Air Purifier Reviews

NeoAir Company Info

NeoAir manufactures high grade air purifiers that range from typical HEPA and carbon activated filtration systems to high tech ultraviolet filtration for hospital grade sterilization. New NeoAir filter units are only available through online sources and can not be found in retail outlets. The brand has been in the marketplace long enough to have developed a healthy positive reputation among consumers who have posted glowing reviews of the filters on several different retail websites.

NeoAir Air Purifier Technology

NeoAir air purifiers are manufactured in China and exported to a United States base of operations in Miami, Florida. These filters have been available to United States customers for approximately two years. The company strives to remain environmentally safe and claims that that their air filters emit very little ozone. NeoAir states that their pre-filter and HEPA/Carbon filters enjoy long life spans and do not need to be replaced very often when the units are used on a daily basis.

Since the air purifiers utilize a multi-filter system, owners will need to replace the pre-filter as well as the HEPA or Carbon filter at different times. The pre-filter tends to need replacement more often than the internal HEPA filtration system due to the fact that it collects more particulates than the HEPA/Carbon filter.

All of the units offered by NeoAir were created with portability in mind. Even the more powerful units are designed to be moved comfortably from room to room. NeoAir’s innovative multi-filter design includes a pre-filter that catches particulates from the air before the air passes through a more delicate HEPA or Carbon filter.

Some units include a third layer of filtering that involves the use of UV light filters or sterilization filters for medical uses. Some NeoAir purifiers are designed specifically to remove mold and mildew from basements, boats, and other areas that acquire moisture on a regular basis. NeoAir is committed to finding affordable ways for consumers to improve the air that they breathe through researching and developing new technology in air purifiers of all types.

Air Filter Price Ranges

Prices may vary depending on the website where you shop. Shipping and handling charges will also impact your final cost. Customers who need more than one air purifier can take advantage of discounts that NeoAir offers for purchases of two or more air filters at once.

Filter Queen Company Info (HMI Industries)

Founded in 1928, HMI Industries, Inc., has been providing surface cleaning technology such as vacuum cleaners and air filtration products including the Majestic 360° surface cleaner and Defender 360°room air cleaner. With distributorships in over 40 countries, the Health-Mor division of HMI — located in Cleveland, Ohio — has promoted their products through independant distributors that use door-to-door demonstration marketing techniques.

Price Ranges

The retail price varies greatly, depending on if the air cleaner is purchased with the surface cleaner.

FilterQueen Defender Air Cleaner

The FilterQueen® Defender® Room Air Cleaner is a 24-hour indoor room air pollution filter that is classified as an FDA Class II Medical Device in the USA. Advertised as a quiet, energy efficient unit with a 3-speed programmable motor, the FilterQueen® Defender® Room Air Cleaner is manufactured by Lydall Technical Media which issues a FGI certification with each filter. Tests are conducted on the media filter cartridge by Nelson Laboratories.

Test Results

Test results show the filter cartridge to have an efficiency rating of 99.999 percent for particulate removal, and Intertek Testing Services determined that the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) performance was up to standards. Tests conducted at Indoor Air Solutions found that the filters capture dust, smoke, pollen, dust mites, mold spores and allergens associated with pets and insects such as cockroaches.

FilterQueen Air Purification Technology

An additional feature on the FilterQueen® Defender® Room Air Cleaner is the Enviropure Charcoal Filter® that cleans tobacco smoke from the air. The University of Tulsa’s Center For Environmental Research and Technology determined that the charcoal filter was twice as effective at cleaning tobacco smoke from a room as the next closest test subject, which is not identified in the literature.

The air filters used in the FilterQueen® Defender® Room Air Cleaner technology do not produce ozone like many other air filters. The filter status is on a timer and a”change filter indicator light” alerts the owner each month to change the filter. The Secure Seal Technology™ and Pure Top Release™ construction claim to ensure that particulate matter does not escape the unit while operating or during routine maintenance.

Customer Criticisms

Criticisms of the company’s marketing techniques include claims that the in-home high-pressure sales strategies can drag on for hours and show that there is a significant markup on these products because stubborn customers are offered incredible discounts. The practice of offering sweepstakes, contests, prizes and combination deals are used to generate leads for the in-home demonstrations.

Another misleading tactic that critics point out is the “Better-than-HEPA filtration” claim, because it does not make it clear that most HEPA filters will actually capture particles as small as 0.1 micron, and that 0.3 microns is only used as an industry standard. It is also not make clear that neither the carbon or the fiberglass pleated HEPA filter is washable or renewable. The fact that the unit does not contain an ionizer to produce ozone is advertised as an advantage because they claim it “may be problematic to your health,” whereas many air filtration products use ionization to effectively reduce the count of the airborne particulates.

