing technology and needlepoint ionization. 3-speed fan, 1-year warranty on main unit, Ecoquest recommends replacing The RCI target, UV bulb, and plate every year. This yearly kit costs £39.

Rating Factors:

1) Value: 20/24 points – The MSRP is £299. The square footage cleaned is up to 500 sqft. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£299 initial + £46.75/year)/500 sqft)/10 removal points)) = 93.09. 93.09 = 20 points – very good value.

2) What is Removed: 10/16 points – Removal of Larger Particles >0.3 microns – Good Removal, 2-points. Removal of Smaller Particles <0.3 microns – Good Removal, 2-points. Removal of Odors and Gases – Good Removal, 2-points, Removal of VOCs – Fair Removal, 1-point, Removal of Basic Microorganisms – Good Removal, 2-points, Removal of Advanced Microorganisms – Fair Removal, 1-point.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 15/15 points – Ecoquest recommends replacing The RCI target, UV bulb, and plate every 1 year. This yearly kit costs per year = £39. Calculating electricity usage: 10 watts/1000 X £.0886/kwh x 24 hours/day X 365 days/year = £7.75/year. Total cost £46.75/year. Very Inexpensive to operate.

4) Quality: 9/12 points – The construction is simple and innovative. It is my opinion that this purifier is best for traveling and vehicle use as opposed to regular everyday use. It is durable, but very small. Overall this purifier grades high in quality and gives “Made in USA” a good name. Getting the UV cell out is fairly easy. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Cleaning Technologies – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Support Material – Good Quality, 1-point.

5) Warranty: 2/8 points – The Fresh Air To Go has a 1-year warranty. Fair Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 5/6 points – The only routine maintenance is replacing the yearly kit. This task should only take 20-30 minutes. Small parts may be difficult to work with. Average Maintenance, 2-points. Cleaning is done every 1 to 3 months. Takes about 15 minutes. Easy Cleaning 3-points.

7) Look and Feel: 5/6 points – A Sharp little unit with many mounting and electrical options. Looks Great, 3-points. Controls are easy to use, but may be a bit on the small side. Feels Good, 2-points.

9) Noise Level: 4/5 points – Quiet on low. Fan and air flow are needed for best performance. High is a little above quiet. Quiet Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 3/3 points – Easy to use. If using in a different country or on a cruise ship, it may take a few minutes to understand which adapter to use for which type of electricity. Easy Set-up.

total = 78/100 points

Conclusion

A great travel companion.

Ecoquest Air Purifier Fresh Air Buddy

Rating Score: 82/100 points

Summary

The Fresh Air Buddy is a unit that I was ultra skeptical of. I ran into something that looked like a Buddy years ago. It turned out to be a piece of junk that lasted a few weeks. The Buddy is better. This unit is worn around the neck and actually creates a “force field” for air pollution around your face. Amazing as this sounds, it works great. I travel by plane from time to time and used one for myself and my son. I will never travel by plane without one again. Great work Buddy! It is also nice to use at smoky restaurants and the mall. It is small enough and can be color coded to fit your attire.

Basic Specifications

The Buddy is designed for your personal space. It is worn around the neck and is only effective standing or sitting. The Fresh Air Buddy is “active technology” as the purifier extends the cleaning out from the purifier. The Fresh Air Buddy uses two active technologies: proprietary ozone oxidizing technology and ionization. This unit is virtually silent, 1-year warranty, and has no maintenance. Can be purchased with or without rechargeable batteries and charger.

Rating Factors:

1) Value: 20/24 points – The MSRP is £149. The square footage Includes only around personal breathing area. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£149 initial + very low/year)/personal zone)/11 removal points)) = 90. 90 = 20 points – very good value. – note: this purifier does not fit the equation because of its unique nature; I estimated a value number based on all available data.

2) What is Removed: 11/16 points – Removal of Larger Particles >0.3 microns – Good Removal, 2-points. Removal of Smaller Particles <0.3 microns – Very Good Removal, 3-points. Removal of Odors and Gases – Good Removal, 2-points, Removal of VOCs – Fair Removal, 1-point, Removal of Basic Microorganisms – Good Removal, 2-points, Removal of Advanced Microorganisms – Fair Removal, 1-point.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 15/15 points – Assuming you purchase the rechargeable battery option, the ongoing costs will be very low. If you use this purifier occasionally, the two batteries they give you will last for years. If you use it more often you may need a new rechargeable battery from time to time. Very Inexpensive to operate.

4) Quality: 9/12 points – The construction is simple and innovative. It is my opinion that this purifier is best for traveling, going out to smoky places, and for use on airplanes as opposed to regular everyday use. It is fairly durable, but very small. The battery area has a small plastic hinge that may break if not careful. Overall this purifier grades good for quality and gives “Made in USA” a good name. Getting the battery in and out is easy. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Cleaning Technologies – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Support Material – Good Quality, 1-point.

5) Warranty: 2/8 points – The Fresh Air Buddy has a 1-year warranty. Fair Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 6/6 points – Maintenance free. Easy Maintenance, 3-points. Cleaning free. Easy Cleaning 3-points.

7) Look and Feel: 6/6 points – Small and light personal air purifier. Looks Great, 3-points. The remote works great. Easy to turn on and off and had an easy clasp to secure with. Feels Great, 3-points.

9) Noise Level: 5/5 points – One speed, virtually silent. Very Quiet Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 3/3 points – Easy Set-up.

total = 82/100 points

Conclusion

Valuable for certain applications like airplane travel.

