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Although several models in this report have been discontinued -- including the two top-rated devices -- ConsumerReports.org provides good comparisons and ratings (available only to subscribers), as well as… general information about air purifiers (free for everyone). Tests are conducted in a sealed chamber using exact measurements. Each air purifier gets separate ratings for effectiveness removing dust and smoke on high and low speed, as well as for noise on both speeds. ConsumerReports.org tests filter-based purifiers (both room-size and whole-house) and furnace filters. Electrostatic precipitators are also tested, but because they produce potentially harmful ozone they are not recommended.
The aim of AllergyBuyersClub.com is to test products and then share the results with consumers. AllergyBuyersClub.com also sells these units. Particle-removal testing is performed in an unsealed office… environment, and subjective criteria such as mechanical efficiency, noise level, ease of use, cost of ownership, filter access and customer feedback are factored into the ratings. Since AllergyBuyersClub.com focuses on severe-allergy sufferers, it focuses on rating high-end air purifiers. IQAir purifiers are rated highest, but a few models from Blueair, Airgle and PureNight are rated "excellent." AllergyBuyersClub.com also likes the Austin Air, AllerAir and Airfree brands.
Air-Purifier-Power.com is dedicated exclusively to air-purifier information, providing general background on air-quality issues as well as detailed reviews of more than 70 air purifiers and a top-10 list.… All reviews are written by Ed Sherbenou, who suffers from multiple-chemical sensitivity and uses several of the units in his home and office. Ratings are based on 10 criteria, including construction quality, ozone issues, gas and odor removal, noise level and price-performance ratio. The IQAir HealthPro Plus is the top-rated air purifier, followed by the Blueair 650E. The Honeywell Enviracaire 50250-N is rated the best value.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) uses an outside lab to verify clean air delivery rates (CADR) quoted by manufacturers for given air cleaners. Products are rated only for effectiveness… on dust, pollen and smoke. Manufacturers have to pay several thousand dollars to have their product certified; at the time of this writing, 33 have done so. The charts posted on the AHAM site are helpful for comparing products, and we find that most air cleaners of the same size perform similarly. This site does not cover the controversy surrounding air purifiers that produce ozone. It merely indicates whether or not a unit meets the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration limit of 50 parts per billion for medical products. Three current air cleaners -- all from Blueair -- are certified to both meet the ozone standard and deliver good performance (above 350 CADR) in removing dust, pollen and tobacco smoke.
This lifestyle blog tests a wide variety of home products, awarding the Best Product designation to the best in each category. Editor Gregory Han tests the IQAir HealthPro Plus in his Los Angeles apartment… alongside less expensive purifiers from Holmes and Honeywell. He measures particulates using a $2,000 laser gauge -- also on loan from the IQAir company. The IQAir purifier drastically reduces particulates, far beyond the capabilities of the cheaper units in this detailed, easy-to-read review.
ConsumerGuide.com publishes air-purifier reviews, a buying guide and a section on how air purifiers work. However, there are 486 air purifiers and accessories listed. Twenty of these are reviewed and nine… receive a Best Buy designation. These ratings are based on value, performance, ease of use and features, but performance doesn't appear to have been tested at all. Whirlpool, Honeywell, IQAir, Austin Air and Blueair air purifiers receive Best Buy designations.
This is a website dedicated to providing news and reviews on the best green products available. The Alen Paralda is reviewed based on its eco-friendliness rather than overall performance and is said to be… approximately 77 percent more efficient than the average air purifier, according to the reviewer's calculations. It is compared to two other air purifiers but only in the vein of energy efficiency, not performance. It does appear that the Paralda was tested, and negatives are listed.
Furnace filters are designed to keep the furnace system clean -- not clean the air in your home, says Glenn Fellman, executive director of the Indoor Air Quality Association and Indoor Environmental… Standards Organization. He tells The Washington Post that HEPA filter-based air cleaners are the best option if your home's air is dirty. The article notes that IQAir's HealthPro Plus earns top marks in reviews.
Although geared toward sales, this site also provides detailed information on popular air purifier brands, including some that aren't sold here. Blueair and IQAir are given a "premier" rating, with AllerAir… and Austin Air rated as "very good." Various air-purifier technologies are discussed and HEPA units are recommended over UV, ion-generating, ozone-generating and electrostatic units. While we take the ratings with a grain of salt, the general information is helpful.
This is another retail site dedicated to products in the allergy-relief category. The editors claim to "personally and extensively test and evaluate all products" before adding them to their product line,… but they offer no specific details on their method of testing. Like most other sites, they do not recommend air cleaners that emit ozone such as the Ionic Breeze, EcoQuest or Oreck XL. Their list of the top five air cleaners for allergies, "the most popular among our allergic customers," includes two blanket endorsements of brands (Honeywell and Blueair) and three specific models: PureNight, Austin Air The Pet Machine and Austin Air Allergy Machine.
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