FilterStream Company Information

FilterStream, makers of the AirTamer air purifier, is a division of Headwaters, Inc. based out of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Headwaters, Inc., originally in the consumer durables business, was formed in 1993 by Troy Anderson and Rudy Vandenbelt. Anderson and Vandenbelt, former co-workers at Black & Decker, founded Headwaters, Inc. to make a difference by creating sound, high-quality products that work.

Today, the company has a global presence in over 32 countries and features three main divisions through which various wellness-themed products are sold – Sound Oasis, Body Essentials and FilterStream. The FilterStream division sells its cordless hand vacuum, the DirtTamer, and the AirTamer air purifier, introduced in 2009.

AirTamer Purification Technology

AirTamer air purifiers are touted to deliver greater cleaning power at lower costs, all while conserving more energy per use compared to competitor models. According to co-founder Troy Anderson, there is no other air purifier of this type on the market that achieves the level of cleaning power from a watt of electricity than the AirTamer does.

The AirTamer design involves six fans that generate large amounts of air through capture filters that rid the air of harmful particles and debris. The AirTamer also features a flexible filter system, meaning users can replace AirTamer filters with any 16×20 filter on the market, giving them greater convenience, more options and the opportunity to save on operating costs.

Customers looking to stay loyal to the brand can try one of several replacement filters designed specifically for the AirTamer unit. The Germ-Odor-Virus Protection Filter is said to cause a 74.5% reduction of airborne viruses and a 22.5% reduction in mold, reportedly in the first two hours of use. This filter is recommended for combatting viruses like Swine Flu and other related virus strings. Additionally, AirTamer models feature Aroma System filters, which simultaneously clean and scent the air with scientifically-developed aromas like Energizing Grapefruit and Relaxing Lavender.

Each model boasts extremely quiet fans, flat-panel like thin design, five fan speed settings, a programmable timer and a built-in indicator to notify the user when it’s time for a filter change.

AirTamer Portable Air Purifiers

The company also features three portable air-purifier solutions: The A300 and A302 travel purifiers and the A400 auto air purifier designed for portable use in the car. Currently the company is offering a free travel air purifier with the purchase of any AirTamer model.

AHAM Certified Clean Air Delivery Rate

All AirTamer models are Energy Star compliant and certified by the American Home Appliance Manufacturers Clean Air Delivery Rate program. Each unit carries a one-year warranty covering defects in materials or workmanship.

FilterStream is an official selected sponsor of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show.

Funglan Company Info

Funglan air purifiers are manufactured by Funglan Environmental Protection & Technology Co., Ltd., located on the mainland of China. The company began production of their air purifiers for home and car in 2004. The company continues research and development in areas to improve indoor environment. They distribute only Funglan brand products.

Funglan Air Purifier Technology

Funglan utilizes an innovative and patented technology in their air purifiers. Their unique air washing system generates a water screen that washes bacteria, odors and other particles from the air. The company claims that their water spraying system can remove 99% of dust, pollen, bacteria, odor, ammonia, benzene, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other organic pollutants. It uses both HEPA and Active Carbon filters to filter even the smallest of airborne particles.

Funglan claims:

• Air purified with one of their purifiers with a water spraying system is fresher than air purified with other types of systems. Other purifiers make the air dry and astringent while air purified with a Funglan system smells of water. The waterfall inside the unit produces millions of negative ions to make the air even fresher.
• The water spraying system also acts as a humidifier.
• The Funglan water air purifying system is very low maintenance and the filters can last up to three years. Filters in other systems last from three to six months. Their filters last longer because the water absorbs most of the airborne particles.
• The antibacterial filters are also washable, which allows the pollutants they absorb to decompose, cutting down on the odor and harmful gases that furniture and carpet can release into the air.
• The case that contains the air purifying system is made from environmentally friendly material. The paint is also ecologically safe.

Funglan’s air purifiers are the only units on the market with the water washing system.

General Electric (GE) Company Info

The General Electric Company, commonly known as GE, is a US multinational corporation conglomerate with its headquarters in the state of New York. Ranked as the world’s second largest company in 2010 by Forbes magazine, GE employs 304,000 people around the world. GE® ENERGY STAR® Air Purifiers come in three different sizes to accommodate various sizes of home and office indoor environments. All three units are certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and are ENERGY STAR® rated.

