Ionic air purifier

[LwnmwnMan2]

Anyone have one of these?? Typical from Sharper Image or Radio Shack??

Wife mentioned that she would like one, just looking for some feedback on whether anyone thinks they work or not.

Thanks.

[Whoaru99]

Seems I read a review somewhere, Consumer Reports maybe, that concluded your money is better spent on other types of air filters/purifiers.

[hoggs222]

I've got a honeywell one that I got from Home Depot for $89 or $99. It works well. You can see the particles flow into the back of it. Works good for dogs. The downfall, you need one for each room!

[JollyT]

The fanless, filterless, types have gotten very bad revues from people like Consumer Reports. They don't move much air, so don't clean much. Some also give off ozone, which is a very reactive molecule and part of smog.

One of my rules is, if it's advertised via infomercial, there is something wrong with it, or it's very over priced.

[Whoaru99]

Sharper Image pays $525,000 to end lawsuit against CU

Sharper Image Corp. has ended a product-disparagement lawsuit that it brought against Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, paying CU court-ordered attorneys’ fees and costs totaling $525,000.

Sharper Image sued after Consumer Reports judged the company’s Ionic Breeze Quadra air cleaner “ineffective” in an October 2003 report. A U.S. District Court dismissed the suit, ruling that Sharper Image had not shown our findings to be false. Because Sharper Image’s claims affected CR’s rights of free speech and press, the court ordered the company to pay our legal expenses. Sharper Image filed an appeal but later withdrew it, ending the legal action.

“Sharper Image’s decision to withdraw its appeal puts an end to a lawsuit that should never have been filed, over reviews that were truthful, carefully researched, and fairly stated,” said Jim Guest, president of Consumers Union. “This is a victory for every American concerned about the rights of an unbiased organization to test products independently, and to speak out in the interest of product performance and quality.”

[LwnmwnMan2]

I can cross this off the Christmas list then.....

[wingnutken]

I have an ionic with a filter and a fan. I saw it demoed at the Mpls. sport show 2 years ago. The salesman put amonia on a cloth towel and set it in front of the unit for a short period of time and the scent was totally gone. I purchased one with a remote for adjusting the intensity and the fan speed. It measures 8x11x10 and is very quiet. When you enter my home you can't smell the dog. The air smells like fresh rain. My family loves this thing. When we come home from anyplace smelling like smoke we put our coats infront of it and the smell is gone. Its big enough to purify the entire basement (1000-1500 sq'). He had other sizes for different size homes. I think mine was in the $300 range. I would recomend one to anybody. The unit it called the Breeze, made in the US by Ecoquest in Tennesee. I believe the sales rep was named Larry and he was from Mazeppa Mn. Some day I will buy another for upstairs. This unit does a great job at eliminating oders if that is what you are looking to do. Hope this helps, Ken

[wastewaterguru]

I believe the proper terminology for the effectiveness of these devices is "hogwash".

I have no problem believing that people "think" these units are working. The chemical reactivity of ozone can certainly eliminate odors. However, if you want something that is going to make the air you breath healthier and not just less smelly, then you need to move more air and have a HEPA particulate filter followed by activated carbon.

[Whoaru99]

Quote:

---

The chemical reactivity of ozone can certainly eliminate odors. However, if you want something that is going to make the air you breath healthier...

---

Quite true. That "rain fresh" smell is usually a sign of ozone production. Too much ozone can be a bad thing as it is an irritant to the lung/respiratory system, amongst other things.

I believe that was also one of the qualms from CR in regard to the ionic devices, some tested gave off high levels of ozone during operation.

[almostthere!]

I purchased one some 3 years ago. It was $300+. The only thing it ever did was put ozone into the house. You can smell the nauseous odor within a few minutes of turning it on.

My brother-in-law purchased three Oreck units and they were good enough to clear up my nephew's allergies. They really moved air and you can see the dust particles trapped in the liners.

Ionic Breeze from Sharper Image is pollution creating junk. Oreck units are good and functions as advertized.