An In-Depth Review of Popular Air Purifiers

Oreck Air Purifiers
The Oreck Super Air 8 Air Purifier uses four different technologies to clear your air. The pre-filter catches large particles such as dust and pollen. The charcoal filter captures some of the smaller particles and chemicals that irritate the eyes and throat. Then the electrostatic precipitator electronically charges small particles with a negative ion, and immediately a collector plate magnetically grips the charged particles. Simultaneously, the Oreck air purifier generates negative ions and sends them out into the air, causing pollutants to drop right out of the air.

Ionic Breeze Air Purifiers
The Sharper Image Ionic Breeze GP uses a combination of electrostatic precipitator, negative ion generator, and an ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light is a new improvement to the unit, which works to kill bacteria and viruses. The Ionic Breeze air purifier generates high amounts of harmful ozone, so make sure you place the unit at least two to ten feet away from your bed and furniture.

Hunter Air Purifiers
The Hunter Quietflo 3400 and the Hunter HEPAtech 30375 both use a carbon prefilter to capture large air pollutants. They both come equipped with a “Change Filter” light to minimize guesswork. Either can be operated manually or set on a timer. The 30375 includes a built-in ion generator.

Austin Air Purifiers
Austin Air offers five types of air purifiers. They come in two sizes: 15 pounds (the 400 series) and 6 pounds (the 200 series). They use a carbon and zeolite prefilter in combination with a HEPA filter. It is a sturdy-looking machine made of metal, for those who are sensitive to the smell of plastic.