Ecoquest Air Purifier Fresh Air Focus

Rating Score: 68/100

Summary

The Fresh Air Focus is a cute little purifier that plugs in anywhere an outlet is, sort of like the plug in chemical air fresheners. The Focus does not use any chemicals, but uses a proprietary process called RCI that produces small amounts of ozone and other oxidizizers. The slogan is “No sprays, no perfumes – just nature.” A good little unit for those extra small areas like the bathroom, garage, or laundry rooms.

Basic Specifications

The Fresh Air Focus is designed for use in spaces up to 50 sqft. Actual effectiveness will depend on the location and the space to be cleaned. The Focus is active technology as the purifier extends the cleaning out from the purifier. It uses a proprietary ActivePure oxidizing technology – called an RCI cell. There are three cleaning modes: nightlight only, normal, and away mode. Away mode is for extra cleaning power and should be used in an unoccupied room. The nightlight has a sensor that turns it on and off depending on day or night. A 1-year warranty is standard. Available in Pearl or Graphite colors.

Rating Factors:

1) Value: 12/24 points – The MSRP is £49. The square footage cleaned is up to 50 sqft. The Value equation is as follows: 100 * (1 – (((£49 initial + £3.49/year)/50 sqft)/5 removal points)) = 79.00. 79.00 = 12 points – fair value.

2) What is Removed: 5/16 points – Removal of Larger Particles >0.3 microns – Poor Removal, 0-points. Removal of Smaller Particles <0.3 microns – Poor Removal, 0-points. Removal of Odors and Gases – Good Removal, 2-points, Removal of VOCs – Poor Removal, 0-points, Removal of Basic Microorganisms – Good Removal, 2-points, Removal of Advanced Microorganisms – Fair Removal, 1-point.

3) Yearly Operating Costs: 15/15 points – There are no replaceable parts for this air purifier. Calculating electricity usage: 4.5 watts/1000 X £.0886/kwh x 24 hours/day X 365 days/year = £3.49/year. Total cost £3.49/year. Very Inexpensive to operate.

4) Quality: 9/12 points – The construction is simple and innovative. Overall this purifier earns a grade of very good for quality and gives “Made in USA” a good name. Fit, Finish, and Workmanship – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Cleaning Technologies – Very Good Quality, 4-points. Support Material – Good Quality, 1-point.

5) Warranty: 2/8 points – The Fresh Air Focus has a 1-year warranty. Fair Warranty.

6) Maintenance and Cleaning: 6/6 points – Virtually maintenance free. Easy Maintenance, 3-points. It would be best to wipe down the front side and make sure no debris is covering the air intake in the back as needed. Easy Cleaning 3-points.

7) Look and Feel: 6/6 points – A cute little plug in that is easy to use. Looks Great, 3-points. Feels Great, 3-points.

9) Noise Level: 5/5 points – Two cleaning modes, virtually silent. Very Quiet Noise Level.

10) Set-Up: 3/3 points – Plug and play. Easy Set-up.

total = 68/100 points

Conclusion

A good purifier for small spaces; best with gases and odors.

Return to STEP 3 Reviews A-H from Ecoquest Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Car Air Purifier?

March 17, 2021 by john

We spend a lot of time in our cars. Using a car air purifier is becoming more and more popular. Making a good choice depends on several important criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1. Are you driving a small vehicle or a large vehicle?

2. Will you use it just for the car or the hotel as well?

3. Should you use passive or active technology or both? Let's cover these one at a time:

1. Are you driving a small vehicle or a large vehicle?

The only consideration here is getting a purifer sized correctly to do the job. A standard auto purifier may be too small to clean the air effectively in a semi-truck or RV. There are larger

units for larger jobs. Also, make sure the unit you want has the proper adapters for the power source you want to use it with. 2. Will you use it just for the car or the hotel as well?

Some purifiers are able to work in the car using the cigarette adapter and also have a standard wall plug to use in a hotel room. These are nice if you travel and stay overnight often as

many hotel rooms are "stuffy" even if they are non-smoking. It may make sense to find a car air purifier that doubles nicely as a hotel air purifier. 3. Should you use passive or

active technology or both?

Several different technologies are available, so you will need to pick one that suits you. Evaluate the technologies again as needed. Many of the car purifiers use mini versions of popular

full-sized purifiers. Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Air Purifier Types from Car Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Personal Air Purifier?

March 17, 2021 by john

What should you look for in a personal air purifier?

These are mainly air purifiers that you can wear around your neck. There are several brands on the market. Some are more effective then others. There are a few criteria you should consider

before buying one.

What criteria should I use to decide?

1) What is the size and weight?

2) Does it use rechargeable batteries?

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

4) Is it effective?

5) Do you really need one? Let's cover these one at a time:

1) What is the size and weight?

You will be wearing this around your neck. Nobody wants a big anchor around their neck. The goal would be to have a purifier that is as small as possible and weighs as little as possible,

but is still effective. There are some that are small, light, and effective and even color coded to your attire.

2) Does it use rechargeable batteries?

You could go through a lot of batteries if you have a purifier that is not rechargeable. If you plan to use it regularly, look into one with rechargeable options.

3) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

Review the technologies and select one that is best for you. There are not as many choices here, but browse the reviews, as they will describe the details for each purifier.

4) Is it effective?

Do a little research and buy from a reputable brand. There are some "toys" out there that are virtually worthless. There are also a few excellent models.

5) Do you really need one?

Make sure that a personal air purifier is what you really need. If you are mostly in the same area, you may be better off with a portable model. If you are on the move in and out of

different locations, a personal model may work better.