Air Purification Products, Pricing, and Where to Find

GE began making air purifiers in 2007 and they are made to GE’s specifictions by overseas manufacturers. The three models of GE® ENERGY STAR® 115V air purifiers vary in cost. GE air purifiers are available online through Amazon or at retail stores like Sears and Frys Electronics. They generally receive favorable reviews although they have won no awards or special acclaim.

The three models of GE® ENERGY STAR® 115V air purifiers vary in cost. GE air purifiers replacement HEPA filters come with a color-coded chart to help you determine when they should be replaced. Standard HEPA filters need to be replaced every 3 to 6 months depending on how frequently they are used and the air quality conditions. GE offers cut-to-fit foam pre-filter air cleaner replacements, and the HEPA replacements come in packs of two.

Germ Guardian Company Info

Germ Guardian is a company located in Ohio that specializes in home sanitation products such as air purifiers for the mass retail market and has been selling such products for an unknown period of time. The company is dedicated to using safe and natural technologies in their products. To date, Germ Guardian manufactures four different kinds of air purifiers. Air purifiers are designed to improve the air quality of a room by killing germs, removing allergens and particles and eliminating odors.

Germ Guardian Air Purifier Technology

Germ Guardian’s air purifiers use naturally occurring ultraviolet light technology (UV-C). According to Germ Guardian, this technology, which is used to sanitize hospital operating theaters and clean rooms, can kill 99.9% of all airborne germs and bacteria including Influenza-A, staphylococcus, streptococcus, tuberculosis and other disease causing particles hanging around in the air. UV-C technology works by producing radiation that alters the DNA of the disease causing bacteria, which causes the bacteria to stop reproducing.

Although air purifiers can cut down on the spread of airborne diseases, they cannot completely prevent illnesses since disease can also be spread through other methods. Since UV-C technology does not utilize chemicals, Germ Guardian states that there should be no ill side effects from using their products. The company also claims that their products do not emit any ozone as a result of this technology.

Germ Guardian air purifiers utilize high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems as well. HEPA filters are composed of mats of randomly arranged fiberglass fibers. Since these fibers are extremely thin with diameters in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 micrometers, they are able to filter out 99.97% of small airborne particles that are 0.3 micrometers in diameter. These particles include allergens like household dust, pet dander, mold spores and plant pollens. Germ Guardian products also use ionizers to eliminate odors resulting from cooking, pets, smoke, mildew and other sources, and to freshen the air in the room.

Germ Gurdian Product Testing, Warranty, and Price Range

Germ Guardian products were tested by the Harvard School of Public Health. The company claims that their air purifiers run very quietly. Depending on which product you buy, Germ Guardian offers limited warranties that are in effect anywhere from one to five years.

The cost of their air purifiers range depending on how large the product is, what technologies it uses and how much air it can sanitize. Many people state that these air purifiers have an extremely good track record and a reputation for having a long service life. The company has successfully launched several national and international products lines.

Amaircare Company Info

Amaircare is a Canadian company that has been manufacturing air purifiers for an unknown period of time. Amaircare carries a full line of air purifiers designed for a variety of places, including residential, commercial and automotive locations. These purifiers provide indoor volume air filtration from 20 CFM (cubic feet per minute) to 1200 CFM. You can purchase Amaircare products all over the world through licensed dealers. An Amaircare purifier can cost anywhere from $170 to $2,500 depending on how large the purifier is and how many CFM it can handle.

Amaircare Technology Claims

According to Amaircare, their products stand out from the competition due to several reasons. Firstly, Amaircare air purifiers are housed in metal casings, not plastic ones, which eliminate the possibility that the casing would emit volatile organic compounds. Amaircare’s purifiers have lower operating costs and longer lifespan than other purifiers because they use energy efficient motors. The majority of the components used in these air purifiers are manufactured by Amaircare, which means Amaircare can ensure the high quality of their products. Also, Amaircare constantly researches and develops new products while improving current products.

Amaircare Air Purifiers

Amaircare air purifiers use a three stage filtration process. This process consists of a pre-filter, HEPA filter and VOC filter. The pre-filter, which can consist of either activated charcoal or foam, is designed to trap large particles like dust and pet dander. Not only does this help clean the air, but it also helps prolong the life of the HEPA filter by not letting it get clogged with big particles, as the HEPA filter only deals with particles that are .3 microns or larger.

