Air purifier suggestions?

[Svenn]

I'm getting a smallish studio that I want to remain fresh and new-smelling (it's only 11 months old)... do all those expensive air purifiers from sharper image and the like actually reduce odors and make a room feel fresher? or is it just a gimmick?

 

[computerpro3]

Most are gimmicks, such as the sharper image. Stay away from anything with ionization. As a chronic allergy sufferer (its BAD), I spent the coin for the best one on the market, IQ Air. They aren't cheap though. Austin Air and Blue Air are supposedly okay (certainly better than the Sharper Image crap) but some of their models spew ozone (a lung irritant) as a result of the process and don't catch nearly as fine particulate as IQ Air. www.iqair.com I have the health pro plus. The difference is really astounding. When I come home from school, I'm 100% blocked in my nose. Within an hour, I can breathe perfectly normal and they are as clear as can possible be. The other thing I noticed was that if I'm running the purifier and I have the door shut to a room in the apartment, if I go into the room that hasn't been purified it's like walking into a brick wall the air is so different. I will never be without one again.

 

[Svenn]

Thanks computerpro, i guess i'm more concerned just about odors primary, mold and chemical smells secondarily... i don't really care that much about allergens. I also don't wanna spend over $250 on this. Just someth'n to take the smells out of the kitchen or whatever.

 

[computerpro3]

The problem is that odors are among the smallest particles. Cheap air purifiers unfortunately affect them at all. For 250 I'd just save up until you can spring for a real one.

 

[suited]

I have 2 from Kenmore. This line comes in 3 different sizes. If you purchase it from Sears and buy their extended warranty, you can bring the unit in a couple months before their warranty expires and say that it isn't working properly and they'll replace it, or give you an equivalent model if yours is no longer in production.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...u=03285450000P

 

[660]

We have a couple of these in our house: www.lightair.com/ Completely silent and they definitely do not look like like your typical air purifier, also no filters to change, just rinse once in a while and it is as good as new.