Air Purifier GO!

See larger image Vornado Whole Room Air Purifier (Kitchen)

• A consistent 4-5 star Amazon rating

• Vortex air distribution technology

• Amazingly low price
  

Just like so many other companies during this last recession the Vornado Air Purifier company scaled its production line way back. So far back, that as far as I can tell, they currently only have one model that they manufacture and that's their model AQS 500.

Not to worry though because this company has been around for decades and is heavily diversified into several other types of environmental and airflow control systems. Also this one model that they have scaled down to is very highly rated with more than its share of positive attributes.

Vornado Air Purifier Vortex Technology Explained

Vornado AQS 500

The main selling point of all Vornado airflow products is that they incorporate vortex technology. This is true but I do believe that in this case, the technology is a bit over rated. Does it help? Yes it does but not to the extent that the people at Vornado would like to have you believe. So then just what is vortex technology.

In a nut shell, it's the means by which an air current is induced to spin as it flows. Picture a tornado in your head and that is a picture of a classic vortex. Vortex technology in the Model AQS 500 forces the air to spin as it leaves the machine, for a far wider distribution pattern.

Even so, in my mind it takes a lot more than spinning air to make a great air purifier and this machine does in fact have them. To start out with, at $100 which is the listed for it on the companies main site, the model AQS 500 is a great deal, considering all that it has and does. It also garners consistent 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon.com

This Vornado air purifier is rated for 255 square feet, which is almost unheard of in a unit in its price range. Under normal circumstances you can expect to easily pay twice that much for a machine that can process 255 square feet. So then what kind of actual CADR numbers does it deliver? Would you believe 149 for dust, 102 for smoke and 185 for pollen?

It delivers these types of numbers by way of two “not one” electrostatically charged hepa filters. Electrostatically charged means that the filter fibers themselves have a slight static charge that enables them to better capture and hold onto ambient particles. It is proven technology that's in wide use by a number of manufacturers.

For features the Vornado air purifier model AQS 500 also delivers a lot for its price range. They include personal setting that are displayed with LED lighting, three fan speeds and an automatic filter change indicator. Now its one drawback is that it's not as quiet as other competing units. This is due to its vortex fan being mounted on the top surface. It also comes with a 5 year warranty.

See larger image Honeywell Quiet Clean Air Purifier ()

• Washable reusable filter means no filters to buy

• A high volume tower design

• Several models to choose from

The Honeywell QuietClean line of air purifiers come in a good handful off different sizes, with your usual choice of feature options. However; rather than focusing on each specific model, I'll focus on the line as a whole because there are a few things that make these air purifiers unique.

What Makes the Honeywell QuietClean So Different?

The first item worth making note of, is that they are all your classic tower design. It's a vary popular design style because they take up very little floor space and are in fact quite attractive to look at. Even so, almost without exception, all tower air purifiers are ionic air cleaners.

Small & inexpensive compact model

A Non Ionic Tower Air Purifier

That is that they don't use a standard filter. Ionic air cleaners use static electricity to attract air particles to a set of metal plates that then have to be wiped or washed off. So then whats so different about the Honeywell QuietClean filter system?

They Use a Standard Non Hepa Filter

Whats different is that these aren't ionic air purifiers. Instead they use a standard non hepa filter to screen the particles from the air that pass through them. You see ionic air cleaners, particularly the smaller models simply lack the ability to process large volumes of air.

Smaller Size With a Larger Air Volume

So you get the benefits of a smaller inexpensive tower unit, with the secondary benefit of a larger volume of air being processed than an ionic unit of the same size would handle. So then whats the catch? The catch is that these unique tower models don't use hepa filters.

They Capture 99% - Not 99.97%

Instead they use a standard washable filter to capture air particles. Even so they do capture 99% of the dust and pollen that pass through them, compered to 99.99% of the particles that a standard hepa filter will capture. Just the same, you have to be very careful when reading the numbers that are provided for these units.

Be Careful When Reading the Numbers

For instance, the main company website for the Honeywell QuietClean line boasts that these filters will capture all air particles down to 1.0 micron. Does that number sound familiar? Well be very careful because one decimal point can make huge difference.

