Blueair 200/303 Series SmokeStop Filter Replacement

The filter does what its suppose to do and when i purchased a new one, boy, could i see a different!! Black and white! And to think you breath that stuff in all day long! Kind of expensive, but, if it works, its worth it, right?

Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-780A

I wanted an air purifier for my living room where I have some electronics that need protection from smoke and dust. I also needed a unit that could realistically and reliably clean the air sufficiently in this 250 square foot area and help remove the odor and particulate matter from occasional cigarette smoke that may drift into the room. It's a large volume area because of the high cathedral ceiling and open design. While that may not sound too difficult to accomplish with many mid to large air purifiers, I also wanted a unit that was as silent as possible, and that's not so easy to find.

I spent several weeks researching air purifiers and came away with the conclusion that IQ Air, Austin Air and Blueair are probably the best that the industry has to offer as far as big and powerful air purifiers go these days (IQ Air has a carbon filter with 5 pounds of charcoal and Austin Air has 15 pounds of charcoal ... 15 pounds!). So why didn't I choose one of those? Price, noise level, size and looks were the determining factors (although Blueair has good noise ratings and they look attractive, but are a bit on the pricey side). Excluding any of those models wasn't easy. Nor was it easy to cross off less expensive mid-power sized units from Sharp and Winix. I also had a difficult time choosing between several models of Rabbit Air. Decisions ... decisions....

In order to educate myself in the murky waters of outrageous air purifier claims, I turned to the internet, but at first I found no real help (not many websites review air purifiers). I had recently purchased a small, one-room air purifier from Alen and didn't do enough research. Turned out that I wasn't exactly thrilled with that purchase (although it's really not a bad unit per se ... I rated it 3 stars). Fortunately, I eventually found a website that took reviewing and testing of these products very seriously, which gave me more confidence when I decided to go for a more powerful (and expensive) unit in the living room. I highly recommend Air-Purifier-Power as the one and ONLY source (at present) to help shed some light on this less than stellar industry. Personally, I wouldn't rely on Consumer Reports as far as air purifiers go. I found them to be of little help and their testing methods for air purifiers have been under fire for years, and I can see why. What they rated highly gave me a good chuckle.

So now that I have the Rabbit Air 700A, what do I think? As the title indicates, this is a very quiet air purifier, perhaps one of the top two or three in the industry (of the ones that have fans ... I won't go into what I think about those that don't have fans). This unit has five different fan speeds (silent, low, medium, high and turbo). To me, noise level was as critical as cleaning ability. What good is an air purifier if it interferes with your daily living? I didn't want to have to turn up the TV to drown out a fan. Of course at the two top speeds (high and turbo), one can easily hear the 700A throughout the house. Still, its high speed is quieter than many products at mid speeds. So do yourself a favor and check out fan output (CFM) and the associated noise level (dBA) on any model you may want to purchase. The Rabbit Air 700A is about 46 dBA on turbo speed (@ 187 CFM) and under 21 dBA on silent speed (@47 CFM)! BTW, some products are even quieter than this, but check the CFM to see if they are putting out as much air at that noise level.

I chose the 700A over the 780A for a couple of reasons, even though I would have preferred black over white (not too impressed with the looks of this white model). The two reasons were value and noise level. These two models are virtually identical except the fan is revved up a bit on the 780A, making it a tad louder, but has the ability to suck in and blow more air and cover a little larger area. The first three speeds on the 700A (silent, low, medium) are indeed quiet, and the silent speed is aptly named. I have to get within 4 or 5 feet to begin hearing it. The CADR (clean air delivery rate) rating on the 700A and 780A is the same (except the 780A has a slightly better Pollen rating). As far as square footage is concerned, divide any number that these manufacturers spew out by two (normal ceilings) or three (high ceilings) and you will get a closer idea of what is realistic. If you assume the manufacturer's claims are legit, you may be in for disappointment (I'm pretty sure they calculate all these numbers based upon normal ceiling height and maximum fan speed, which is unrealistic in the normal home environment). I'd like to see a CADR rating at each fan speed and the use of volume in addition to square footage as far as coverage specification, but fat chance that these will ever be implemented.

What separated the Rabbit Air products from each other (the 700A and 780A vs their other models), as well as other manufacturers models, is the ability to choose a custom filter (they have four to choose from at present: germ, toxin, pet allergy and odor). This is a great idea, and one can order a specific filter type depending upon one's needs. I find this makes perfect sense. And installing and changing filters is simple and painless (pealing off the cellophane wrapper on these filters is a bigger pain than installing them). It also has a permanent pre-filter one can vacuum and/or wash, which I find a very important feature. Pre-filters pick up the biggest particulate matter, and I will no longer buy an air purifier without a cleanable pre-filter. Live and learn.