A HEPA filter is a mat composed to borosilicate fibers. These fibers create netlike structure that allows air through and traps particles. Amaircare manufactures its own special HEPA filters. The last filter is a VOC filter that removes gasses and odors. The air purifier can contain either a Carbon V.O.C. Blanket or Carbon/Zeolite V.O.C. Cartridge.

Amaircare also manufactures a purifier small enough to take anywhere. This purifier does not have a HEPA filter – instead, it has an Electret Charged filter. This filter attracts and holds particles by charging the air.

Austin Air Company Info

Austin Air Systems, Limited is a Buffalo, New York-based company. Official corporate information does not state how long the company has been in business, but it is known to be a major player in the air purification field. It also has the distinction of operating the largest air purifier factory on the planet.

Television Appearance and Use After September 11

Austin Air purifiers were seen on a 2009 episode of The Today Show, in a segment on indoor air pollution. During an interview, greennest.com founders Ron and Lisa Beres praised Austin Air’s purifiers. Earlier in the decade, the company was chosen by FEMA and the Red Cross to fulfill what Austin Air calls the “largest deployment of air cleaners in American history” in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.

Third Party Testing

Austin Air claims its products are subjected to rigorous third-party testing by both Batelle Laboratories, a long-established a well-respected lab, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Austin Air Purification Technology

The purifiers made by Austin Air make use of a multi-stage filters. This includes two pre-filters for larger particles. After that, they employ a True Medical Grade HEPA filter, which, according to the company, has an effectiveness against particulate pollution of “99.97% efficiency down to 0.3 microns and 95% efficiency down to 0.1 microns.”

To reduce Volatile Organic Compounds, some of Austin Air’s products also use Activated Carbon blended with Zeolite, or some other Activated Carbon mix. Others, designed specifically for those with allergies or asthma, utilize a process the company has termed “High Efficiency Gas Absorption,” or HEGA, with an Activated Military Carbon Cloth. The company doesn’t offer much information on how this works, however.

Austin Air purifiers are made with solid steel and paint that is designed not to release toxins. They also do not emit any ozone. The company’s website at www.austinair.com also emphasizes the fact that its products are entirely made in the United States.

Pricing and Warranty Info For Austin Air Models

All Austin Air products use long-lasting filters, however, which should save the buyer some money in the long run. Austin Air offers five-year warranties on its purifiers. In addition, the filters also come with a pro-rated five-year warranty. This is a fairly rare feature in the industry.

Speaking of the filters, note that because the filtration system combines carbon and HEPA into one unit, in some situations one of these will wear out before the other, but both must still be replaced. Thus the filter on Austin Air cleaners is very good in some respects, but is also a double-edged sword.

Bionaire Company Info

The Bionaire brand is a subsidiary of the Jarden Corporation, a large company with many other brands of home appliances operating under its aegis, including familiar names such as Sunbeam, Crock-Pot, and Mr. Coffee. In addition, Jarden is the parent company of Holmes, which also makes air purifiers. In addition to its air purifiers, Bionaire also makes heaters, humidifiers, fans, and other such products. It has been in operation since 1977, when its first air purifier was released in Canada.

Bionaire Air Purification Technology

The air cleaners made by Bionaire all make use of two methods of reducing pollution, a HEPA-type filter and an ionizer. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are a recognized standard in air filtration. The fact that Bionaire’s filters are only “HEPA-type” instead of true HEPA should make customers aware of the difference. Bionaire claims that these filters achieve “up to 99% filtration capturing particles 2.0 microns or larger from air passing through the filter.” This sounds good at first glance, but be aware that many serious airborne pollutants are much smaller than 2.0 microns.

In comparison, true HEPA filters in home air purifiers are able to target particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. Therefore, Bionaire’s products will certainly take care of relatively large items such as dust, but smaller particles are not guaranteed to be filtered out at all.

The other method used by Bionaire products, ionizers, will give air molecules a negative electrical charge, which will attract particles which, like many common pollutants, have a positive charge; the end result is that the pollutants are entrapped and removed from the air. All ionizers in Bionaire air cleaners can be turned on and off as desired by the user.

Neither of the methods described above will deal with gasses or odors, as they are only designed to filter out particles.

Bionaire Model Pricing

Bionaire’s purifiers are relatively low in price.On top of this, Bionaire claims that its PERMAtech air cleaners are

“The first of their kind to offer HEPA-type filtration in a permanent filter that never has to be replaced”

provided that they receive ordinary care, which means that the filters are cleaned once every three months. This is something to bear in mind, as filter replacements often add significantly to the initial cost of most air purifiers over the course of the purifiers’ lifetimes. Note that not all Bionaire air purifiers have the PERMAtech label, however; the others require do replacement filters as usual.