What a Difference a Little Decimal Point Makes!

Don't confuse 1.0 microns with 0.1 microns, which is the particle size that the best air purifiers on the market capture. You see 0.1 micron is actually one-tenth the size of 1.0 microns. Also the CADR numbers for all these Honeywell towers are extremely low as well.

See larger image Ionic Pro 90IP1RCMB1 Compact Air Purifier with Bonus Car Ionizer (Kitchen) List Price: $129.95 USD Used from: $69.00 In Stock Release date June 30, 2006.

• Easy push button operation

• Extra collector plates $30

In any war as the saying goes, “the truth is the first casualty”. So you may have found out by now that an unbiased review of the Ionic Pro air purifier is just hard to come by. The reason is simple and that is that tower ionic air purifiers in it's $115 to $150 price range make up a hotly contested market.

What's the Real Truth About the Ionic Pro Air Purifier?

So the shots go back and forth, with each reviewer comparing it to one or another machine in its size and price class, each one with his or her set of questionable figures and statistics. Depending on whether or not they're selling this particular machine their numbers can go either way.

A Small Electrical Appliance that's Made in China??!!

I even read one recent review that criticized the Ionic Pro air purifier because it's made in China. Now imagine that?! A small household electrical appliance that's made in China? Holy cow! I thought everything was made in China now! Give me a break!

A Three Star Amazon Review Average

So then whats the real low down on this particular machine? To start off with, it gets an average Amazon user review rating of three stars. Now three stars is definitely nothing to crow about but you do have to remember one important fact. That is that this is a relatively inexpensive machine.

Bear in Mind that It Has No Fan in it.

My personal opinion is that a lot of the user criticisms can be traced back to the fact that this machine has no fan in it. It relies solely on the momentum of the ionic reaction taking place in it to move the actual air though the system. So does it move the air? Sort of.

How Come So Little Air is Coming Out of it??

Manufacturers for years have been hyping up the fact that these machines and similar machines like it are totally silent and they are. Hey! No fan means no fan noise. Then people bring them home, turn them on, stick their hand in front of them and notice only minimal air flow. Well what the hell did they think when they bought an air purifier with no fan in it!

What About the Ozone Question?

Then there is the confusion about ozone production in ionic air purifiers. Now there is new ozone free technology that's being employed but it's not in this Ionic Pro air purifier. So then what about ozone? Is is as bad as some people make it out to be?

Not Nearly as Bad as Some People Make it Out to Be

The fact is that ozone is simply three oxygen molecules that have combined together to form one atom. No it doesn't cause cancer or major medical problems. It can however cause irritation of the respiratory passages particularly in small animals.

Ozone Does Kill Odors Dead

On the other side of the coin, ozone is a stellar odor eater. It basically destroys the atoms in the air that are causing odors and this is why so many of these types of machines are touted as being such efficient odor eradicators. So for a smaller laundry room where you keep a cat box, the Ionic Pro air purifier would be an excellent choice.

See larger image Oreck XL-Air Purifer Tower, Black (Health and Beauty) New From: $499.95 In Stock

• Free 30 day trial period

• They can be laid on their side

• 3 & 5 year guarantees
  

If you've been watching TV over the past ten years then you no doubt have heard of the Oreck air purifier. In fact this one firm alone is responsible for introducing more people to ionic air cleaning technology in their adds than any other company out there.

Have You Seen an Oreck Air Purifier on TV?

Even so, there two traits that I've found that all air purifier companies have in common that have been heavily advertized on TV. That is that these heavy TV advertisers tend to have a limited line of rather expensive machines and Oreck is no exception.

If you're looking for convenience features, none of their three models of ionic air cleaners have any, so to speak. In fact, aside from what they call “Truman Cell” bacteria killing technology these are basic three speed on and off machines. No timers, remote, etc.

What's Truman Cell Technology?

Simply put, Truman Cell Technology is the same ionic technology that all ionic air cleaners use to trap ambient air particles. The airborne bacteria is charged and then sticks to the collection plates and dies. It's really nothing more than that.