The ad states that it is a six stage purification system: anti-microbial pre-filter (read silver), anti-bacterial medium filter (additional dust catcher, which is unusual in the industry and helps not to overtax the HEPA filter), BioGS HEPA filter (I guess it gets that name because they added some anti-viral agents ... yeah, whatever), custom filter (not many companies I know, if any, have this option) and carbon filter (although I doubt there is much more than a pound of charcoal in it, but I haven't measured the weight). I guess the mysterious sixth stage is a negative ion generator (the good kind, but who knows these days?). I like the fact that their filter kits, which include the four changeable filters, are reasonably priced and are one of the better values I have found.

This model comes with a decent set of electronics and lights for giving you information, plus it performs automatic cycling (changes fan speed depending upon the air quality that the particle sensor reads), but it doesn't come with an odor sensor. This probably isn't too big of a deal since these sensors are hardly reference quality to begin with. However, even knowing the limitations of these sensors, I like the idea of having them included and thought for the price I paid for the 700A an odor sensor should have come with this unit. At least the particle sensor gives me some feedback (accuracy not withstanding) and a baseline to go from.

Rating air purifiers may not be too accurate unless one has used their particular model for a full filter cycle (anywhere from 6 months to a year depending upon the environment it is in). I've only owned this product for a little over 2 months now, and during that time I found the quality and performance has been very good. If things change during the year, I'll report back. So, between 1 and 10, I rate the Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-700A (that's a mouthful) an 8, or a solid 4-star rating, but this is assuming it will give me years of untroubled service (it does come with a 5 year warrantee, which is a big plus). Other than thinking it should have included an odor sensor (one of their cheaper models include this), I wish it had a more hefty carbon filter, say 3 pounds of charcoal at minimum, but it is what it is. This marginal carbon filter is the reason I selected the custom odor filter option (although I may opt for a different custom filter later on and swap them whenever I choose). I also felt that they should have provided a wall mounting bracket since they advertise it being wall mountable. Now if this bracket was an expensive to make add-on, I'd understand. But it's a bracket they make for a buck and sell for 10, so I consider this wringing out every cent they can from the consumer. I also had to laugh at their ridiculous claim concerning their "mood" light. Still, I'm pretty happy with this unit, but for the life of me I don't know where I can put it so it will be unobtrusive (but that would be the case for any of these devices).

Update 03/10/13: Well, it's been three years since I bought this machine and it is still going strong and is just as silent. I put in my third set of filters last month. I suspect that ripping out carpet, cutting several rooms of drywall as well as sawing wood flooring reduced the life of the second filter set by quite a bit. While it is obviously pulling out dust particles from my home, one has to wonder how much it really makes a difference in the long run.

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Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Upright Vacuum

I previously had a Hoover Windtunnel, it lasted two houses and over 9 years and it finally had enough of keeping up with our two children and 4 pets. So I went out to every website I could find with reviews on vacuum cleaners, including Amazon, and looked at everything from the Dyson, Kenmore, Dirt Devil, Hoover, and so many more. I promised myself that after I used my vacuum cleaner for 3 months I would help all those out there like me looking for a good review and let them know about my experience because the reviews were so helpful to me.

So after reading a bunch of reviews I was leaning towards a Dyson or a Kenmore Progressive. Well my friend had a Dirt Devil M140005 Vision Cyclonic 12 Amp Upright Vacuum Cleaner, a Kenmore Progressive Upright Vacuum, and a canister vacuum cleaner (forgot the brand) that she let me test out. Let's just say I hated all three, the Dirt Devil was a joke, the Kenmore was so heavy and a pain to use, the canister was a pain to use and none of them worked well with pet hair.

So then I went to a local store and looked at the Dyson DC 23 Motorhead and really considered paying over $400 for it. But then I looked down the aisle and there not too far down from it stood the Hoover UH70120 WindTunnel and it was only $100 so I decided to give the Hoover a try thinking if I wasn't satisfied I could take it back. I am so happy that I saved $300 and love how well my Hoover works. It sucks up pet hair off the furniture very well, I have hardwoods throughout my house and it picks up fur and dirt off the floor without blowing it around (the suction is great) and I only have 3 complaints but ya know for the price I can live with them. Complaint #1 I wish the powered hand tool stuck on a little bit better to the vacuum cleaner, if I am not careful to put it on correctly it falls off, so I need to be a little more careful, Complaint #2, empting out the canister can be a little bit dirty so I always do it outside and then it's fine, Complaint #3, I love the retractable cord, I just wish it were up a little higher instead of so low, it would just help keep it from going under the vacuum cleaner but, there is a little clip and if you clip the cord to the vacuum cleaner you don't have to worry about it going under the vacuum cleaner so problem solved.

