LightAir IonFlow Air Purifier

DO NOT BUY THIS UNIT.

I bought this unit and let it run for a number of days and began to wonder why nothing significant occured. I then started a process of asking "Who has reviewed this product that I can read about?" and "what information does this very same company put out that is verifiable, complete and independant?" And then....I got my answers!

1. Every technical reference on their own web page has a broken link. Every Chart, every supposed techinical paper that speaks directly to THEIR product is absent. Want endless papers about all things OTHER THAN their product's verifiable performance? Then go to the IONAIR website.

2. The only reference I was able to find on no OZONE generation was a single page doc from VLL. THEY DID A 3 HOUR TEST!...thats right 3 hours.

3. Consummer Report finally did a review on THIS VERY UNIT and they CAME IN LAST as the worst performing unit. Consummer Report went as far to say, and I quote, "The IONFLO did even a worse job of cleaning the air" followed by, get ready folks, "the IONFLO air cleaner was about as effective at removing dust and smoke AS HAVING NO AIR CLEANER AT ALL!"

See it for yourself here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3BJVIJh2qA

Heartbreaking to be taken in by a Danish Design Scam, mine went straight back and I begin the process all over again.

This isn't an air cleaner, its a scam for folks that want to believe something their own eyes are telling them is false.

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Ridgid 72947 VF4000RT Standard Filter

I also tried to use this filter in a wet and dry situation. When I tried to vacuum drywall and plaster dust, the particles went right thru the filter and were blown all over the room making even more of a mess. When I used the vacuum to remove water from the basement floor, it worked fine, however, the filter quickly deteriorated and was no longer usable. As a replacement, I purchased an aftermarket filter from www.cleanstream.com which was more expensive, however, it is HEPA rated, and it has a coating to prevent clogging and breakdown. It's also washable so you can get many more uses.

Ionic Pro CA200T Twin Pack Compact Ionic Air Purifier

Ok,

These Ionic purifiers do work; however, mine stopped working after a year and here's what the Tech Support representative told me over the phone:

Rep: "Sir, how long have you owned the twin purifiers?"

Me: "about a year and a few months now."

Rep: "What is the problem?"

Me: "A RED light comes on right after I turn them on but the metal filters are clean!" Note: red light means filters must be cleaned.

Rep: "Ok, sir. What you need to do is send them both in and we'll replace them"

Me: "How much will this cost me?"

Rep: "$50 for you to send them and another $30-$50 for us to send them back"

Me: "What is the reason why they BOTH stopped working?"

Rep: "Well, after 1 year, use or no use, the wires inside the purifiers die and need replacing"

Me: "So, every year or so I must spend another $100 to get these working again?!!!"

Rep: "Yes, Sir. That's correct."

Me: "Ok. Well forget it. I will go on and give my review on these items right now."

As these Ionic purifiers seem to do a good job cleaning the air "without the consumer having to keep buying filters", the truth is that you must continue buying them every year for $100. According to the rep they give you news ones; they do not fix them or replace the dead wires.

I, for one, will not purchase this brand again. I do not hold a grudge against the people who sold them to me or the makers, but you as a consumer who wants things to last and work properly, beware of this twitch/deffect/malfunction or whatever you may want to label it.

Do your research for a real good filter. I am off to that search right now.

Neoair Enviro 68108 Advanced Air Purifier

Air Cleaners, Air Cleaners, Air Cleaners..Dozens to choose from!

I consider myself somewhat of a gadget freak and air freak, so I'm well versed in these products.. I own "Hunter", "Holmes", and "Air-Tech" units..Ranging from "hepa" to "ionic". From $30.00 to $200 ++. This unit has it all..Its compact, quiet, efficient, effective, and attractive..Plus it has additonal features of being automatic (it adjusts speed to degree of contaminants) and bacteriostatic (kills mold and mildew spores).

Its got the price and features..and has proved reliable for the past 4 months I've owned it...

Its been the best choice I've made in these products..