You see, the little known truth of the matter, is that recent studies have demonstrated that bacteria gathered in all ionic air cleaners tends to die shortly after being deposited on collection plates. Hence; in general terms, all ionic machines operate with Truman Cell Technology.

However; before you click your mouse and move on to review another brand, there are two items worth mentioning that you just don't see in Oreck's competitors. It's very odd too because neither is difficult to offer or any type of earth shaking technology.

Free Thirty Day Trial Period

The first item is a no questions asked, thirty day trail period on all three Oreck Air purifiers. The nice thing about it too, is that they'll even pay the shipping fee if you send yours back. Now in my mind this makes a lot of sense to a person who's curious about ionic technology. It gives them an out.

The second item worth mentioning, is that two of their three models, the ProShield and the ProShield Plus are designed to stand on their own or lay on their side. Once again, this isn't earth shaking technology but it sure is nice for someone who wants to place their machine on a shelf.

The Oreck Pro Shield Air Purifier

The base model Oreck Air purifier is called the ProSheild and it lists on their site for 349.95. (let's call it $350). It features three air speed settings, including a fourth that's referred to as a silence setting. This no doubt allows you to run the machine with no fan.

Now it is a vary nicely designed unit and I can see how someone might want to lay it on its side on a shelf. It has a sleek black look to it. Even so, its specs list it as being able to recirculate the air in a 12' X18' room only twice every hour, so the room size rating is a bit exaggerated. It does come with a three years guarantee.

The Oreck ProShield Plus Air Purifier

The next Oreck air purifier up from there, is the ProShield Plus. It lists on their company site for $399.95 (let's call it $400) and it really is basically an enhanced version of the ProSheild. It's the exact same machine with one added feature, so it too can be laid on its side too.

That one added feature is what Oreck calls their Permanent Helios Shield. (I Like that name). It's basically a UV lighting system located in the machine, that sterilizes the air that passes through it. By the way UV lighting is quite common now, on both ionic and hepa filter air purifiers.

Now I do have one complaint here though and that is they advertise what is basically a UV lighting system as never having to be replaced, which is true “in effect”. However; what they don't tell you is that the mercury vapor lamp that powers it will lose half its strength in five years. It wont burn out though. Same 3 year warranty.

The Tower Model Oreck Air Purifier

Next up is their top model. The Oreck air purifier they call the Oreck Tower. It lists on their company site for $599.95 (let's just call it $600) which is a heck of a lot of money for an air purifier. This one does have a couple of added features and it also is quite nice looking but I have just one problem here.

That problem is that on their site, they show it as being able to clean 900 square feet per hour. Now isn't that the same as 1800 feet every two hours? Now I'm not very good at math but that seems awful close to the what the above two models listed clean. A 12' X 18' room every two hours. Am I being picky here?

There's also no “Permanent Helios Shield” in this model but you do get a “turbo” option on the fan switch. (I just love the names they use). You also get two more years on the five year warranty, which is nice but in the end I really do think that for $600, there's better deals out there.

See larger image Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower Quiet Air Purifier with Permanent IFD Filter, Black (Kitchen) List Price: $149.99 USD New From: $123.74 In Stock Used from: $104.99 In Stock Release date February 15, 2006.

• How do they work to clean air?

• What about Ozone gas?

• What are the pros and cons?

If what you have in mind is a filterless air purifier, then what you should be looking into is ionic technology. These types of air cleaners aren't new and in fact they first began being used in metal smelting plants almost 100 years ago.

The Filterless Air Purifier Uses an Ionic Chamber

The way that they function, is rather then the air passing through a filter as you would imagine in the classic sense, the air passes through what is commonly referred to as an ionic chamber. It's basically a contained area where negative electrons are generated.

Pollution Particles Pick Up a Negative Charge

From there the air moves on through a series of stacked metal plates. It's on these plates that the pollution particles end up being deposited. You see the particles pick up the negative ions and this causes these then negatively charged particles to be attracted to the plates, like magnets.