So I say save your money instead of wasting it on a Dyson or a Kenmore for the price this vacuum cleaner is so worth it.

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Danby DDR3010E 30 Pint Dehumidifier

Exactly what advertised. Energy Star rated. Comparatively quiet, especially the compressor (can barely hear it start up and run). The fan noise is, again, fairly quiet compared to others I have had/heard. (But I wouldn't want to try to sleep in a room with any dehumidifier running) I think the water reservoir is appropriately sized for a 30-pint unit. Display tells you the current humidity level in the room. Have only had it for a month, so the true test will be durability. I've been extremely disappointed with another brand, having bought two of them and both failed in less than three seasons of use.

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Midea America Corp/import Mpn-10crn1-bh9 Westpointe Portable

This air conditioner is a honey. Easy to install, blows cold air almost instantly, and cooled my living room and hallway-over 300 sq. feet on a 90 degree humid day. Dried the air out in half an hour, took it from 81 to 76 in three-quarters of an hour. Should have bought this before.

SPT SF-608R Portable Evaporative Air Cooler

First off, this is NOT an air conditioner. If you expect your room to be freezing cold, this is not the product for you. It's a COOLER, and it does its job very well. It works by evaporating water. Try soaking a T-shirt, wringing it out, and putting it on wet to get the effect. It doesn't work very well in humid areas, but it works GREAT where the air is dry.

I'm in southern California, where the humidity varies pretty widely. I place the cooler six or eight feet from my chair, and on the hottest days I'm quite comfortable.

Benefits:

* it's about 1/5 the cost of an air conditioner

* operating expense is a fraction of the cost of air conditioning

* neat features! (timer, sleep function, etc.)

* remote control

Drawbacks:

* it's not freezing cold like air conditioning.

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Aprilaire 45 Replacement Water Pad

• Fits Space-Gard/Aprilaire furnace humidifier models 400, 400A, and 400M.
• Space-Gard/Aprilaire furnace humidifier filters (evaporator pads).
• Measures approximately 9 7/8" x 12 7/8" x 1 3/4".
• 2 wick filters per pack.
• Honeycomb filtration to trap mineral pollutants found in water and help prevent them from entering your home.

This replacement filter fits the Aprilaire 400 humidifier and is cheaper (including shipping) than purchasing from aprilaire's website (even though they have free shipping).

That being said, this replacement filter is grossly overpriced for what it is. Clearly a profit center for Aprilaire.

I have ordered this part before and have had no issues with this seller. Product arrived quickly.

Hamilton Beach 05910 TrueAir Cool Mist Humidifier Replacement Filter

We bought our humidifier two months ago and have already gone through two filters. Despite the fact that we change the water in our humidifier daily, the filter quickly start smelling very moldy. It also seem to disintegrate rather quickly.

I'm happy with the Hamilton Beach humidifier, but wish that the filters lasted a little longer.

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BEM1045 Bemis Original Waterwick Humidifier Filter

This product is adequate, but the one shipped to me was made by a different manufacturer, and was different and flimsier than the original equipment. It fits, and does the job, but it shouldn't be labeled as original equipment.

Honeywell 32005847-001 Installation Kit

I purchased this to go along with my whole house humidifier cause Honeywell doesn't give you all the stuff you need with the humidifier. However, read up on what is included and what is not. I bought a seperate humidistat because I thought I needed one but there is actually one in the humidifier package. Most modern furnaces don't need the separate transformer and sail switch that come in this kit. You can find the schematics online for your furnace if you don't have the manual it came with to wire to the 24v output on the control board in the furnace unit and not have to use the sail switch and 24v transformer. Hence, I'd recommend buying the water tubes and ducting at a hardware store. I would imagine that if I'd thought ahead far enough I could have found the 5" duct and hoses for around $20 or less and saved myself some money. My mistake is your lesson here I guess.

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X8796 Lennox Healthy Climate Pureair System Annual Maintenance Kit

I ordered two of these since I have two units. Both units arrived. They had both been opened then resealed. The large hepa filers and the small charcoal filters were sealed but both of the UV light boxes had been opened. They both worked when I put them in but my old ones worked also.

