- Jan 21, 2002
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I'm not talking about those cheap Holmes units that you would buy at Target that don't do an effective job and eat you up in replacement filter costs. I'm talking about something decent from Alen, IQAir, Blueair, Sharp, Winix, etc.
I have bad allergies every spring, and I'm tired of everything in my computer room having a layer of dust on it a week after I vacuum. I do vacuum every now and then, but it's such a PITA to keep up with and do thoroughly because of how much equipment I have packed into a smaller room. We do not smoke, which is good because that's extremely hard on filters (not to mention your health!). We do have a heat pump which I feel probably contributes to the dust level, but the control panel indicates when the filter needs to be cleaned/replaced and we have not neglected that. Yet, the dust still continues to build up. Oh, and my room is hardwood, not carpet.
I've been reading reviews and my requirements are as follows:
- Under $400 preferably
- Inexpensive filters or filter replacement intervals
- True HEPA
- Good CADR and ACH ratings
- Somewhat quiet (supposedly the Honeywell 50250 is inexpensive and effective, but LOUD)
- Not something mammoth in size (see many of the IQAir and Blueair models)
The one I've come up with so far is the Rabbit Air BioGS SPA-582A. Review from a reputable site here.
From what I've read, it's a bit pricey in terms of the CADR/ACH ratings but makes up for that in terms of sound levels, filtration ability, overall filter replacement costs, and warranty. Rabbit Air's customer service is supposedly awesome as well. This unit has a washable pre-filter which extends the life of the replacement filter, and they require you to change the filter every 1.5 years to stay within warranty (compared to the 6-12 month intervals of less expensive units, so this will help make up some of the cost over time). Replacement filters are about $45 which is very reasonble - $15 every 6 months to have cleaner air and less dust would be entirely worth it to me. I don't need the humidifier functions of other brands like the newer Sharp Plasmaclusters, and I really don't need an ionizer as I don't have air odor problems, but it wouldn't be a bad feature to have. The Rabbit Air has both odor and particle sensors, so it will ramp up the fan speed when your dog walks past or you pass gas in the room (really!). It also has a decent carbon filter for odor control.
I was initially looking at the BioGS SPA-421A which would probably be adequate for the size of my room, but the SPA-582A is the same size and delivers higher CADR/ACH rates so the air would be exchanged more times per hour if I was willing to keep the fan speed on a higher level...
Does anyone have any experience with these units? Just looking for general recommendations before I pull the trigger. Thanks AT!
I have bad allergies every spring, and I'm tired of everything in my computer room having a layer of dust on it a week after I vacuum. I do vacuum every now and then, but it's such a PITA to keep up with and do thoroughly because of how much equipment I have packed into a smaller room. We do not smoke, which is good because that's extremely hard on filters (not to mention your health!). We do have a heat pump which I feel probably contributes to the dust level, but the control panel indicates when the filter needs to be cleaned/replaced and we have not neglected that. Yet, the dust still continues to build up. Oh, and my room is hardwood, not carpet.
I've been reading reviews and my requirements are as follows:
- Under $400 preferably
- Inexpensive filters or filter replacement intervals
- True HEPA
- Good CADR and ACH ratings
- Somewhat quiet (supposedly the Honeywell 50250 is inexpensive and effective, but LOUD)
- Not something mammoth in size (see many of the IQAir and Blueair models)
The one I've come up with so far is the Rabbit Air BioGS SPA-582A. Review from a reputable site here.
From what I've read, it's a bit pricey in terms of the CADR/ACH ratings but makes up for that in terms of sound levels, filtration ability, overall filter replacement costs, and warranty. Rabbit Air's customer service is supposedly awesome as well. This unit has a washable pre-filter which extends the life of the replacement filter, and they require you to change the filter every 1.5 years to stay within warranty (compared to the 6-12 month intervals of less expensive units, so this will help make up some of the cost over time). Replacement filters are about $45 which is very reasonble - $15 every 6 months to have cleaner air and less dust would be entirely worth it to me. I don't need the humidifier functions of other brands like the newer Sharp Plasmaclusters, and I really don't need an ionizer as I don't have air odor problems, but it wouldn't be a bad feature to have. The Rabbit Air has both odor and particle sensors, so it will ramp up the fan speed when your dog walks past or you pass gas in the room (really!). It also has a decent carbon filter for odor control.
I was initially looking at the BioGS SPA-421A which would probably be adequate for the size of my room, but the SPA-582A is the same size and delivers higher CADR/ACH rates so the air would be exchanged more times per hour if I was willing to keep the fan speed on a higher level...
Does anyone have any experience with these units? Just looking for general recommendations before I pull the trigger. Thanks AT!