Even These Machines Have to be Cleaned

Now keep in mind that at some point these plates do have to wiped clean and with some machines this is an easier task then with others. It all depends on how easy it is to remove the plates then slide them back into the machine.

New Filters Can Go Months Without Cleaning

One thing worth noting, is that new hepa filter designs have made for standard filter machines that require far more infrequent cleanings. In fact most of these new low maintenance filter designs can go months without you ever having to touch them. It's something to think about.

There are Some Solid Pros and Cons

You need to also understand that there are a few solid pros and cons that should be taken into account before you buy into either type of air cleaning system. As an example, “for your money”, a standard hepa filter machine is going to process a far greater amount of air.

Look into a Non Ozone Technology Feature

Another thing to look out for if you're dead set on a filterless air purifier, is ozone generation. Ozone is a colorless gas that's made up of two connected oxygen atoms that's generated during the production of negative ions. New machines however do have non ozone technologies that do away with this problem.

Ionic Non Filter Air Cleaners are Quieter

One of the major benefits of a filterless air purifier though, is that they tend to be far more quiet than a filter unit. The reason is simple and that is that hepa filter air cleaners require larger fans to push the air through the filter. There is a huge selection of ionic cleaners to choose from so make sure to select one with features that suit you best.

See larger image Sharp FP-P40CX Plasmacluster Air Purifier (Kitchen) List Price: $299.99 USD

• Amazing New Technology

Sharps innovative and cutting edge Plasmacluster Ion technology has introduced the entire planet to a brand new method for neutralizing airborne viruses and mold spores. A system that is now proving itself invaluable in homes and businesses the world over.

It functions by depleting live viruses and spores of vital hydrogen. They are instantly dehydrated. It accomplishes this by way of hydroxyl production, a secondary byproduct of the production of both positive and negative ions in the same reaction vessel.

You see hydrogen is the second and third molecule in the H2O matrix that you of course know as water. Once the two hydrogen molecules are removed in the Plasmacluser contained reaction chamber, all that remains is the oxygen molecule.

So as the live virus' and spore are effectively killed by instant dehydration, pure oxygen is being created. In this way this innovative system is actually replicating the earths natural atmospheric oxygen generation and air purification processes.

• Airborne Viruses it Instantly Kills
  

Viruses: MRSA – E Coli – Influenza (including Swine Flu) – Poliomyelitis – Tuberculosis – Common Cold – Pertussis (Whooping cough) – Streptococcus (Pneumonia) – Strep – Typhus – Rubella (German Measles) – SARS – Variola (Small Pox) – Corynebacterium Diphtheriae (Diphtheria)

• Air Particles and Gasses it Functions to Eliminate

Tobacco Smoke, Mold Spores, Formaldehyde, Pollen, Dust, Pet Odors, Exhaust Fumes, Formaldehyde, Ambient Cooking Oils, Micro Textile Fibers

• Looking Inside the Integrated System

Plasmacluster technology is but one component of a technologically advanced, completely integrated, multi-layered air purification system. As part of its function, it imparts an actual electrical charge to airborne particles that allows them to far more readily adhere to the secondary hepa filter grid.

• Maintaining Ionic Balance

This new advanced system contains a built in atmospheric monitoring system that automatically adjust the flow rate of negative ions. In the natural environment, negative and positive ions are kept in a healthy natural balance.

However; in a contained environment such as a home, they can become unbalanced, with one being in greater concentration then the other. This system insures that the ionic balance in the air you breath will always be exactly neutral.

See larger image Sunpentown Dehumidifier with UV Light (Electronics) List Price: $249.00 USD

• How do they Kill Germs and Mold Spores?

• Just What is UV Radiation and is it Safe?

• What in the Machine Creates the UV Light?

• What Machines Deliver the Best Air Treatment?

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation or (UVGI) as it is also commonly referred to, is the term that is used to describe what UV air purifiers do. They basically kill germs as well as mold and fungus spores by zapping them with a brief shot of ultraviolet radiation.

What About Radioactive Air!!??