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Riccar HEPA Filtration Bags fits all Vibrance

I like these vacuum bags. They are cloth...thicker than the usual paper vacuum bag. I don't detect an odor with these bags like I do with the paper bags. Also, they have a nice tight seal. Delivered promptly with no problems.

IQAir® HyperHEPA® Filter

I have used the IQ Air brand filters in my Health Pro Plus for years now, but with all the recent issues with the bad smell and out gassing coming from some of the IQ Air HEPA filter I am giving this product only 3 stars. Being unsatisfied with the product, I started looking for an alternative filter manufacturer.

I found a filter manufacturer in New York (USA) that builds filters for the aerospace and medical industry. They now carry a full line of replacement filters for Health Pro and Health Pro Plus. The filters are housed in an aluminum housing (not Styrofoam like the IQ Air ones), they are exceedingly well built and meet the same HEPA specifications as the IQ Air brand filters. The added bonus is that since they are built here in the USA they cost less. I highly recommend "HEPA Air Direct" filters as a high quality and cost effective alternative to the IQ Air filters.

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Aerus /Electrolux Style C Paper Bags

Recently my mom ran out of bags for an old vaccum cleaner. She hadn't bought bags for it in years, the last time she did Amazon probably only sold books. The last time she did the only place around that sold them was a vaccum cleaner store, and the bags were not cheap. When we found these here for only about 50 cents each, we couldn't pass up the deal. They fit and worked perfect, at a fraction of the price she used to pay!

Eureka Powerline Cyclonic Bagless Upright Vacuum

I've never reviewed a vacuum cleaner before. In fact, I never review any products, but my husband and I have been laughing all evening. I bought this vacuum cleaner the other day, after our Oreck died. We needed a lightweight vacuum to keep upstairs only, and since the Eureka Powerline was also fairly small, it was perfect for us. My husband vacuumed first and the canister was full. The amazing thing was though... we had JUST vacuumed the day before. We have short haired 2 cats and 2 short haired dogs. I took the Eureka downstairs and cleaned the living room, and again, the canister was FULL. We emptied it and went over the living room again, and again it filled up. That's when we realized how much dirt and pet hair our old vacuums had been missing! We've been cleaning with this like crazy ever since. The "power paw" attachment worked great on our couches, and it comes with a crevice tool that was really all we needed.

I know I sound like an infomercial, but I'm so impressed with this vacuum. We got a great deal on it and its better than any vacuum we've owned before.

20x25x4/20x25x5 (19.8"x24.8"x4.3") ULTRA 1200 MERV 13 Bryant Replacement Air Filter

Filter is made in USA and is an effective Merv 13 during dry weather. The extended descriptions says that the filters are 19 7/8" tall. The filters are actually 19 3/4" tall. To fix, I cut a 1" x 25" piece of cardboard from my last filter pack shipping box and double taped it across the top with 2" wide 3M clear packaging tape. I, like 99.9% of homeowners, do not have a manometer to check pressure drop, but my furnace does not seem to be working any harder than it did with a Merv 8 filter. My allergies did diminish greatly after installing this filter.

May 20,2012 Update

If we open the windows at night, I get stuffed up. If the windows stay closed, I breath perfectly! These filters are dynamite in dry weather! This filter is now available in a 2-pack to save a few dollars.

June 2012 Update

When it got humid out, I got indoor alergies, even with new filters (bought in a 2-pack). The filters bought in May were not made the exact same way they were before (no matter, they both have issues with high humidity). I was dissappointed. I replaced this generic filter with a X6675 Lennox 20x25x5 MERV 16 Filter Media for HCC20-28. The Lennox filter is made with fiberglass and does not rely on static electricity to improve the effective MERV rating. It costs much more than the generic, but it works, every day, even on humid days!

November 2012 Update.

I am still using the Lennox filter and am still McLovin it!!

A side note: the generic has about 17 pleates. The Lennox filter has 72! Way more filter area with the Lennox.