Biotech Company Information

BioTech Research, Inc. is an Ohio based company that develops and manufactures many different kinds of products in the fields of health, fitness, home and weight loss. Biotech Research’s parent company is SCI Direct LLC, which was founded in 1968. This company believes in its products, and to make sure you are satisfied with your purchase, offers an unconditional money back guarantee. BioTech Research also supplies customers with competitive prices, good service, fast order processing and quality customer care.

BioTech Research manufactures a large variety of items, including air purifiers. There is little to no specific information available regarding the technologies used in these air purifiers.

Biotech Air Purifiers

The FridgeFRESH Air Purifier is a purifier designed to be put in the fridge. Its job is to kill bacteria and sterilize the fridge, along with reducing food spoilage and odors, keeping food smelling fresh, and breaking down pesticides that may still be on fruits and vegetables. It claims it can kill up to 99% of bacteria and mold that may affect your food. BioTech Research claims that food will last up to four times longer than usual if you use this air purifier.

EdenPure is a brand produced by BioTech Research that is mostly known for its heaters. However, it also manufactures an air purifier that can cost anywhere from $200 to $350. According to BioTech Research, this quiet and low maintenance air purifier will cut down on indoor air pollution by removing allergens and particles from the surfaces in a home or office. This air purifier has four unspecified mechanisms that filter the air, and BioTech Research claims that this technology is used by the federal government to filter the air in Space Shuttles and the International Space Station.

Biotech’s Lack of Transparency

The fact that BioTech refuses to divulge the technology their air purifiers use has caused some people to doubt the efficiency and safety of the product. One reviewer conducted an independent test and found that the purifier did not do a good job at filtering the air. This reviewer also claims that during his test, the product emitted up to 990 parts per billion of toxic ozone, which is a lung irritant. The FDA restricts the amount of ozone that a medical device is allowed to emit to 50 parts per billion. Although this air purifier is not a medical device, the amount of ozone being emitted is very high and has resulted in products like the EdenPure Area Air Purifier being banned in the state of California.

Blueair Company Info

Blueair is a Swedish company founded in 1996. The company’s only products are its line of air purifiers and filters. Blueair has received its share of notice and media attention in recent years, including magazines such as Men’s Health, Woman’s World, and Wired, among others. Blueair has also won the Excellent Swedish Design award, and one model has even been placed in the Swedish National Museum.

Blueair Purification Technology

Blueair makes many different models of air purifiers, but they all work in basically the same way. The purifiers use “patented HEPASilent technology” which the company claims “combines the best features of electrostatic and mechanical filter technology,” resulting in clean air with little noise, as well as “phenomenally low power usage.” Blueair claims a 99.7% particle filtration efficiency at .1 microns for all of its purifiers.

Blueair’s air filters also use ionizers, which the company says do not produce ozone. In addition, for an extra cost, you can also install a carbon filter (called the “Smokestop”), which will target gasses and odors; otherwise, the standard units will only filter out particulate pollution.

Airflow Technology

What makes the models distinct is how powerful they are; or in other words, how big the recommended maximum room size is. The models designed for larger rooms make use of a technology that Blueair calls “SurroundAir,” which is intended to increase airflow by drawing the polluted air in through the sides and bottom of the purifier, and releasing clean air from the sides and top.

Also, the ECO10 model is, according to Blueair, the “greenest air purifier ever,” due to a special fan that results in very low energy consumption. Finally, the Medical Filter model and the Furnace Filter system also reduce common gaseous pollutants known as Volatile Organic Compounds.

Blueair Model Price Range

Blueair’s purifiers have a wide price range over the different models, from moderate to quite high.

Blueair Air Purifier Models

• Blueair 203: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. Coverage area of 175 square feet.
• Blueair 270E: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. Coverage area of 210 square feet. Also distinguished from the 203 by its remote control and digital display.
• Blueair 303: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. Coverage area of 225 square feet.
• Blueair 403: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. Coverage area of 365 square feet.
• Blueair 450E: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. Coverage area of 365 square feet. Distinguished from the 403 by its remote control and digital display.
• Blueair 503: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. SurroundAir system. Coverage area of 580 square feet.
• Blueair 550E: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. SurroundAir system. Coverage area of 605 square feet. Also distinguished from the 503 by its remote control and digital display.
• Blueair 603: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. SurroundAir system. Coverage area of 640 square feet.
• Blueair 650E: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. SurroundAir system. Coverage area of 698 square feet. Also distinguished from the 603 by its remote control and digital display.
• Blueair ECO10: HEPASilent filter, ionizer. Optional carbon filter. EC fan for low energy consumption. Coverage area of 298 square feet.
• Blueair Medical: HEPASilent filter, ionizer, multi-gas filter. Coverage area of 370 square feet.
• Furnace Filter System: Different from Blueair’s other offerings, this is a package that includes an ionizer and a set of filters. Blueair’s instructions are to “replace your ordinary furnace filter with a Blueair filter and plug the MX2 particle charger into the electrical outlets near the return air grills in your home.”