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106743/106753/106773 GE HEPA Air Cleaner Filter

The photo shown has two filters, only one comes with the order. They even have only one in the packaged product order when the air purifier takes two. I was shocked when the order came, $57 worth of filters seems like we could buy a new purifier.

Essick Air 697-500 Variable Speed Humidifier

I received this item just before Christmas 2009. Our house was so dry I was slowly pruning. At 1500 sq.ft. on the main floor with 9 foot ceilings it keeps us quite comfortable and does the job. Have been running it straight since early December and no mechanical problems. Be aware of the following:

LOOKS: This cabinet model looks better on the website than in person. It is a darker brown than shown (not as orange) but still a pleasing colour. It is made of plastic and has a woodgrain pattern, but doesn't quite live up to getting away with it, mostly because of the slightly warped top vent (yes, vents from top, cannot put stuff on top of here without blocking the ventilation). Ours comes out of the plastic hinge at the back and does not seat well in all grooves, but probably not noticeable to guests. It needs to sit with it's back against a wall, as the back of the unit is not covered by a nice woodgrain cover, although it is brown plastic. You also notice the black filter hooked on the outside back sucking "filtered" air into the unit. My favourite part is it's on four wheels, so it is very easy to move and vacuum around on my wood floors. Unless you have shag rug, it should also be fairly easy to move on a short pile rug.

CONTROLS: It has two dials "humidity control" and "variable airflow". The humidity control does not go by numbers (i.e. 50% 75%) so you don't really know the current level of your home; however it does allow you to set low / comfort zone / high arond the dial, and will toggle off when it reaches the desired humidity level set. We set ours 1/4 turn above the comfort zone and that works well. Note that setting it on high still doesn't peel your wallpaper, you can't even see the humidity coming out like you can on an ultrasonic BUT it does do the trick, as confirmed by the empty bottles I'm constantly refilling. The variable airflow dial goes from OFF/COMFORT ZONE (which starts immediately from off) to HIGH. This unit is LOUD!! When they say comfort zone they mean for your EARS. I only put it up to 12o'clock position (medium, I guess) when I'm out of the room, and any higher is just noisy with HIGH being like a battering ram. The comfort zone is best and since we situate it right by our kitchen/nook and living room we keep it low. (I know what you're thinking we have taken it apart and rechecked our setup, it is correct with nothing unusual accidentally left inside, no real reason it should be this loud. Only thing I can think of is plastic rumbling on four wheels with the echo of our hardwood floors maybe it won't be as much of an issue for you).

BOTTLES: There are two large 2.5 gallon bottles that rest on the left and right of inside cabinet. They are easy to fill and the unit comes with a tube to help you fill from your tap. Also comes with one small bottle of bacteriostatic additive to get you going. We use distilled water so we don't have the hard water build up in the bottom reservoir, you may want to use soft/distilled if you can get it or put an additive in to dissolve minerals. The bottles have handles on both top and bottom so when you turn them over to place them in it is easy to handle the weight. We don't spill any water when doing this and it's a great design. Also good are two "refill" lights that light up orange when each bottle is empty. They are easy to see through the grill on top as you're walking by, but not obtrusive. Very easy to refill while the other still is going, no need to turn unit off.

NOISE and PRICE: It's the only big drawback, and the price at $200 USD is steep for what it is. Would love to see real wood for that price, as there really isn't much to the unit but a small fan, filter, and plastic.

All in all, there aren't alot of different makes on the market to choose from, especially ones that don't look utilitarian. This will do what you're looking for but be aware if you have unusual dryness in your area and need to pump humidity with the control on HIGH, the noise from this baby will stop you from hearing your baby monitor and could keep you and baby up at night; otherwise, sleep soundly in the "Comfort Zone". Good luck with your purchase!

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Vent Mate Register Air & Dust Filters

I live in an apartment building and I used them to cover my kitchen vents. It amazing how much stuff they pick up. I always feel my kitchen is cleaner because of them

Sunbeam 645-800-001N Sunbeam 645-800 Cool Mist Impeller Humidifier

After reviewing several brands of humidifiers and owning a few brands that either did not last or required purchasing filters and "cleaners", I can definitely attest to the Sunbeam being THE BEST unit on the market for the price and quality. If you are like me and do not want to spend $150-200 dollars on a high quality spaceship like humidifier that will be another item to strategically pack before the next move, then this unit is for you. Also, if you have experienced other units which seem like they were built for growing mold, had reservoirs made out of the most fragile plastic, or had filters that required a special scavenger hunt to find and of course special "cleaners" to maintain steam .... stop the insanity and spend about $20 for the sunbeam. This unit will easily humidify a 3-4 room apartment...and it's cheap enough to purchase others to cover more sq.ft.