Certain situations warrant one especially if you are chemically sensitive or concerned about your air. My favorite two places to use them are on airplanes and in restaurants. The air on

airplanes is some of the worst you will ever find. The brand I use is hardly noticeable, but effective enough to get the job done.

Do not plan on this being your main air purifier. Most are only effective if you are in a sitting or standing position. They will not work as well or at all if you are laying down sleeping,

etc … Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Personal Air Purifier

Top 10: Best Portable Air Purifier

March 17, 2021 by john

Top 10: Best Portable Air Purifier. This category includes purifiers that travel well and work best for travel lodging, work locations, and temporary housing. The Top 10 is ranked by rating score; however, you may also want to take in to account the space size you will be cleaning and your travel pack space. If you only stay in one room hotels or work around in different one room offices, the small sized Ecobox or Fresh Air To Go may be sufficient, but if you rent condos for vacation or move from larger space to larger space, The Fresh Air is portable enough and powerful enough to make a difference in your air. The other models presented are also viable options.

1st Place: Ecoquest Fresh Air – Excellent Rating

MSRP £747. Measuring about 12″ high x 9″ wide x 12″ deep and weighing less than 16 lbs, the Ecoquest Fresh Air stands out as a unique air purifier. It uses active technology which means the purifier actually reaches beyond the unit and cleans the air. This purifier is effective and can clean up to 3000 sqft. The Fresh Air is cost effective to maintain, but does take periodic cleaning to keep working in top form. If you travel with this purifier, consider saving the original box as it packs and travels well inside. The best portable air purifier. Read full review for more details.

2nd Place: Ecoquest Ecobox – Excellent Rating

MSRP £349. Measuring just 6.5″ high x 6.5″ wide x 7″ deep and weighing only 2 lbs, the Ecoquest Ecobox is the newest air purifier from Ecoquest. It uses Active technology which means the purifier actually reaches beyond the unit and cleans the air. This purifier is effective and can clean up to 1500 sqft. The Ecobox also has an optional vehicle adapter which makes it ideal for RVs. The Ecobox is cost effective to maintain, but does take periodic cleaning to keep working in top form. The 2nd best portable air purifier. Read full review for more details.

3rd Place: Austin Air HealthMate+ Jr. Superblend – Excellent Rating

MSRP £349.99. Measuring 16″ high x 11″ wide x 11″ deep and weighing less than 12 lbs, the HealthMate+ Jr. Superblend is simple to use and offers quality construction and good basic looks. It will effectively clean 250 sqft (at 6 air changes per hour). Long filter life keeps maintenance time and costs down. A good purifier for smaller spaces with an emphasis on “chemical” removal. This is the smaller version of two identically designed HealthMate+ models. The 3rd best portable air purifier Read full review for more details.

4th Place: Ecoquest Fresh Air To Go – Excellent Rating

MSRP £299. This is a great purifier for any vehicle and can also double as a room air purifier for a hotel room or final destination. The Fresh Air To Go is small enough to put in a carry-on and has universal adapters for most types of electricity. The 4th best portable air purifier. Read full review for more details.

5th Place: Austin Air HealthMate Jr. HM-200 – Excellent Rating

MSRP £299.99. Measuring 16″ high x 11″ wide x 11″ deep and weighing less than 12 lbs, the HealthMate Jr. is also simple to use and offers quality construction and good basic looks. It will effectively clean 250 sqft (at 6 air changes per hour). Long filter life keeps maintenance time and costs down. A good purifier for smaller spaces. This is the smaller version of two identically designed HealthMate models. Read full review for more details.

6th Place: Austin Air Allergy Machine Jr. – Excellent Rating

MSRP £299.99. Measuring 16″ high x 11″ wide x 11″ deep and weighing less than 12 lbs, the Allergy Machine Jr. is also simple to use and offers quality construction and good basic looks. It will effectively clean 250 sqft (at 6 air changes per hour). Long filter life keeps maintenance time and costs down. A good purifier for smaller spaces with an emphasis on gases and odors. This is the smaller version of two identically designed Allergy Machine models. Read full review for more details.

7th Place: Air Oasis Mini UV – Very Good Rating

MSRP £299.99. I like the rugged, simple design of this purifier. Measuring 3″ wide x 3″ deep x 12″ high and weighing 4 lbs, the quality in this brand is evident and the materials are good (very little plastic) for traveling. It has decent cleaning ability for smells, gases, VOCs, and basic microorganisms. Not as effective on particle removal. Low maintenance and low maintenance costs are also pluses. I would consider this purifier for small spaces that are not too dusty or where the focus is on smells, gases, VOCs, and basic microorganisms. The company offers a mold test and has good claims for airborne mold reduction. Portable air purifier. Read full review for more details.

8th Place: Amaircare Roomaid – Fair Rating

MSRP £149. This is a good, small, portable filter purifier. Simple to use, good basic looks. Solid engineering and quality materials used throughout. I like the powder-coated metal housing. Maintenance is minimal and because of the good filter design, filter life is long. Filter replacement costs are reasonable. This model has an additional engineering feature with the Perfect Seal HEPA. This feature allows for better filtration as all air must pass through the HEPA filter and not around it like many other brands. This is a good purifier for a very small room. Read full review for more details.

More Top 10 Portable Air Purifier Reviews will be added as I find additional top 10 worthy models.

Done reviewing air purifiers? Ready to Shop?

Next up STEP 5 Buying Tips, for getting the most air purifier for your money.

Return to Air Purifier Rating TOP 10 from Top Portable Air Purifier

What Should You Look for in Whole House Air Purifiers?