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Hoover MultiCyclonic Canister

We have a 2000 sq. ft. home with 2 dogs and a cat so we tend to put our vacuum cleaners through frequent hard use. As such, we weren't looking to spend more than $200 on a cleaner that, in all actuality, would probably need replacing in 2 years. After a terrible experience with another vacuum (the Eureka 940A Pet vacuum CHEAP, awful, and useless after 1 month), we were looking for another that was 1) under $200; 2) a canister; 3) bagless; 4) had some quality construction and maintained suction. We saw the Hoover Multi-Cyclonic Canister at our local Target and were impressed with the feel and quality of it, but were a bit skeptical of what we would be getting for the $150 price. Amazon was pretty short on reviews, but the ones that were posted all had very positive comments (including a suspicious one that seemed to know WAY too much about vacuum cleaners and Dyson patents) so we decided to give it a shot. We're very glad we did this little cleaner has been awesome.

PROS:

Incredible suction. Does not lose power no matter how much pet hair we pick up and it does not clog.

Powered beater head. Most inexpensive vacuums have heads that rely on suction to turn the beater and slowly become less and less efficient as they lose suction.

Solid, quality construction. The hose leading to the beater is metal and all other parts are thick heavy-duty plastic. No cheap plastic parts.

Flared bristles on the beater bar. Great for cleaning all the way up to the baseboards without having to go back around the room with the crevice tool.

Standard hose attachment size. We've accumulated several attachments from previous cleaners that we like to use (upholstery brush, blind cleaner) and they all fit this new vacuum.

Easy to empty canister. No filters or lids to remove and it back on. Just push the button and dump.

Washable filters. Including a HEPA filter

Retractable cord.

THE SUCTION...again, it really is fantastic and stays that way.

Just a few CONS:

The cord is a bit short. An extra 3-5 ft would have been great

No swivel on the hose. It doesn't swivel/rotate at either end (where hose connects to vacuum or where hose connects to gun) so it tends to get tangled or bent and awkward at times.

The hose and beater portion only store/attach to the vacuum in one position. It would be great if there was another clip where you could attach the hose/beater to the vacuum while it was standing upright to save even more storage room.

Fixed beater bar height. We have all hardwood floors so this isn't an issue, but this might be a pain for someone that has a mix of hardwood and carpet or a lot of rugs.

Really, the cons aren't even that bad...more like "wants" if Hoover were taking suggestions to make this machine perfect. We've been really impressed and would recommend this vacuum to anybody. Highly doubt you're going to find better quality and suction for the price...that's probably the reason this is ALWAYS out of stock (we haven't seen it in stock at our Target in over 2 months). Buy this and treat yourself to a vacation ticket somewhere with the money you'll save over a Dyson or Miele!

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24x30x1 (23.5 x 29.5) Accumulair Emerald 1-Inch Filter

Upgraded our A/C, which included a new air intake. Went from an easy to find 24"x24" filter to a not so easy to find 23.5" x29.5" filter. Amazon had a good selection and for no particular reason I chose this one. Arrived quickly, and most important, it fits. Can't evaluate effectiveness, since I feel no different now then I did with the old system (although my electric bills are down at least 20%).

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.

Kalorik 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

Materials and construction seem very cheap. The spring in the part that allows you to take the pot out while still brewing, fell out while I was unpacking it. I returned it and purchased a Zoji. I am pleased with that coffee maker.

Homedics Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier

It's been 3 month of almost continuous use and I have only one complaint... if I run the unit on full blast all the time (I have it in my 200 sq.ft. bedroom now), I eventually find it sitting in a puddle of water. I believe this is due to condensation, meaning the air in the room has become so humid that the mist condensates back into water around the unit's base instead of staying in the air. To combat this problem, I've turned the mist/humidity control down to halfway. I also placed the base on a Van Ness pet food mat: Van Ness Food Mat for Dogs and Cats that I bought at a local pet supply store for under $10, and I keep a wash cloth nearby to wipe up the drips when I lift the tank to refill it. The mat keeps the puddled water from ruining anything, if it develops again, which it hasn't so far, because the lip on the mat keeps the water on the mat. These things seem to have worked, and (knocking on wood) so far I haven't seen another puddle. I'll keep the mat under it though anyway.