As for poor rankings or "so-so" opinions about this unit here are a few tips:

1. Filling the unit should not be done at the sink but by using a pitcher to transfer the water and easily poor in at said location.

2. Cleaning.. that's what she said.. I followed the other poster who cleaned the unit with vinegar and its great! No caustic chemicals needed.

3. Turning on and off... so, you have to unplug the machine.. much like a hair dryer, iron, vacuum, etc. get over it!

4. For the "smoking gun" scenario.. I'd like to know if they following the fill lines and did not overfill the unit... :)

Honeywell Universal Carbon Air Purifier Replacement Pre-Filter

When we got our Honeywell air cleaner, it came with one carbon pre-filter and we were immediately impressed by how quickly the air smelled fresher once we started running our Honeywell 50250. We knew we would need to replace the carbon pre-filter every couple of months and so we ordered these. When it came time to change the carbon pre-filter, I pulled the first one out of the box and I immediately noticed it did not look like the carbon pre-filter that came with our Honeywell. And it did not give us that fresh air smell after running it. I don't know why, but these aren't as good as the carbon pre-filter that comes with the air cleaner.

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Dyson DC35 Animal Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

As an owner of a Dyson DC25 Ball vacuum cleaner I was already a loyal fan by the time that I got a chance to own this item. The DC25 is a great vacuum, however any full-sized upright model has limitations. They are large, heavy and need to be plugged in. Also, even the best of them are difficult to maneuver into small corners and under furniture without using additional accessories attached to a separate hose. The Dyson DC35 Animal augments a full sized upright by being small, lightweight and cordless.

I decided to make a video review to show the DC35 in action. I hope that it helps you in finding the right vacuum for your needs.

Note: When viewing the finished video I noticed that I accidentally said "childrens", I guess as a plural of children (?!?) I don't think that I have ever said that before. Oh well, sorry about that.

Shop-Vac 1030000 Air Cleaner Filtration System

This unit does a pretty good job and, considering its affordability, I think it's a good value. I like it because it's easy to move around the house for projects that generate some dust. When I am sanding and I have it near by, I can see the dust heading straight into the unit and coming out clear on the other side. So, in my book, it does its job. It doesn't catch all of the dust of course but it's much better than not having an air filter at all.

I'm also a woodworker, however, and I don't think I would ever consider using this as THE air filtration tool for my shop. I think they made a mistake by calling this a Shop Air Cleaner; if you have a woodshop and therefore generate a lot of dust, you may want to look at stepping up to a tool better suited for permanent installation on the ceiling.

For me, this tool is portable so that I can use it outside of my shop. So, if you would like something portable and affordable that keeps your lungs and house a little cleaner, I think it's worth the money.

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Rabbit Air MinusA2 Artists Series SPA-700A

RabbitAir is AWESOME!! I recommend RabbitAir to everyone! This is an amazing filter. It's quiet and efficient. I purchased mine with the wall mount and hung it up like a picture. I love the Great Wave front panel. Even the light is awesome. Nothing like the soft blue at night to lull you to sleep.

I run this filter all the time. 24/7 It's cycles as needed on auto mode and I can bump to a set speed if I want but rarely need to. The filter has reduced my allergies amazingly. I have cats and dogs in the and the pet dander filter works wonders for my bedroom.

Well worth the money!

Oreck XL® Professional Air Purifier Signature Series

I own one of these and am getting ready to purchase a second. I have severe asthma, and this machine greatly reduces the amounts of contaminents in the air and makes my life a whole lot easier. My brother also has owned one for YEARS, and NEVER turns it off. The air is so much cleaner and purer when this is in use. I live in the panhandle of Texas where the wind and the dust NEVER stop blowing, and when you walk into a room, you can tell if the machine is on or not. It removes much of the dust, not all of it, it is not a miracle machine. As far as an ionizer, I don't really know what it does. All I know is I can breath with this machine on, and my medication intake is greatly reduced. I find cleaning it very easy. One screw under the front, remove the filter, dust it off, dust the inside of the machine, reach in and remove the metal screen thing, run it under water, pull out the back and dust it off. Re-assemble, and turn it back on and breath again. I would greatly recommend it for anyone with any type of COPD.