March 17, 2021 by john

When looking for whole house air purifiers it is important to be aware of the choices available. Making a good choice depends on several criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) Are you cleaning a few rooms, a small apartment, a regular sized home, or a larger home?

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

3) Do you have a forced air and heat (HVAC) furnace in your home?

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

5) What is your Budget?

Let’s cover these one at a time:

1) Are you cleaning a few rooms, a small apartment, a regular sized home, or a larger home?

First write down an approximate square footage and the number of rooms in your home. In general, the larger the home, the more complex the whole house air purifiers system. If you are cleaning just a few rooms or a small apartment, you may be able to get by with a single larger passive air purifier. If you live in a larger apartment (1000+ sqft) or average home (1000+ sqft) you will need to use multiple passive units, one or more active units, and/or utililize the HVAC system. Larger homes (2500+ sqft) may require multiple active purifiers and/or HVAC systems. Sometimes combinations of technologies or purifiers work best.

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

Knowing the basic contaminants in your air will help you choose the best purifier. If you do not know what is in your air and you are concerned, it may be best to get a purifier that offers the most complete cleaning. Generally speaking, the more complete the cleaning, the more expensive the air purifier. Finding a balance between wants and needs may be necessary. Review all your options.

3) Do you have a forced air and heat (HVAC) furnace in your home?

Having HVAC will open up a few additional possibilities for you. You will be able to evaluate both passive and active HVAC technologies. They could either stand alone or be used in tandem with other technologies.

The 3 Basic HVAC technologies are:

HEPA filter whole house air purifiers – passive
Basic UV technology – mostly passive
Advanced UV technology – passive/active

The whole house HEPA filter unit would probably be used by itself. There are a few quality brands available, but realize they may be pricey. The Basic UV and Advanced UV technologies are best used in tandem with another technology, preferably a purifier designed to remove particles effectively.

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

If you read through the technologies section of this website, you will realize that there are several choices available to clean your air. The first basic choice you need to make is between a passive or an active technology. If you have made up your mind on technology already, that’s ok, review the purifiers with that type of technology. If not, you will need to review both technology types and make a decision. The purifier review section will help as it provides in-depth reviews and research.

5) What is your Budget?

In general, the larger the space cleaned, the higher the cost of the cleaning system. There are several options for each home size. Quality passive technology tends to be more expensive if you want to do a complete whole home cleaning. Quality active technology can provide a very cost competitive complete whole home cleaning. Know your budget and choose what is most important to you first. If you have dollars left, look at additional options or upgrades.

There are 3 major costs involved:

initial purchase price + possible installation cost
ongoing cost of filters, UV bulbs, etc…
energy cost

Congratulations! You’re finished with whole house air purifiers and are now ready to review the top brands. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from Whole House Air Purifiers

How do you Choose a One Room Air Purifier?

March 17, 2021 by john

Many air purifiers are designed to clean only one room. Making a good choice for a one room air purifier depends on several important criteria.

What criteria should you use to decide?

1) What is the size of the room or space you would like to to clean?

2) What contaminants are present in your air?

3) What quality level of room air purifier are you after?

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

5) What is your Budget?

Let's cover these one at a time

1) What is the size of the room or space you would like to to clean?

The first point to consider would be the actual square footage of the room you want cleaned. Make sure this is a reasonable match to the room air purifier you select. It is ok to get a

purifier that can do more than your rooms square footage, but generally you want the purifier rated for at least as much as the size of the room. Over-powered ok; under-powered not as

desirable.

Other considerations on size: standard ceiling height is 8'. Anything above 8' needs to be taken into account. To get a basic estimate, add 10% to the overall square footage of your

room to be cleaned for each foot above 8' ceiling height.

Example: Your room is 15 ft x 20 ft = 300 sqft. The ceiling is about 10' high. Since it is 2' higher then standard, add 20% to your figure and search for an air purifier that will

handle at least 360 sqft.

Other factors that may cause you to consider a higher capacity air cleaner would be strong room air flow, an open plan layout, or extra contaminants. Strong room air flow in and out of the

room is good, but will make the purifier work harder at keeping that one room clean. An open layout would stretch the purifiers cleaning power to adjoining rooms. Extra contaminants such as

multiple pets or tobacco smoke may require a stronger purifier.

Many purifiers have multiple speed fan adjustments or even square footage adjustments that allow you to tailor the purifier to your space as needed. Review each air purifier's

specifications to see if it is adequate.

2)What contaminants are present in your air?

Knowing the basic contaminants in your air will help you choose the best purifier. If you do not know what is in your air and you are concerned, it may be best to get a purifier that offers

the most complete cleaning. Generally speaking, the more complete the cleaning, the more expensive the air purifier. Finding a balance between wants and needs may be necessary. Review all your

options.

3) What quality level of room air purifier are you after?

In my opinion, quality always pays. There are many brands of purifier on the market that can be had for less than £100.

Generally there are 4 reasons not to purchase a cheap model.

may do a poor cleaning job because of inefficiencies of design
may have higher filter cost or may need replacing more often
may be less energy efficient
may be noisier

Look at a purifier as an investment. A little more upfront will pay dividends in the long run. Choose wisely and realize quality is usually a good investment.

4) Should you use passive or active technology or both?

If you read through the technologies section of this website, you will realize that there are several choices available to clean your air. The first basic choice you need to make is between

a passive or an active technology. If you have made up your mind on technology already, that's ok, review the purifiers with that type of technology. If not, you will need to review both

technology types and make a decision. The purifier review section will help as it provides in-depth reviews and research.

5) What is your Budget?