So then do these air purifiers contain some type of hazardous radioactive material or can the in some way send out radioactive air or gas if they malfunction? The simple answer to both those common questions is no. Absolutely not!

Don't Let the Word “Radiation” Scare You

Don't make the mistake of confusing light radiation, which UV rays are and nuclear radiation, such as the type that's produced by plutonium. You see radiation is just the word that is used to describe anything that moves out and away from something.

How a UV Air Purifier Makes the UV Rays


The light coming from the light bulbs in your home is also in fact radiation, just like the light that's used in these types of air purifiers. You see, unlike a standard light bulb, a mercury vapor lamp is used in these air cleaners to generate UV radiation. It's just a light bulb that's filled with mercury vapor.

Treated Air Carries No Residual Effects

Now once the air in a purifier is zapped in its closed chamber by the mercury vapor lamp, it's done. That is that it leaves the unit just as it came in, other then the fact that it has been sterilized. It in no way carries any residual effects from the UV treatment any more than you can carry residual light when you click off your light switch.

Does the UV Treatment Help to Filter Air?

Understand though that UV air purifiers in no way filter air any better than an air purifier that does not include the UV feature. That is that the UV treatment in no way assists the machine in trapping air pollution particles. So then your next question may be “which machine has the better UV treatment feature”?

Which Machines Do the Best Job of UV Treatment?


The answer is that unlike things like filters that can come in any number of configurations and can be made from any number of materials, UV radiation and the mercury vapor lamps that create it are all alike. It would be like asking which drop of water between three of them is wetter. It's just light.

More Facts You Should Know About Mercury Vapor Bulbs

This type of light bulb is relatively inexpensive, so it really makes no sense for a manufacturer to use anything but a good quality bulb in their UV air purifiers. One thing worth noting though, is that while a mercury vapor lamp can last for decades, they do slowly degrade and will lose about half their power in about five years.

• The ionizer/filter comparison

• Which type cleans more air?

• Which type is the quietest?

• Which is the cheapest to buy?

• Which is the cheapest to run?

It really was only about three decades ago when the ionizer air purifier began to make the big splash that it has in the general consumer marketplace. The fact is though that this technology has been around for about 100 years.

In fact the very first of these types of air cleaners were built in the early part of the 1900s for use in metal smelting plants. They were used to remove toxic particles, such as lead and sulfides from the exhaust before it was sent out the chimney.

Now who today hasn't seen household models advertised at malls or on TV? Then when you search online, there they are. Right alongside standard home air purifiers. Units that clean air by forcing it through a standard mesh filter to capture pollution that's suspended in it.

So then here's a short list of some of the basic pros and cons that pop up when these two types of air cleaners are ran through a side by side comparison test. Now one thing to bear in mind though, is that many people actually end up choosing both types and use them for different purposes.

They Tend to Be a Lot Quieter

As an example, ionic air cleaners always tend to be a lot more quiet. The reason for this is that they don't have to force air through a filter system, so their fans tend to be less powerful. This is precisely why so many people prefer this type of machine in their bedrooms at night.

Then again, an ionic cleaner just won't process near the same volume of air that a comparable standard hepa filter unit will. You see the fact that they draw pollutants out of the air with an electrical charge, rather then a filter means that the air must move slower.

No Filters to Buy and Change

No Dirty Filters

Then again the fact that they don't require filters. Combined with the the fact that they use far less electricity and it means that the ionic air purifier is by far the most affordable long term option. Bear in mind that many of the better standard filter units use two types of filters. One long term and one short term that needs frequent changing.

There's also a sterilization effect when air passes through an ionization chamber. An effect that means that an ionizer air purifier actually kills germs and bacteria as the air passes through it. Better quality forced air cleaners also now have a sterilization feature though.

Now as far as the actual price of the units is concerned, the two types are running about neck and neck. All types of air cleaners in general come in a wide range of styles, sizes and prices. Although on the very low end, you can find small filter air cleaners priced as low as $15, while the ionizer air purifier bottoms out at around $30.