CFM (Continental Fan, Aeroflo) Company Info

Continental Fan and its sister company Aeroflo are manufacturers and distributors of a variety of air ventilation equipment including air purifiers. Although Contintental Fan is located in the United States and Aeroflo is in Canada, both companies deal with the same product line known as CFM.

Continental Fan was started in 1986 with the goal of providing customers with good products, service and knowledge. The company offers the largest quick ship program available, and if a product is not in stock, can get it delivered quickly. Continental Fan offers custom orders and can help design models to demonstrate moving air solutions. Their air purifiers can range in price from $550 to $1,400.

CFM Air Purifier Technology

The CX air purifiers are designed to deal with every aspect of air filtration, including particle removal, chemical neutralization, living organism abatement and odor elimination. The pre-filters are designed to remove particles up to 5 microns in size, while activated carbon filters cut down on toxic chemicals in the air. The UVC light eliminates viruses and bacteria, and the negative ions and activated oxygen helps freshen up the air.

The UVC light uses a form of naturally occurring ultraviolet light and can kill up to 99.9% of all airborne germs. It does this by irradiating the DNA of the viruses and bacteria and causing them to be unable to reproduce, thus stopping them in their tracks.

The reactive catalyst is unique to CFM products as many other air purifiers do not have this. The air purifier neutralizes the chemicals by using Photo-Catalytic Oxidation in combination with a UVC light. This combination creates a catalyst, and during that process the toxic chemicals are converted into benign substances like water and carbon dioxide. The air purifiers are easy to maintain and have built-in lights that will let a user known when filter or lamps need to be replaced.

HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters, commonly found in air purifiers, can remove tiny particles floating in the air. A HEPA filter is a mat consisting of extremely thin fiberglass fibers. These fibers get tangled and create a netlike structure with small openings that allow air through but trap microscopic particles. HEPA filters are very thorough – they can filter out 99.97% of particles that are .3 microns in size. Continental Fan uses hospital grade HEPA filters for the most thorough filtration.

CX1000 Portable Air Purifier

The CX1000 air purifier is a portable air purifier that can serve as a warning system for potentially dangerous situations. If the machine detects the presence of toxic chemicals or fumes, warning lights will go off and alert the owner before the situation ever reaches a dangerous level.

Coway Company Info

Known primarily for their air purifier products, Coway, established in 1989, is a global company that manufactures environment-conscious products for the consumer. They are currently based in South Korea but have operations in throghout the world.

Coway Air Purifier Price Range

Using the motto, “We bring wellness,” Coway states their overall mission is to provide cleaner air all around the world. The company features a diverse product line that includes water filtration systems, humidifiers, vacuum cleaners and other small appliances, but it’s their unique approach to the technology and design of their air purifiers that have earned them numerous awards. Coway’s air purifiers range in cost from about $300 all the way up to the $1,000 mark for larger, more powerful models designed for bigger spaces.

Coway Air Purification Technology

At the heart of Coway’s commitment to the latest in technological advancements for all of its products, lies their Research and Development center which, the company boasts, is the largest one of its kind in Asia. As a result, they seek to eliminate contaminants that are of the greatest concern to the environment with their air filter technology by using methods that are cutting-edge, yet environmentally friendly.

Coway’s HI.AI virus filters are designed to get rid of cold and allergy-causing contaminants by using all-natural materials. They also have filters that specifically address the Sick House Syndrome, which is the effect that lingering harmful gases in newly-built homes can have, with their New House Filter. There is also an anti-flu filter targeted at cleaning seasonal flu viruses from the air, and several other specially-designed filters created to clean pollutants and harmful elements that are seasonal in nature.

Coway’s unique RBD Plasma system technology produces large amounts of oxygen atoms and high-energy electrons to clean the air. A plasma generator is used to increase the power and the effectiveness of this system designed to purify the air with long-lasting results.

