ssmarsh8's Full Review: Ecoquest Living Air Classic Air Purifier
My grandparents bought the Classic unit in 1999. It was used maybe 6 months to a year until my grandpa died and my grandma moved away, leaving it in a closet for years. I picked it up in summer 2006, thinking it might help my boyfriend's cat allergies.
I never experienced the ozone smell some people describe. I had it sitting on the carpet floor (possibly a no-no, according to another reviewer). After about 3 months of use (mind you, while it's an older unit, it was used less than a year prior to me getting it), it began making an annoying buzzing sound. Looking into the unit I could see a bulb flickering.
I called customer service (actually I called them 2 or 3 times, as each time I was told one more bit of information they needed... model #, than serial #, etc.). They convinced me it was the "ozone plate," which I ordered for $15. Having removed the old one, I'm confident this replacement wasn't necessary. The flickering bulb of course continued the obnoxious noise, and the company did send a couple replacement bulbs for free.
Due to the construction of the unit, I had to go purchase some of those tiny screwdrivers to get to the screw securing the bad bulb. Unfortunately neither I nor my 210-pound, 6'1", former all-state football player boyfriend had enough strength to remove this screw from hell.
I called to ask if there was somewhere I could take it and have the bulb replaced. No, they said, no one in my area. I'd have to mail the unit in. They then suggested blasting the inside with canned air. The inside indeed was pretty dusty, and she claimed this could be causing the buzz, as the flickering bulb was connected to the "ionization" plate (that little antenna/radar circular thing).
Well, in dusting out the inside, I very lightly bumped said ionization thingy, and it bent. In attempting to bend it back, it completely broke off at its very thin metal point of connection.
Did this unit do anything to help our air quality? I don't know. But I'll be replacing it with a HEPA air purifier rather than continuing to screw with this company. By the way, I can send it in (at my cost) and have it refurbished for just $180, with a warranty of 6 months. Um, no.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 350? Battery Life: N/A Noise Level: Average
Classic LA-3500 v2.0 Living Lightning(TM) Alpine Air Purifier. Voted BEST 8+ years in a row by users worldwide, this perfect unit is made for indoor a...More at AlpineAirTechnologies.com
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