You may have a budget in mind. If so, you can view the reviews by price and get an idea which purifiers are in your range.

If you haven't decided on your budget yet, you can browse all of the reviews. Keep in mind the upfront cost as well as the ongoing costs. These costs as well as other factors will be

presented for each purifier.

Congratulations! You are now ready to review the top brands of air purifiers. Go ahead to STEP 3 Reviews.

Return to STEP 2 Types from One Room Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Commercial Air Purifier?

March 17, 2021 by john

There may be reasons to use a commercial air purifier in a business instead of one designed mainly for residential use, although, many “light” commercial locations could utilize a residential purifier effectively.

Which commercial locations will be discussed?

Commercial spaces come in many types. Because the scope of this website is mostly residential, I will limit my discussion here to commercial locations that are close in type to residential and thus in most cases could use similar technology. Our discussion mostly applies to smaller offices, smaller retail spaces, and other businesses with simple, open areas.

This will not be a discussion of complex air cleaning situations like industrial or chemical plants, hotels, paint booths, restaurants, large retail, nail salons, bars, schools and other large buildings. These commercial locations generally need a custom solution provided by a commercial air specialist. A commercial air purifier or system would be more suitable. If you work in one of these places, it is possible to use a home air purifier and get some benefit, but to do a complete analysis requires more discussion and variables then we can do here. I may expand this section to include a more complete commercial air purifier guide at a later time.

What are the 6 major differences of residential and commercial?

1) The rooms/ spaces may be larger.

2) The air flow and air handling equipment may be more complex.

3) There generally are more people inside.

4) There may be many different types of contaminants.

5) You need to take into account your neighbors businesses.

6) There may be code considerations.

Let’s discuss these briefly one at a time.

1) The rooms/ spaces may be larger.

Many Commercial air purifier spaces are larger. Many ceilings are higher and some are drop ceilings. Some spaces change in size and shape with partitioned walls and/or different retail set-ups. You may need to take these factors and others into account before making a decision.

2) The air flow and air handling equipment may be more complex.

Commercial air purifier spaces can have many types of air flow. Your office or retail space may be tied into its own heating and cooling system or it may be part of a larger system. There can also be more in and out traffic, numerous hallways and doorways, garage doors, etc … On one extreme, there are simple spaces that you can treat just like a regular room and on the other extreme, the spaces are very complex. Most are somewhere in between.

3) There generally are more people inside.

Many Commercial air purifier spaces have more people inside them then residential. More people means more cleaning power needed. In larger spaces the need for a commercial air purifier system becomes necessary.

4) There may be many different types of contaminants.

The number can vary from few to many. Many offices are connected to warehouses. Certain office supplies, new products/ samples, dusty inventory/ boxes and copy machines are just a few possibilities. Every type of industry is a little different. Some businesses may appear to have only standard contaminants, but examine these spaces more closely and you may find some additional ones.

5) You need to take into account your neighbors businesses.

Mini-malls, downtowns, office complexes, and industrial locations tend to have close neighbors. Some of these locations share air flow. The problems can even depend on which way the wind is blowing.

6) There may be code considerations.

Most commercial locations are under local and state codes. This means that where you place something needs to be within code. You can’t block exits, breaker boxes, or hallways. You also need to be mindful of things like extension cords. If you have questions, check with your boss or if you own the business, run it by the code inspectors on their next visit.

I did not cover any of these in very much detail, but you can begin to see the possible complexities of cleaning the air in a commercial situation and the need for a commercial air purifier or complex system. With all that said, many locations are “easy” to clean and can be treated pretty much like a one room or whole home residential situation.

Two criteria used to make a good decision on a Commercial air purifier

1) Do you want to clean one room/office, multiple rooms/offices or the whole business location?

This is a primary decision you will need to make. You may just want to clean a certain room or the place where you work most. In some cases budget can be a limitation. In other cases it can be the size of your office/business or the layout. Even the cooling/heating system can be a factor in your decision.

Let’s look at each of these. First though, if you have made up your mind and only want to clean the air in one room/office. If you are not sure, continue on.

Budget: Cleaning the whole business will generally be more expensive than effectively cleaning just one room/office. One good active or passive air purifier will clean one room/office. If you want to clean multiple rooms or the whole business it can get a little more complicated. If you are on a budget you will need to look at cost effective solutions.

Business Size: Business size generally only matters if you want to clean more than one room. When using passive technologies your choices are limited. A single passive air purifier will clean only a single room or office. Some passive technologies can be hooked through your HVAC system and thus reach the whole business. To do the whole business with passive technologies your choices are limited to more than one unit or a more serious unit hooked through the HVAC. Active technologies may provide more “bang for the buck” for whole business cleaning. Read my section on whole house/ multiple room air cleaning for a more detailed discussion.

Layout: Businesses can be single story or multiple stories. Some have basements. Some offer an open layout and some a closed layout. No matter what air cleaning choice you make, you will have to make some concessions. No layout or purifier combination is a perfect fit. Looking at all the options and having a plan will be helpful, but will not eliminate some “tweaking” once you pick a purifier. One nice thing about most air purifiers is they are moveable. You can move them around and find the best spots.

Heating and Cooling: All air purifiers work better with air flow. Central air and heat systems or HVAC are best at doing this. If you are in a business without central air and heat, consider installing a ceiling fan or using some sort of fan setup to get better air flow. Both passive and active systems will clean the air better with increased air flow.

2) Which contaminants do you want to clean?

