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Air Cleaners Review: This article allows you to analyze your clean air needs in terms of allergy, asthma, smoke, odor, or MCS requirements. Also it indicates which air purifiers address which needs including IQAir, Blueair, Austin, AOS, and Friedrich. We will review for you the aspects in the selection of air cleaners. There is such a wide array of models on the market that choosing one can be a daunting task. Air-Cleaners.org has already sorted though the market and only offers units that we find acceptable. Our low-end products from Air-O-Swiss are still head and shoulders above the home improvement store brands like Honeywell and Holmes. With that said, how do you proceed? It is best to avoid thinking about sizes, speeds, CFM’s and CADR’s in the beginning and instead simply ask yourself, “what is the problem I’m trying to alleviate or clean up?
There really is no “Rolls Royce” or top of the line air purifiers. Different brands and technologies address different concerns. If you are clear about what the problem is, then you can look for models that address that particular problem, as well as models that have features, maintenance requirements, and noise that you can live with.
To perform an air cleaner review there are seven general categories of
indoor air quality problems that may be addressed by an air purifier:
The problem of particulates (dust mites, pollens, smog, soot) in the air that affects your allergies or asthma giving you respiratory difficulties and trouble sleeping.
The problem of mold and the odor from mold (particularly found in basements).
The problem of smoke from cigarettes or cigars – both the particulate and the odor.
The problem of chemicals from the out-gassing of furniture, upholstery, and carpet as well as chemicals used in cleaning.
The problem of pet dander or odor from pets.
The problem of germs, bacteria, and viruses.
The problem of needing humidity in the area but not wanting the bacteria that can come with humidifiers.
Determine which of these problems are your greatest
concerns and choose an air cleaner which addresses them.
Our Review of the Quality Brands
Here is how we review the air cleaners: Generally speaking, Austin Air is
best for chemicals, Blueair is best for mold, Friedrich is best for dust,
IQAir is best for smoke, pet dander, and viruses, and all of them are good
for general airborne toxins that affect allergenics and asthmatics.
The other important consideration is how much time and self-discipline you
have to maintain your air cleaner. If you choose one with washable filters
like the Friedrich C-90A, you must have the time and be able to remember
to put them in the dishwasher on a regular basis. If you want an air
cleaner that you can put in a corner, turn on, and forget about for a few
years, choose an Austin Air cleaner. The other models available on this
site fall somewhere in the middle.
Another consideration in choosing the model or models you want is where to
put them. Generally, you’ll want one in your main living area, and one in
the bedroom. Room air purifiers cannot clean separate rooms adequately,
regardless of the hype on TV. The human respiratory system slows down at
night and can’t handle what it can handle during the day so it is good to
sleep in a super clean room. You might find want a larger unit like the
IQAir for your main living area and small Austin Juniors for the bedrooms.
Most people are concerned with noise when they consider the purchase of an
air cleaner, however, in truth, most air cleaners are quiet on low and
loud on high. For sleeping, the noise becomes white noise that aids in
sleeping after you get used to it. Many people will run their air cleaners
on high to clean the far reaches of the room for a couple of hours before
bed and then turn it on low while sleeping.
In choosing the right air cleaners for your needs, make sure they will help
alleviate your top one or two problems, and be one that you can live with
from a maintenance and replacement filter standpoint.
All of the air cleaners on this site are high quality, long-lasting models
suitable for allergies and asthma. IQAir is a very good all-purpose air
cleaner. For other key problems: Austin Air for chemicals, Blueair air
cleaners for
mold, Friedrich for dust.
We hope that this review of air cleaners has been helpful. Please email us
if you have further input or suggestions. We will include your work here.
