The Best Air Purifers of 2007

My Search For The Best Air Purifier

Because of allergies and asthma I’ve owned over 56 air purifiers since 1974. And I even became a Health Practitioner in 1982 because of the way I overcame allergies and asthma naturally.

I’ve owned: Ozone air purifiers, Ionic air purifiers, Zeolite, HEPA air purifiers, UV light, Catalytic plate air purifiers, and water air purifiers with brnad namesincluding – Alpine Air, EcoQuest, Hunter, Panasonic, Austin, IQair, SunAir, and about 23 other “non-name” Chinese brands. (I avoided Sharper Image and Oreck because ionic alone just doesn’t do enough for me.)

So I’ll just say I have seen it all.

Last year Austin, IQAIR, Oreck and Sharper Image (their new models, not ionic breeze) made me an offer to distribute their products.

I said no.

Here’s why:

The No Replacement Filter Air Purifiers Don’t Do a Great Job

The idea sounds great but once you've seen a dirty HEPA filter (HEPA’s are a cloth-like filter which holds dust and pollution) you realize the ones without filters aren't catching very much dust or pollen – YOUR LUNGS ARE!

“No Replacement Filter Models” include:
Ionic Breeze
Oreck Models (they contradict themselves on their website. You have to replace filters, but they aren't HEPA)
Remedy – Get an air purifier that has affordable replacements. HEPA is important if you have allergies.

Most Replacement Filters (HEPA, Charcoal) are Over-Priced

In Japan air purifiers include 2-3 extra replacement filters. WHY? Because the Japanese think ahead.
U.S. manufacturers realize American's don’t think ahead so they overcharge. Once you purchase an air purifier you’ll be stuck paying what they ask. (Reminds me of my $89 inkjet printer –the replacement cartridges are $28!)
Remedy: Ask for filter prices first. Every 6-12 months you’ll need to change filters. And anything over $25 is too much.
Buying Hint: Ask for a discount on extra replacement filters before buying.

Most Air Purifiers Don’t Do The Square Footage On The Box
I called Oreck when their new $700 tower was listed as covering 1100 square feet. “How Many Times Does It Change The Air In The Room?” (which means how many times it will change all the air in that room). They didn’t know. Finally a tech said: “One per hour”. That’s poor.
Remedy: Make sure to ask for 4-9 “Changes Per Hour” per Square footage.(You may have to call the manufacturer) Square Footage as listed on the box is also based on an empty room.

So How Do I Choose The Right Technology ?

Here are some guidelines to match the basic technologies to your needs:
#1 HEPA, Pre-filter, Neg/Ion, Plasma Grid = Helpful for allergies and asthma, some odors
#2 Carbon, Charcoal, Ozone = Helpful for odors, smoke, animal smells, chemical sensitivity, VCO’s, and immune system
#3 UV, TiO2, Plasma Grid, Ceramic = Helpful for immune system (colds, flu, viruses, pathogens), and eliminating musty odors
New Sensor Technology There is a cool new technology from Japan that detects pollen. It promises to bring greater allergy relief. It continuously adjusts the purifier to the room saving electricity and guesswork.

What's great is that more manufacturers are now producing air purifiers that include multiple forms of technology.

CONCLUSION: Look for an air purifier that has HEPA, and 3-5 additional technologies such as UV and ion. Keep away from infomercial brands as the price markup is high. Expect to pay $250-325 (and don’t pay more). Make sure the replacement filters are reasonably priced.

Have a question? Please email me...