Basic Particles – dust, pet dander, allergens: Use HEPA, Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters, or Ionization

Smells and Gases – cooking odors, kitty liter, aerosols: Use Activated Carbon Filters, Ozone or Advanced Filterless Technology

Basic Microorganisms – each technology has varying effectiveness: Use Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters, UV, Ozone, or Advanced Filterless Technology

Advanced Microorganisms – some technologies have proven studies: Use Advanced Filterless Technology

Small Particles – like tobacco smoke: Use Ionization or Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters

Before we get to the plan of action, you may need to decide if your location can benefit from a standard air purifier or if you need a specialized commercial air purifier. Use the basic guidelines presented above to make that decision.

Ok, time for a plan of action!

Plan of Action:

1) Decide if you want to clean the whole business or just one or two rooms/offices.

2) Make a list of all major known contaminants in your home. Figure out what you want to clean and add to the list anything else you want removed from your air.

3) Review the appropriate section on single room or whole house/ multiple room.

4) Review the technologies again if needed and know which ones interest you.

5) Go to STEP 3 Reviews and start your review of air purifiers That’s it! You have your plan, let’s go forward…

Return to STEP 2 Types from Commercial Air Purifier

How do You Choose a Home Air Purifier?

March 17, 2021 by john

What two criteria do you look at to make a good home air purifier choice? Since the air problems found in most residential homes are similar, let's start by looking at typical

residential spaces.

Most homes have similar challenges.

Every home has dust and dust mites, food odors, and pollution entering the house from outside. We typically add contaminants from cleaning and beauty

products, painting and home repair, as well as out-gassing from new furniture or carpeting. Many have pollen, mold, and other allergens entering the home regularly. Some of us have pets. Others

have seasonal projects that affect the air. Some people smoke or entertain regularly. We all bring in "stuff" when we are out coming and going. All of these are relatively normal

residential challenges for a home air purifier.

Some homes with basements have a slight leak or small water problem or foundation problem and may have a musty or moldy basement. A small roof or

wall leak can also cause a room or rooms of the house to be musty. An air purifier can help these situations as well, but it is always wise to find the root of the problem and fix it if

possible. These types of problems generally get worse over time. They occur more often in older homes or certain rainy parts of the country.

Some places are dustier, more polluted, or have seasonal challenges. Sometimes there are forest fires or other environmental hazards. Apartments and other houses close together can share air

flow at times. Cooking, smoke, and grill smells can sneak under doors in hallways or outside windows. Again, these are common challenges for a home air purifier.

One major difference between a residential space and a commercial space is that most of us sleep at home. Since the average time spent sleeping is about 8 hours, you may pick this as a place

that you want clean air.

You may have a business in your home or live in an adversely polluted environment or you may have special needs. If you have any out of the ordinary home air situations that are ongoing, you

may need to consult a specialist to solve your air cleaning needs.

The two criteria needed to make a good decision

1) Do you want to clean one room, multiple rooms or the whole house?

This is a primary decision you will need to make. You may just want to clean a certain room or have a purifier where you sleep. In some cases budget can be a limitation. In other cases it

can be the size of your home or your homes layout. Even the cooling/heating system can be a factor in this decision.

Let's look at each of these.

First though, if you have made up your mind and only want to clean the air in one room, If you are not sure, continue on.

Budget: Cleaning the whole house will generally be more expensive than effectively cleaning just one room. One good active or passive home air purifier will clean one room. If you want to

clean multiple rooms or the whole house it can get a little more complicated. If you are on a budget you will need to look at cost effective solutions.

Home Size: Home size generally only matters if you want to clean more than one room. When using passive technologies your choices are limited. A single passive air purifier will clean only a

single room or space. Some passive technologies can be hooked up through your HVAC system and thus reach the whole home. To do the whole home with passive technologies your choice is limited to

more than one unit or a more serious whole home unit hooked through the HVAC. Active technologies may provide more "bang for the buck" for whole house cleaning. Read my section on

whole house/ multiple room air cleaning for a more detailed discussion. Layout: Homes can be single story or multiple stories. Some have basements. Some offer an open layout and some a closed

layout. No matter what air cleaning choice you make, you will have to make some concessions. No layout or home air purifier combination is a perfect fit. Looking at all the options and having a

plan will be helpful, but will not eliminate some in-home "tweaking" once you pick a home air purifier. One nice thing about most air purifiers is they are moveable. You can move them

around and find the best spots.

Heating and Cooling: A home air purifier works better with air flow. Central air and heat systems or HVAC are best at doing this. If you are in a home without central air and heat, consider

installing a ceiling fan or using some sort of fan setup to get better air flow. Both passive and active systems will clean the air better with increased air flow. 2) Which contaminants do you

want to clean?

Basic Particles – dust, pet dander, allergens: Use HEPA, Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters, or Ionization

Smells and Gases – cooking odors, kitty liter, aerosols: Use Activated Carbon Filters, Ozone or Advanced Filterless Technology

Basic Microorganisms – each technology has varying effectiveness: Use Antibacterial and Germicidal Filters, UV, Ozone, or Advanced Filterless Technology

Advanced Microorganisms – some technologies have proven studies: Use Advanced Filterless Technology

Small Particles – like tobacco smoke: Use Ionization or Electrostatic Precipitators/Charged Media Filters Ok, time for a plan of action!

Plan of Action:

1) Decide if you want to clean the whole house or just one or two rooms.

2) Make a list of all major known contaminants in your home. Figure out what you want to clean and add to the list anything else you want removed from your air.

3) Review the appropriate section on single room or whole house/ multiple room.

4) Review the technologies again if needed and know which ones interest you.