Coway Awards and Recognition

Coway has been consistently rewarded for its ability to push the envelope with advancements in technology and design. In 1995, Coway became the first company in Korea to obtain the Guinness Book of World Records award for companies that use knowledge and technology for the improvement of water quality while operating with honesty and integrity. Coway also holds Red Dot, Good Design and If Design awards for their various air filtration system designs. The If Design award is one of the most prestigious awards in the world given for international product design.

Overview

Crane makes 2 air purifiers, both targeted to families with kids.  Both units were tested under the Clean Air Delivery Rate program and scored poorly.  Both units are rated for extremely small spaces, probably due to weak fans that are not capable of drawing in much air.

Crane Models

Crane EE-5064 Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – $79.17

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 23 / 450
• Pollen – 31 / 450
• Dust – 25 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 36 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : 5 Level Filtration: HEPA Filter, Acrtive Caron Filter, Photocatalyst Filter, Particle Filter Foam & Germicidal UV Light

Filter Life Est. ? : 3-6 Months

Size: 16.6″H x 10.1″W x 10.1″D

Weight: 5 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : No

Crane EE-5065 Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – $80.8

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 23 / 450
• Pollen – 31 / 450
• Dust – 25 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 36 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : 5 Level Filtration: HEPA Filter, Acrtive Caron Filter, Photocatalyst Filter, Particle Filter Foam & Germicidal UV Light

Filter Life Est. ? : 3-6 Months

Size: 16.6″H x 10.1″W x 10.1″D

Weight: 5 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : No

Air Purifier Noise Chart – Decibel Ratings of Common Sounds

Source

Decibel Rating (dB)

Falling leaves

Soft music

Mosquito buzz

Normal voices

Traffic sounds

Vacuum cleaner

Rock concert

Pain threshold (jet take off)

Perforation of ear drum (gun shot)

160 and higher

Crane Company Info

After their success with “fun” yet functional cool mist humidifiers in 2005, Crane USA, Inc. of Bensenville, IL expanded into the air purifier market, releasing 2 novelty shaped plastic units — one shaped and painted to resemble a happy penguin, the other a friendly shark — both of which meet the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) clean air delivery rates.

Crane is a subsidiary of Wachsmuth & Krogmann, a German company established in Hamburg in 1797 with offices also in Hong Kong, France and the US that is a major designer, importer and manufacturer of small appliances, outdoor products and tools. Wachsmuth & Krogmann is a member of the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) and established Wachsmuth & Krogmann, Inc. in 2000.

Air Purification Products, Pricing, and Where to Find

Crane USA, Inc’s entire line of products seek to improve the interior home environment with fancifully shaped units that reflect their motto that “the home is a personal expression of an individual lifestyle.” Crane air filters only cover small rooms so their targeted market is home nurseries, children’s bedrooms and sick rooms. The units are modestly priced between $50 and $70 and are available online or at retail outlets like Target, Wal-Mart and Sears. Filters in sets of 4 are available for under $20 at retailers like Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us and Kmart, which also carry the air purifiers. Crane USA also makes 11 ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers in kid’s favorite animal shapes as well as popular cartoon characters like Sponge Bob Square Pants and Hello Kitty.

Crane USA has a toll free customer service number (1-888-599-0992) and sells replacement parts through their website at http://www.crane-usa.com. They offer a one year limited warranty with a full refund within 90 days of purchase.

Crane Air Purifier Models

Crane air purifiers come in two functionally identical models — except for the molded plastic body — that both have a five-step process to remove allergens and bacteria from small rooms of 50 to 80 square feet:

• Penguin EE-5065
• Shark EE-5064

Both units combine true HEPA filtration with a UV germicidal light claiming to remove 99.97% of airborne contaminants and particles as small as 0.3 microns. Both units feature a tap-over switch that contains an auto-shut off function so the unit will stop operating if not in an upright position. Weighing less than 7 pounds, it has an adjustable-speed fan with a knob on the “belly” of the figure. There is a blue UV indicator light and a red air purifier power indicator light.

The five filters in the Crane air purifier units are:

• Particle filter
• HEPA filter
• Carbon filter
• Photo catalyst filter
• Germicidal UV (ultraviolet) light

The five level filtration process uses the washable particle filter to catch the big airborne contaminants and the HEPA filter to capture dust and pollen down to 0.3 microns and also reduce smoke, mold spores and pet dander. The active carbon filter combats odors and the photocatalyst filter works in conjunction with the UV light to neutralize harmful fumes and further eliminate airborne odors.

