Air purifier recommendations?

So, even before my diagnosis, I had been thinking it would be nice to get one of these. CPAP just adds to the appeal. Anyone have advice? Model recommendations would be nice, but I'd be especially interested in any key features I might want to look for.

Thanks,
YouMay

I think the CPAP airfilter would be enough mostly

if you get one do so by getting one that you can switch the ionizer off.
ionizers produce ozone which will destroy rubber parts.

you will pay more up front for one that uses the washable electrostatic filters but they soon return the investment

it all depends on what you want to filter out, how much you want to pay initially and how much you want to pay each year for more filters - you might want to check out consumer's reports too --

a commercial link ---- but ----- I have ordered from this outfit - not exactly happy with their sending tracking numbers - these products tend to be drop shipped from the manufacturer so you will find all the vendors are the same price except for a few that want to charge you shipping for a "free shipping" item

http://www.sylvane.com/learning-center/ ... guide.html

I own 3 austin air healthmate plus jrs right now - the expensive filters are to last 5 years but won't last that long but a cheap machine like a holmes or honeywell will cost you more in filters and won't work as well

if you want an oreck then they have a website too - the orecks at amazon and other sites are refurbished models

jules wrote:I own 3 austin air healthmate plus jrs right now - the expensive filters are to last 5 years but won't last that long but a cheap machine like a holmes or honeywell will cost you more in filters and won't work as well

My question is... how long are the filters on these units (all types) AVAILABLE? I have two perfectly good systems which are useless because the filters are no longer made.

a good question --- For your machines Kiralynx, I would check the manufacturers webpage as well as check some other filter manufacturers. I know I saw "generic" austin filters somewhere when I looked to buy the filters I got 2 years ago, but not at the site below.

The first two Austin's I bought were in 2001 right at the time of my PSG. I had one with me that night that has been used only a few hours.

They weren't Plus model then - I was able to buy Plus filters upon replacement 2 years ago (hadn't used them much over time) but some of the older Austin Models could not use the Plus filters and you have to get a cheaper one.

Now for my range hood, I found this place sold those filters cheaper than I could get elsewhere and they sell all kinds of stuff - they were generic not brand name but no big deal in this case -

http://www.nationalfiltersales.com/

sylvane had a coupon for 5 % off I used recently --- found it online at a coupon site and it actually worked - I have gotten sent coupon codes for nationalfiltersales since my order a few months ago too

jules wrote:a good question --- For your machines Kiralynx, I would check the manufacturers webpage as well as check some other filter manufacturers. I know I saw "generic" austin filters somewhere when I looked to buy the filters I got 2 years ago, but not at the site below.

Did that the second to last time I needed filters. Bought two sets for each unit. Now I need 'em again, and can't find 'em, even doing a search for either the unit or the filter numbers.

That filter store for the range hoods looks highly useful. Thanks. <g> My range hood is over 40 years old. Finding parts can be... entertaining.

The Austins definitely look like nice units. One of the units I have I've had since around 1992, and it was still working just fine when I had to decommission it last year because I couldn't find the filters.

I own the best air purifier. I've tried them all and this IS the best. Expensive but worth it. After all, the SWISS designed it and actually invented air purification. IQ AIR. Go here and watch the video: http://www.iqair.com/residential/roomai ... roplus.php
It's pretty much a fair traded item so getting a "deal" really is tough. Just look around on the net.

Kira - did you email them and ask? I did to find out that I could use the newer plus filter in the machines I had. emails below - first mine then answer - but this was 4 years ago

info @ austinair.com

I purchased 2 Austin Health Mate Junior models and am thinking about buying replacement filters. Yes it has been over 5 years but the machines haven't been in constant use. I noticed one has a pre-filter and the other one doesn't. That isn't my question.

Can I interchange filters from the various "fillers" on my machines? Such, as can I buy an HEGA filter now? or the plus filter now? I do know how to change one (since I had to take one apart after shipping it cross country UPS to straighten out the fan blade that had slipped) and assume they are interchangable but want to make sure.

In response to your question, if the unit was manufactured after august of 1995 the filters are interchangeable, if you have a unit prior to august of 1995 you will need a hega filter only. There is a white label on the bottom of the unit with a manufactures date with a month and a year. this will indicate when the unit was manufactured.