5) Go to STEP 3 Reviews and start your review of air purifiers That's it! You have your plan, let's go forward …

Return to STEP 2 Types from Residential Home Air Purifier

How Does a Silent Air Purifier Work?

March 16, 2021 by john

Summary:

There is a certain appeal to a silent air purifier. Why is silence not necessarily golden if you are an air purifier. The question is, do they work?

Silent usually refers to an air purifier with no fan or a very low noise fan or another technology that makes little noise. In most cases a fan is the noise maker.

Nature cleans the air partially by using wind and storms. Both are noisy.

Most HEPA filter and filter air purifiers clean the air using fans by drawing the air to the purifier for cleaning. Again some noise involved.

Most active technologies or passive/active technologies use a fan well. Again the noise.

Most technologies either need to blow outwards to clean the air or draw inwards to clean the air. One could make an argument that active ionization could be silent, but I wouldn't

consider it a stand alone technology. It doesn't do a comprehensive cleaning job alone.

Put a silent purifier in a normal size room with minimal or no airflow and the results would be poor. Put the same air purifier in a room with moderate air flow and the results would be

better.

My recommendation is to only use a silent purifier if you have consistent, moderate air flow from a source other then the silent air purifier.

More Detail

If you object to the noise level of your purifier, there are a few things you can do.

1) Run the purifier on low when you are around and higher when you are not.

2) Get a purifier type that allows you to locate it in a place out of ear shot or at least in a place that is better suited for your "noise" needs.

3) Get a brand that has a lower noise level. Some quality purifiers do.

In-Depth Reference(s)

– Nothing additional at this time –

Buying Considerations

In most cases "wind" is a part of cleaning. Wind has a noise factor. Maybe someday someone will come out with a universally effective silent purifier. Stay tuned 🙂

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Silent Air Purifier

Ozone Generators vs. Ozone Air Purifiers, What’s the Difference?

March 16, 2021 by john

Summary

There are distinct differences between Ozone Generators and Ozone Air Purifiers. There is also some cross-over. Many commercial industries use ozone for cleaning.

Where is the confusion?

First, much of the confusion comes from the misunderstanding of what ozone really is and what ozone really does. Completely read the recommended ozone page in the In-Depth Reference section

below if you haven't already.

Second, the different ozone technologies are generally presented and thought of as "all the same" as opposed to separate distinct technologies designed for different purposes.

It's good to use the right tool for the right job.

Ozone gets a bad reputation because of the ozone layer mentioned in the news and because high concentrations in pollution can cause breathing trouble for young and old people. There is truth

to all of this, but it adds confusion to the truth about ozone air purifiers. The part that is generally left out is that ozone is in all the air we breathe outside and that without ozone we

would all die. It comes down to amount or concentration in the air. Too much or too little, bad news. We need the right amount.

Air purifiers are big business. And I'm not saying all business people are crooked, far from it. Marketing is marketing though and if your air purifier does not use ozone technology and

you stand to lose a lot of money if people use an ozone product over yours, it is awful handy to point the finger and say all ozone is bad. This is further confused by lots of technical talk

and information and fear, etc … Lots of negative marketing.

I'm also not saying that other air cleaning technology is bad, I am saying that negative marketing is going on. It is used in other industries as well, so no real surprise.

A little investigation, reading, and knowledge about the subject will be valuable to you. If you haven't read my ozone air purifier section under active technologies yet, make sure you

do as well as the recommended reference on ozone. It will give you a better background.

More Detail:

There are really 5 or so distinct technologies generally all lumped into what is called ozone air cleaning.

1) Specialized Ozone generators used in industry. These may include generators used for industrial cleaning, food prep and decontamination, municipal water utility cleaning, and some

pharmaceutical clean room applications. Many of these can and are designed to exceed safe ozone limits.

2) Heavy duty, Commercial Ozone Generators used for cleaning and restoration. These are used for "ozone blasting" fire damaged building, auto detailing, mold remediation,

restaurant cleaning, and hotel room cleaning. Most of these are designed to exceed safe limits.

3) Medium Duty Ozone Generators that are marketed as commercial ozone generators, but also say they could be used in your home. These are a little confusing and should be regarded with some

caution. Most are made with professional use in mind, but are marketed to consumers as well. These won't harm you if used properly, but really are cross-marketed and not recommended as an

air purifier. This group draws the most negative publicity from competitors. Most of these can exceed safe limits.

4) Ozone Air Purifiers. Generally ozone is used in tandem with other technologies in the air purifier. It may be a large portion of the total cleaning technology or a small part of the total

cleaning technology. These purifiers are designed to operate within all regulated guidelines and have safety factors, consumer friendly controls and operation manuals. They are best used for

residential and light office duty. Just like any other appliance or machine, read the caution sections and learn to operate your purifier.

5) Air Purifiers that use a technology that may generate some ozone as a by-product of another technology used. UV, Electrostatic Precipitation, Ionization and Media Charged Filters can all

fall into these categories. Other hybrid cleaning technologies may also have some ozone output. Again, these technologies generally stay within regulated limits and are best used for

residential and light office duty.

The 3 big differences that separate an ozone generator vs. an ozone air purifier. 1) Design – are they made for commercial activity or consumer activity?

2) Control – are they all on or all off? Are they made to generate ozone levels above standard regulation for safety? If they do have settings to "blast" ozone, are they properly

marked, consumer friendly, documented, and outlined for safe use?

3) How sold – are they marketed as an air purifier or as an ozone generator?

Again, there is some cross-over. It is not cut and dry.

