Air purifiers - are they worthwhile?

Just thinking about air purifiers...are they worth having in HK? I'd never heard of them before I visited HK. Do they really work?? If you have air circulating in from open doors or windows does that not defeat the purpose of having one. My husband thinks we should get them (given the air pollution) but I'm a little skeptical. We generally have no allergies or asthma, but we do have an infant son. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Hi katiefrane, we bought a couple of air purifiers about 3-4 ago. A small one for our 4 year olds room and a large one which is out in the living area. I have noticed a difference in my daughters nasal congestion which is the main reason we purchased. With the air conditioning, I found my daughter was really stuffy and always complaining of not being able to breath. We tried opening windows but it didn't really do anything (something I desparately miss is the 24/7 open windows and fresh air) nor do we have flyscreens and the mozzies were bad. However since buying the purifiers there is a marked difference with our daughter being able to breath easier and seems to sleep more soundly.

Certainly such anecdotal information is valuable in HK, but overall I think that the american review agency consumer reports did a study on them. Can't remember all the details but recall that the advertised space "cleaned" is often smaller than reported, and there is a need for really staying on top of changing the filters... particularly HEPA ones...

katiefran was simply was looking for other people's viewpoint. I'm sure she could quite easily do some solid research on the net if she felt a need for scientific evidence. Yes katiefran you do need to change/clean the filters, but it is simple and takes next to no time. The one we bought for our daughters room has a sleep button, so it's ultra quiet and the lights dim on sleep mode.

I can second the IQAir.As we live in a apartment with three floors we got one IQAir unit for the main floor and the Sharp air purifiers for the bedrooms.We have only had them about four months but we can tell the difference,especially when sleeping with the air con.


The people from IQAir were very helpful and knowledgable too.

Can also strongly recommend the IQAir systems. I have tested the air outside and inside my apartment while I have been using them with a University particle gauge. The results for outside are frightening at times, but inside with the purifiers the air is greatly improved (250,00 ppl down to 20,000 ppl in a large room with 1 unit set on low. The air coming out of the unit has 0 ppl. In my children's bedrooms which are smaller, the reading is under 10,000, even with the machine set on low. I don't use the higher settings because it can be a little noisy, but this would get even cleaner results.

I agree that they will come out and demonstarte the machines for free with no oligation to,purchase. They are not cheap, but with 2 young children it was easy to justify the cost.


Fabri-technic engineering and trading co. ltd distributes them in HK.

Ph 28158388

www.fabri-technic.com


They are also available through Bumps to Babes I think.


We have had 3 units since May, and since the pollution has worsened we have seen a definate difference.


I think they are about $10000 per unit from memory.