The humidity in the room is enough now that the static issues are gone and my skin and sinuses feel way better; I'm no longer so stuffy at night or dried out. I'm going to buy another one of these (and another pet food mat) for my office.

I have a couple of Venta-Sonic VS100 ultrasonic humidifiers in my house too. Both of those units are over 7 years old now and run pretty much full time in the winter as well. One unit sits in my living room and the other is in an upstairs hallway. Both of these locations are near the largest RETURN air vents for my HVAC system so the humidified air can also circulate throughout the house.

These units also do the same thing with water pooling underneath, but only when the humidity around the unit is high enough to make it condense, or I didn't screw on the lid to the tank properly or I didn't place the tank on the base properly. Both of those units are on waterproof mats too. I have also turned down the humidity level controls to help prevent the condensation, but lately it's been very dry here in Colorado so I have to run them full blast.

I highly recommend everyone running ultrasonic humidifiers use some sort of waterproof catch mat under them, and keep a wash cloth nearby too. Make sure the mat has a lip all the way around the edge to prevent any pooling water from escaping.

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Aprilaire 8463 5/2 or 5/1/1 Day Programmable Thermostat

Nice look. This thermostat is really easy to install and setup. The program allow you to setup for 5 days (Week) and 2 days (weekend). So you can setup your a/c to turn off during the weeks days you are out working, but keep a nices temperature on the weekend so you can sleep a little bit more.

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Alen BreatheSmart - Covers 1100 Sq. Ft.

We recently acquired the newest air purifier made by Alen called the BreatheSmart. It has a number of Smart features that makes it effective and user friendly. In short it is wonderful. We have an open concept home, so it is kept in our living room which also opens into our kitchen and it has done a superb job covering the area which is probably a little over 950 Sq. Ft. The air is noticeably fresher and cleaner, and my wife's stuffy head seems to have been relieved. As an FYI, We also set up an additional Alen Air Purifier (T300) tower in the bedroom. I would definitely recommend getting the new Breathe Smart.

Visually speaking, the Breathe Smart is a super clean modern looking device that does a decent job blending into any decor. It is easy to to set up and the controls are intuitive. Filter changing is about as easy as it gets and anyone can do it. My favorite feature is the air quality monitor that uses simple colored lights (blue=clean, white = so so, red=dirty) to let you know how dirty your air is. If you set it to automatic, it will increase the airflow when it senses that your air is dirty. Once clean, it will turn itself down. It really seems to work. For example, when someone sits on the couch, or when the AC kicks on the unit goes to red. In the morning when I come downstairs the unit has had all night to clean an empty room and it is on blue. I really like knowing when the air has been "cleaned." This takes all the guess work out of when to run the unit and when to turn it up or turn it down. This is really GREAT!

We have owned other cheaper Air purifiers that we have purchased at big box stores, and are glad that we switched to the Alen units. Their machines have a lifetime warrantee and are significantly quieter than the ones we previously owned. Noise can become an issue. Lastly, this air cleaner has a filter change indicator light that tells you when you need to replace the filter cartridge. I do not know how long it will last, but our bedroom unit has been running on and off for more than 6 months now and we are only on bar two which is half way through the filter life, seems reasonable.

BestAir ES12 Kenmore 14911

This replacement set of filters fits my emerson and essex console humidifier and does a great job of filtering the air. However, it does not wick up much water as the pure paper ones so it defeats the purpose of having a humidifier. Since I replaced these with the stock paper only filter/wicks, I get over twice as much water into the air in 24 hours. I would not recommend these if you want humidity in the air from the humidifier. Look for the accordion paper ones.