See larger image 3Q AP04S Twin Pack Electrostrostatic Ionic Air Purifier, Cleaner ()

See larger image *TWO* 3Q ELECTROSTATIC AIR PURIFIER WITH UV LAMP & CHARCOAL FILTER (Kitchen)

Whether you realize it or not, you've been witnessing how the electrostatic air purifier works your whole life. Take a look at your TV screen for example. Perhaps you may have noticed how dust seems to gather on the surface of the screen. Now how many times have you wondered why this happens?

Why the Dust on Your TV Screen?

Now you have been getting a big clue all along when you hold your hand up close to the screen and felt the slight “sparking” of static electricity. It's that static electricity that's responsible for more dust accumulating on the screen than on the outer plastic surface of the TV set.

Using Static Electricity to Attract and Hold things

Then who hasn't at some time rubbed a balloon against their hair to make it stick to your head? As a child, it seemed like some magic trick. Once again, you were witnessing how invisible static electricity has the power to pull an object in and in fact if you think about it, a balloon does have much more weight than a tiny speck of dust.

Static Electricity is Pretty Powerful Stuff

So there you can see the actual power that electrostatic electricity has to gather and hold air particles. So how many volts of electricity are involved when you do the balloon trick? Would you believe that it's several thousand volts? About the same amount as in a high power electrical line. Don't worry though, because it's very low “amperage”.

Air Passes Through an Electrical Corona or “Haze”

An electrostatic air purifier operates on the exact same principle. It uses fine wires to create a corona, or what can best be described as an “electrical haze” to charge air molecules that pass through it. These electrostatic charged air molecules then attach themselves to dust particles, which then stick to metal plates.

1907: The First Electrostatic Air Purifier is Patented

The very first use of this type of air cleaning technology was way back in 1907. It was back then when Dr Fredrick G Cottrell, a professor at the University of Berkeley applied for a patent for an electrical air cleaner that he had invented that he wanted to to use for cleaning emissions from smelting plants.

The Research Corporation is Founded

This man then used the money his invention earned him to create and fund a foundation that he named the Research Corporation. The purpose of this organization was to take new scientific developments, such as his new air cleaner and find ways to develop and bring them into the commercial world for the good of the general public.

Following the Money Trail Left by this Amazing Invention

Would you believe that this organization is still in existence? Well it is and the first money generated from this very first patent that was handed over to the Research Corporation went on to fund Godards first rocketry experiments. “The seeds of NASA”. Funds from this group also played a critical role in the development of the technologies that are used to produce vitamin A and B.

So then How Does the Darn thing Work Anyway?

In simple terms, an electrostatic air purifier contains in it a row of thin vertical wires that are placed next to a stack of metal plates. A negative electrical charge is then passed back and forth in the air volume between these wires and plates to create a corona. Remember the electrical haze?

Go Take Another Look at Your TV Screen

As dust particles pass through this corona, they pick up electrons and as a result take on a slight charge. It's this charge that then causes them to be attracted to the plates where then become stuck. It's the exact same thing that happens to dust particles that wander too close to the electrical haze in front of your TV screen.

One of its Biggest Benefits Over Filter Air Cleaners

One of the biggest benefits of the electrostatic air purifier is that it does away with the need for standard filters. In household air cleaners this means no expensive and messy filters to change but metal plates mean that mold and bacteria have no filter where they can settle in and grow.

Working to Keep the Air Outside Clean Too

Doing away with the need for messy cumbersome filters, also cleared the way for large commercial air cleaners of this type to be developed for scrubbing the exhaust created at coal and oil powered electrical plants. This technology is also heavily used in a wide range of dusty industries such cement plants.

Pros and Cons of the Electrostatic Air Purifier

There are some pros and cons to be considered with this type of air cleaner though. For instance, typically household models are designed to process a low volume of air as compared to a standard mesh filter cleaner. The reason is simple. That is that if the air is moved to quickly it won't have time to stick to the plates.

The Most Quiet and Economical to Own and Use

Now of course the plates could be stacked in a tighter grid but then there would be problems with cleaning them. You see in household models the grids are spaced well apart, so they can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth. One major benefit of this type of air cleaner though is that they are very quite and use very little electricity.