Yep Steve - I was thinking about one of the IQ air when I bought the 3rd austin machine 2 years ago but my budget at the time couldn't handle it.

jules wrote:Kira - did you email them and ask? I did to find out that I could use the newer plus filter in the machines I had. emails below - first mine then answer - but this was 4 years ago

Haven't recently, no. I'll have to hunt them up and inquire. Things got kind of busy this last year, what with cancer surgery, a hurricane evacuation, my mom in hospital three times.... and of course, I almost NEVER think of it when I'm at the computer. <wry grin> Worst case scenario: they tell me the filters aren't made any more. In which case, I'm not any worse off than I am now!

http://www.austinair.com/contact_us.php

I had kept the old answer they sent me when I emailed them or filled out the form --- that is what I posted above --- I was not sure when I contacted them when I was going to actually order the filters

Well, to toss in my two cents. I'm currently using a Kenmore EnviroSense True HEPA Air Cleaner.

I got one for the bedroom before I started CPAP, and have since gotten another in the hallway just outside my bedroom. Dust/Odor sensing seem to actually detect things and rev it up. Its pretty quiet normally, though it can be a bit loud when the dust or odor sensor hits red. Which can be a bit annoying in the middle of the night, since I seem to break wind a lot more on CPAP than before.....

Some other manufacturer like units have auto-sleep mode, which is triggered by light sensors. However, I usually keep my bedroom dark all the time...so it might not be so useful, plus the sensor mode is disabled in sleep mode.

I haven't replaced any filters since I've started using these. Though I expect as a Kenmore that filters will continue to be available as long as I need to get them (in the past the availability of filters have continued after my machine has died....can't say the same for other air purifiers that I have used in the past).

Before this Kenmore, I had an Oreck Air purifier....which I thought was good, except that it was getting noisier and noiser, until it was unusable in the bedroom. Cleaning it was kind of a pain, though I had gotten into such air purifiers because I had figured not having to buy filters would be good. Though for odor absorb handling, that involves buying filters regularly. Oreck recommends every 3 months. Hmmm. Neat thing (I think) about the current air cleaner, is the charcoal filter is washable. Though kind of expensive filter cartridge and seems to call for annual replacement (except that I just remembered its been over a year for the first one already....)

The filter was getting pretty dark when I last cleaned it.

The only downsides with the current....the panel is pretty bright, though that was before the bright blue lights entered my bedroom. And, it stays off after a power interruption.

In other rooms, I still have one Oreck Air purifier in service, and a Surround Air XJ-3800. They both come back on after a power interruption....but they are both kind of like machines. The Surround Air also has a charged collection grid that needs to be cleaned once in a while. And, the sensor doesn't seem as sensitive. It stands in my living room near my old Brookstone Pure-Ion....which was so expensive I can't get around to chucking it...but its just a reminder of wasted money. The stainless dishwasher safe collection cells....that you can't actually use in the dishwasher, except alone, otherwise they collect all the food particles going around in your dishwasher (plus its difficult to fit them into on to the racks)...seem to do poorly at collecting dust. Seems thing is always saying it needs to be cleaned, and yet there's no sign that anything got cleaned from the collector cells. At least I can see the blackish water rinsing off of the Oreck cell. The oscillation function on it is broken too.... Though I'd still use if I didn't have to clean it every couple of weeks and/or at least saw evidence that the cleaning was necessary. I do see the Surround Air doing stuff. Though had I known it was a charged collection grid that required periodic cleaning, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. I was more after it saying it had sensor technology, and other features.

I guess I've decided replacing filters once a year or so, and minimal work in between is the way I want to go with my air cleaners. And, odor absorption is important. Its the smells from my neighbors that are annoying. Though it isn't bad when it takes care of odors in my apartment. Which was the original motivation to getting the recent batch of air cleaners (and the Oreck becoming really noise).

Hmmm, maybe that's why I don't smell coffee being brewed automatically in the mornings now....

The Dreamer.

Here's a WINNER for $229.99!! It's a five stager too: http://www.vitacost.com/Winix-Plasma-90 ... 090712:pr1 Read the testimonials. I think this has all that you were looking for.

I have two of these, one in my bedroom and the other in the living room. The pre- and carbon filters are washable. There are other models, too.

http://www.rabbitair.com/index.asp?Page ... D&ProdID=6

I had Honeywells in the past, and they were horrible. The Rabbits are easy to maintain, very quiet and the filters are not terribly expensive.