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GE SmartAire Cut-to-Fit Replacement Carbon Pre-Filter

This was purchased to replace the carbon filter material in the "exhaust" fan of the over the stove microwave oven. I use the word exhaust liberally, as most of the fans only recirculate the air through a pair of washable wire grease filters, then through the carbon filter to reduce odor, and then back in to the room. The carbon material is held in an aluminum frame that may be carefully opened and the carbon material replaced. Just cut the new piece to fit the frame, fasten the frame back in position and you have a new carbon filter. I usually double the thickness as it is in the output stream of the fan and doesn't impede the flow of air to a great extent. There is enough carbon material in this sheet to suggest it may be a "lifetime" supply. (At my age, it probably is.)

Of course, if you have a true "exhaust" fan that discharges to the outside, (the best) you will not have need for the carbon filter in your unit. R. E. W.

Magic American Corp/Homax Basement Odoreliminator Oeb21 Air Freshener

I had this awful musty/mildew/animal urine type smell in my kitchen. We did a little search and found that it originated in the basement. Air fresheners and sprays did nothing. Baking soda did nothing. It was awful. The summer heat and humidity made it even more powerful.

I found the Odor Eliminator for Homes at a hardware store and it came with a free closet one. I bought 3 and put the big ones in the basement room where the smell originates, we think. Then I put the closet ones in the drawers and cabinets in the corner where the odor is the strongest.

I've had them in for about 8 hours now and the smell is reduced GREATLY! I am very impressed!!!

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William Ultrasonic Humidifier in Black

I recently moved to Aurora, Colorado (just outside Denver) and at 5,400 feet the humidity is extremely low. I noticed my skin began to itch, which it had not done before. My doctor advised moisturizing creams, which helped a bit, and an air humidifier. After a lot of investigating I narrowed my search to the Air-O-Swiss and the Williams. In fact, both units seemed remarkably similar with both using a "patented" ionic silver cube and a filter cartridge which seem visually identical. Both units provide warm and cool mist. Possibly the technology is licensed from Air-O-Swiss? The deciding factors for me were:

(a) the Air-O-Swiss listed a capacity of 650 sq. ft. and the Stadler 1,000 sq. ft. I have a very small house 850 sq. ft. which effectively makes the Stadler a whole house humidifier for me.

b) almost every review of the Air-O-Swiss commented on the inaccuracy of it's humidity meter and the only review I could find of the Stadler said it's meter was accurate.

THE GOOD: Assembly is a snap. The meter is close to accurate. The water tank is extremely easy to remove and fill. It is dark plastic, but the water level can be seen quite clearly. The tank capacity is sufficient for 9 hours of continual use. The machine is so silent that I have to listen closely at night to hear anything at all. Just a soft "ssshhh." The Control Panel is easy to see and use with many options and has a light to indicate no-water.

My skin itching stopped.

THE NOT SO GOOD: It is expensive and every source I could find had the same price. The filter cartridge needs to be replaced three or four times a year, depending on the hardness of your water, or when white dust accumulates on the unit or on a small mirror held to the fog. The ionic cube must also be replaced once a year. A testing strip is included and if your water has a hardness greater than 21 degrees dH, an ionic humidifier is not recommended. They suggest then using an impeller humidifier. The Desired Humidity cannot be set lower than 40%, but I found that setting it at 60% results in an actual humidity level of about 37% which is what I want anyway.

THE BAD: I couldn't find any.

SOME NOTES ON OPERATION: The instructions say not to place the Stadler Williams directly on the floor or next to heating. I went to Ace Hardware and found a small, plastic step stool for $12 that is 5" high. This keeps the unit off the rug and makes it easier to access when changing settings. If you have an chest of drawers in the room with space on top it should work equally well. A review of the Swiss-O-Air reported good results from soaking the ionic cube in water for 24 hours before initial use to increase effectiveness. I don't know if this is beneficial, but I did it and had no bad result.

I set my unit to Auto/Sleep

IMPORTANT: Several reviews of the Air-O-Swiss said that they used de-ionized water. The Stadler unit specifically recommends against this. It is designed to use with untreated water or with a drinking water filter system such as Brita. Using any additives are specifically warned against.

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