The unit comes with all filters and is fully assembled. Replacement filters can be purchased at the same retailer wherever Crane air purifier products are sold. The particle filter can be washed and the other four filters can be purchased as a set. The HEPA filter should be replaced if used continuously every three to six months — depending on air quality — and the other filters need to be replaced annually. The UV bulb provides approximately one year of continuous operation, after which it loses effectiveness, so it needs to be replaced by a factory-authorized bulb annually and properly recycled.

AHAM listed ratings for Crane’s air particulate removal:

• Dust CAD = 23
• Tobacco Smoke CADR = 25
• Pollen CADR = 31
• Room Size SQ FT = 36
• Meets Ozone Limits = N/A

These ratings are actually quite low and point to a fairly ineffective filtering system.

Crane Air Purifier Manual – http://www.crane-usa.com/manuals/Air_Purifier_Manual.pdf 

Daikin Company Info

Daikin Industries, the self-named “company that leads in applying environmentally friendly practices”, has contributed two different types of air purifiers to the international market: the photocatalytic purifier and the “Ururu” purifier/humidifier.

Daikin Industries was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1924 and was originally known as the Osaka Kinzoku Kogyosho Limited Partnership. The company flourished for many years and concentrated on the manufacture and sale of, among other things, air conditioning units. The firm officially changed its name to Daikin Industries Ltd in 1982, and this – the Daikin parent company – currently has offices in Osaka, New York, Dusseldorf, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Today, at least 59 separate companies form part of Daikin’s international empire, and, according to the Daikin Industries’ website, the following Daikin affiliates offer air purifiers for sale:

• Daikin Industries Ltd (the parent company and headquartered in Osaka, Japan)
• Daikin (China) Investment Co Ltd (offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Hong Kong Ltd (with offices in Kowloon)
• Daikin Europe NV (headquartered in Oostende, Belgium)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Central Europe (located in Brunn am Gebirge in Austria)
• Daikin Air conditioning Spain SA (with offices in Madrid)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Poland Sp.z.o.o. (the single office is located in Warsaw)
• Daikin Air Conditioning UK Ltd (headquartered in Brooklands Weybridge in Surrey)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Portugal SA (the Portuguese office is found in Paco de Arcos)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Greece SA (located in Maroussi, Greece)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Netherlands BV (the Dutch office is in Capelle aan den IJssel)
• Daikin Europe Middle East Office (headquartered in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates)
• Daikin Air Conditioning South Africa (Pty) Ltd (to be found in Cape Town, South Africa)
• Daikin Air Conditioning India Pvt Ltd (does business out of Haryana and Rajhasthan)
• Daikin Air Conditioning (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (with offices in Selangor, Johor and Burrerworth)
• Daikin Air Conditioning (Singapore) Pte Ltd (Singapore hosts both a manufacturing/sales and a service office)
• Siam Daikin Sales Co Ltd (office located in the Pravet District of Bangkok)

Daikin Air Purifier Technology

Daikin launched their range of residential and commercial air purifiers in 2007, and they claimed that their purifiers were the first on the market to incorporate both a humidifying and de-humidifying system. Today, Daikin purifiers consist of the photocatalytic model, which features the Flash Streamer system and specializes in odor, virus, bacteria and allergen removal, and the humidifying/purifying model, which incorporate the Japanese Ururu humidifying technology.

Daikin purifiers are sold all over the globe under only the “Daikin” brand name, and their photocatalytic air purifier has been given the stamp of approval by the British Allergy Foundation and has also been certified as safe by the TUV (Technischer Überwachungs-Verein / Technical Inspection Association). Daikin air purifiers usually sell for between $420 and $490.

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Daikin Air Purifier Models

At present, there are only two Daikin purifier models available worldwide:

• The MC-707 (for sale in Japan, America, China, Hong Kong, Spain, Poland, Britain, Portugal, Greece, The Netherlands, the Middle East, South Africa, India, Malaysia and Singapore): This unit is also known as the MC707BFVM, the MC707VM and the MC707VM-S and is Daikin’s photocatalytic purifier. Its features include being able to operate in a negative ion, a turbo and a pollen ion mode
• The MCK75JVM-K (for sale in China, Spain, Poland, Britain, Portugal, Greece and The Netherlands): This is Daikin’s Ururu purifier, and its features include a 6-layer filtering system and the Ururu humidifying system (a vaporization filter assembly and a slim line water tank / water wheel). A defect was, however, identified in respect of this model during April 2010, and parties interested in purchasing the MCK75JVM-K should review all relevant notices posted on their local Daikin website before making any purchases.