Air purifiers

[Ozzie]

Even though we are still weekend warriors, we still rarely have our windows open while in use. Usually a fan is running of some sort, either air, furnace, or space heaters. We like to keep air moving.
If we have windows open, things get dirty fast and we hear the campground activities.
I know many of you folks are in your units for extended periods of time. This could be either really good or really bad - I don't know.

I saw an ad on tv last night for Ionic Air Cleaners and thought I would ask if any of you have experience or may benefit from this.
These two units claim to purify 400 square feet, silent, and have washable filters. Just about the right size for our use.

Air Gold Ionic Air Filters

I have been trying to research the fact that these add ozone to the inside air. Apparently, a little is good, too much can lead to breathing difficulties. They also claim to be awesome at removing oders and making the air smell like fresh rain (their words).

I know nothing about this sort of thing and am hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on the safety or health aspects of using these items.

[exav8tr]

Ozzie, I was using a "Living Air" air purifier in my house that used the Ozone (O3) method. The O3 left a terrible film on inside of windows, smelled terrible and wife started having breathing probs. I also had a elliptical trainer with handles covered with a rubber type fabric, after a year I had to have the rubber replaced as it disintegrated.

I know this unit is more dollars but I am going to go with an Oreck air filter. However, to each his own...

Phil P.

[ols1932]

My sister used an Ionic type air purifier but she didn't like it and I've heard others put them down also. We were going to buy one until my sister recommended that we shouldn't. So, we bought an Oreck which really purifies the air and keeps the dust down. My wife has allergies and this purifier really helped her.

Orv

[Ozz]

Ozzie, In the HVAC business electronic air cleaners were the state of the art air cleaners, were, being the operative word, now it's HEPA, stop to think, if a manufacturing company, NASA, or operating room wants pure air, they filter it.
I'd save my money.
I built my home with a Carrier electronic air cleaner in it, 7 or 8 years ago, I installed a 4" pleated high efficiency filter in my return with a U.V. light to kill any bacteria on the A-coil, where it's wet. I also installed an air changing unit using HEPA filtered outside air, my Stick home has pretty clean air.
Ozz

[Ozzie]

Now we're getting somewhere...thanks for the replies.
What I was reading about Ozone was scaring me and don't want to subject myself or my family to that.
Even though I have installed a good filter on my furnace, I don't run it long enough to take advantage of the filter. The air conditioning units are lacking the ability to filter as well.
I do have allergies also and on top of that use a CPAP at night, so it sounds to me like I'll have to invest in some type of stand alone filter system to keep things clean inside. We have an Oreck dealer just down the street.

And thanks for telling what you did to your home Ozz - we'll be building hopefully this year and filtration will be in the picture too.

[Ozzie]

Wow...those units aren't cheap, are they.

On edit: The way we use our rig we like to run the fan on the air unit, so it may make the most sense to put a HEPA filter on the air intake.

[Ozzie]

Think I'll give these Merv 12 filters a go and see how they do.
I'll have to build a frame for it, but it sure will be better than that little strip of foam that's there now. It might even do a pretty good job.

http://www.filters-now.com/ldfnspec.php#products

[Ozz]

I recommend the 3-M household Pleats, (Their best one) I think they are the best on the market-Hdwe. store, or Lowe's.

[Ozzie]

Thanks Ozz - I may go up a little in size - try to match up the inside edge to maximize airflow. Haven't figured the box yet (I dislike extra holes). I'll have to figure a way to hit the existing holes that are there.
My foam filter is basically 14 X 7 3/4 now.

Besides, it gives me another excuse to pull out the table saw and miter box...but not until I can do it without fighting the sub zero wind chills.

[exav8tr]

Ozzie, I know the Oreck's are a tad expensive, but my thought were that my furnace (hopefully) will not be running full time. I don't feel I am electrically inclined to install a seperate fan switch like others have, so I will have to depend on another way to filter the air. With a dog and two cats travelliing with us I think the Oreck will fill our bill. I have lived in Alaska for 13 years and we have some fairly particulate free air (except when the volcanoes erupt) and I have gotten used to that. I suppose when you travel you get all kinds of different air quality so to me it makes sense to, possibly, over protect.

If anyone else has an idea, I would certainly like to hear them.

Thanks

Phil P.

[Ozzie]

Thanks Phil...lucky you to have lived in Alaska. Probably a hard place to live, but awesome at the same time. I'd love to go there.
We are in Minnesota, and most of our camping is in areas that are wooded. In fact, that is part of the problem with allergies for me.
Lots of green things, and some not so green anymore.

I think I'm gonna have to take a couple baby steps on this one. I can do an allergen filter on my air conditioner for a relatively low cost and have a high quality filter. We run our air conditioner fan running at night anyway to keep the air moving. If that doesn't do it, I'll then reevaluate our filter needs and possibly go to a stand alone system.

[ken]

We also use the Oreck air filter in our bedroom in the RV. Normally it is in our bedroom along with a all home electronic air filter taking care of the house. We found that we sleep better with the Oreck in our RV with us. The plates can be cleaned and the filter can be replaced. It's worth the money.

[deadeye]

We had a "Living Air" in our stick home and that turned out to be a bad deal. I have gotten rid of that thing as you get strange oders and the film on the windows. I have just purchased a new brand and so far I really like it. It is an "Airwise" made in Leesburg, Florida. You can get different size units depending on your square footage. I have noticed a tremendious difference. I kind of gave it a test after I bought it. I went to a casino and my clothes got smokey smelling. I came home and put them on a hanger in the same room as the purifier. The next day the clothes smelled fresh as if you had washed them. I knew better than that and they went into the laundry. Here is where I bought mine from.

http://www.time4weather.com/airpurifiers.html

They are a little expensive and it says that you need to replace the glow tube every year. It is sure nice to sleep in a room with clean air and dust mite free. Strange thing was it you go right to the manufacturers web site, the unit is higher priced I think...JB

[exav8tr]

More info on Oreck. These units are available on E-Bay for $169.00. Buying direct from Oreck seems to be very expensive indeed. Think I will rely on E-Bay....

Phil P.