Think of ozone as a tool. Ozone is a wonderful cleaning tool. It does require some knowledge to use and you need the correct tool for the job.

Let me give you an example that may make things clearer.

Let's say you want to drill a few holes in a door to install a new door handle configuration. This is a job that not everyone would do, but some handy people would and some would find

other ways to get it done. To use the 5 technologies above as a guideline, let's see how we could get the job done.

1) Use an industrial Drill press, vertical lathe or "big drill". Not really practical to use at home. Some of these machines require professional training and set-up. Maybe we

could buy a door pre-made, built from the factory using one of these drills, but it's not right for using at home.

2) Use a professional grade drill. Again, overkill here. If you were a carpenter or had a wood shop it may pay to have all the expensive professional grade equipment, but dog-gone it, we

just want a few holes. Too much for the job. You could hire a professional with this equipment.

3) Ok, maybe we are handy so a high-end consumer/ professional grade setup would work. I only drill a few holes a year and I haven't really had any professional training, so again this

is overkill. Some professionals would use this equipment and if you decided too, expect that the training manual would be aimed at a professional and not at general consumers.

4) Here we go … a consumer drill made for me. Fits in my hand, does the job. It even comes with "dummy" instructions so I don't drill through my hand.

5) ditto to #4.

Now used properly, any of my drills could do the job. Some would require training and experience though and really don't fit the job. Also, if used improperly, I could hurt myself or

others with the drill. If I used the correct tool for the job and took the proper precautions, no problem, proper holes. Right tool, right job.

Ozone is the same folks …..

In-Depth Reference(s)

Recommended: An educational and informational presentation on Ozone (opens a new window)

Buying Considerations:

I may expand this section at a later date, but most of the information on my site is aimed at consumer level air purification. Commercial air purification and the use of ozone generators are

better left up to trained professionals.

With that said, ozone generators do serve a purpose. Seek professional guidance if you feel you have an air concern needing professional help.

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Ozone Generators

How does a Filterless Air Purifier work?

March 16, 2021 by john

Summary

Some companies present a case that a filterless air purifier is a better technology then a purifier with a HEPA or other replaceable filter technologies.

"filterless air purifier" – an air purifier that does not utilize any replaceable filter.

Many of these purifiers may have a pre filter, but it generally is a reusable/cleanable variety.

There are four basic types of filterless purifier.

1) Some Electrostatic Precipitators – see the Passive Technology section

2) Some UV products – see the Passive Technology section

3) Most Ozone based purifiers – see Active Technology section

4) Several advanced technology air purifiers utilizing multiple cleaning technologies, all filterless

Interestingly enough, some purifiers using the technologies above do have carbon filters or other replaceable filters associated with them. Again, I would not consider these

"filterless" as they have a replaceable filter associated with the purifier.

More Detail:

1) Electrostatic Precipitators – this technology is covered in the passive technology section, so I will not repeat that information here. I will however add that some units do utilize this

technology without any replaceable filter. Others do include a carbon or other filter as one of the stages of cleaning. Generally this technology alone is not as effective as it would be

combined with other technologies.

2) UV – again this technology is covered in the passive technology section, so I will not repeat that information here. I will however add that some units do utilize this technology without

any replaceable filter. Some may include UV as one of the technologies offered in their air purifier. Generally this technology alone is not as effective as it would be combined with other

technologies.

3) Ozone based purifiers – this technology is covered in the active technology section, so I will not repeat that information here. Most of these purifiers use ozone or a combination of

active oxidizers to clean the air and do not have any filters. Several processes can be employed and are discussed in detail in the Ozone section. Ozone technology alone is not as effective as

it would be if combined with other technologies.

4) High Technology purifiers – Some purifiers utilize several technologies to do a more complete job in cleaning the air. Very few utilize two or more filterless air purifier technologies.

There are a few however. One in particular utilizes Ionization (3 forms), UV, and a small ammount of ozone with other active oxidizers. Each of these technologies is covered in their respective

sections.

Filterless technology has an interesting image as the "new player on the block". It has been around in one form or another for over 20 years. Filterless technology can do a great

job of cleaning the air. It is important to understand all the basic technologies involved first.

It is also important to understand all the marketing tactics involved. Remember this, every air purifier company wants to sell their technology. For many HEPA filter purifiers (and others),

embracing filterless technology would be the "kiss of death" marketing wise. It is a gap that is hard to bridge when you are a company built on Filter technology. They will not

represent both technologies. Many have decided to attack filterless technologies as "all bad" as way to set themselves apart. Whether this is good or bad is not my point. My point is

that it is the way it is.

Keep this thought in the back of your mind, replaceable filters are big business.

Generally there is marketing friction between passive, passive/active, and active purifier companies. Get the facts on the technologies first, then when we talk about individual purifiers,

we can decipher some of the marketing.

In-Depth Reference(s)

– No additional reference information at this time –

Buying Considerations:

There is a clear leader when it comes to filterless air purifier technology (see reviews). A whole new industry of copies and knock-offs have emerged from this main player. Although many of

these "knock-offs" work and do some air cleaning, the "leader" has continued to stay a few steps ahead in technology.

Understanding the basics of filterless technology and of active technologies will help you make the right choice. Make sure to read the reviews as well as the other presentations on

differing technologies to get a full picture.

Going with a filterless air purifier can reduce ongoing costs versus filter technology, but realize there still may be some cost with either the time spent cleaning the purifier or replacing

certain parts that still may break or wear out. Generally speaking there can be a significant ongoing cost savings if the purifier is kept clean.

Return to STEP 1 Technology from Filterless Air Purifier