Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Compact Air Purifier - Works, But at a Price
Written: Feb 25 '05 (Updated Sep 01 '05)
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Pros: Low energy consumption, no filters to replace, silent, 5yr warranty, compact
Cons: Expensive, questionable cleaning efficiency, has to be cleaned every week
The Bottom Line: I am happy with my purchase (at a reduced price that is). The Ionic Breeze Compact works well removing dust and smells from the air. I would...
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| dkozin's Full Review: Sharper Image SI397 Air Purifier |
I don’t remember how exactly I came upon an idea of getting an air purifier. Maybe my allergies were bothering me a lot at that time or maybe I saw a review on Epinions and realized I could benefit from one.
In any case, after researching some conventional air purifiers (devices that push air through a filter using a fan), I found the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze series. These devices are quite unconventional. They have no moving parts and the air gets moved by charging it, without the use of a fan. They also don’t have a conventional filter and use static electricity (as I understand) to attract dust to the metal grid inside the unit.
They also look unconventional – instead of the rectangular box, they resemble little slotted towers, available in several colors. I got two Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Compact devices (one for each of my rooms) in light gray color.
The supposed advantages of these unconventional technologies are low power consumption (6 Watts), lack of noise and no need to buy replacement filters (you wipe/wash the metal grid once a week or so).
Sharper Image also sells a “full-size” version of this product, which is about 1/3 taller than the Compact version I got and consumes 10 Watts, from which I conclude its cleaning power should be about 30-35% higher.
After receiving the devices, I read the manual and plugged them into the wall outlets. The devices have a control button on their top surface and three green LEDs for High, Medium and Low filtration. The button cycles through these three modes and the “Off” mode (no LEDs are lit).
Pictures
If you want to see the pictures of Ionic Breeze Compact that I took, go to
http://www.review-shop.com/IonicBreeze/IonicBreezeCompact_1.html
(you can copy and past the above address into your browser's address area).
Ionic Breeze in Action
Once turned on, the devices started producing a constant (although light) stream of air. To tell the truth I was slightly suspicious of this technology at first, and the fact that the Ionic Breeze does move the air through without using fans was a relief.
The devices are supposed to be operated constantly, which is not a problem since they draw only 6 Watts and stay cool as a result. After about an hour, I could smell the ozone in the air. The manual states that the device produces ozone, but in low concentrations that are not harmful.
I feel no discomfort with ozone. On contrary, I like it and like the fact that it helps fight odors. My apartment definitely smells better now.
Cleaning
The manual states that the devices should be cleaned about every 7-10 days. The indication that the cleaning is due is the humming sound that appears when the grid gets too dirty/dusty.
The cleaning is simple – you pull the handle on top of the unit, removing the grid (that is actually three metal bars that run through the length of the unit), wipe the grid with a wet paper towel, flip the unit housing a couple of times (there are a couple of wires inside with little plastic spheres that move along the wires when you flip the unit, cleaning the wires), wait until the grid dries and re-insert it.
You have to make sure that the grid is completely dry before re-inserting it (I usually wait about 5 hours). Also, make sure you don’t burn oil lamps in the room when the device is in operation.
Performance
I have discovered that the grid gets dusty/dirty within about 7-10 days. The device starts making buzzing sounds and you can pull out the grid (after turning it off) and see quite a lot of dust. When I wipe the grid with a wet paper towel, the towel turns black, which makes me happy that this stuff was removed from the air I breathe.
There seems to be less dust accumulation on the bookshelves and my desk now that I have the Ionic Breeze running 24/7. I also feel less symptoms of allergies, although this may be a placebo effect.
The Compacts are definitely adequate for one medium-sized room each.
In reality, I cannot say with any degree of certainty that the Ionic Breeze is effective enough in removing allergens from the air. However, it definitely makes the air fresher, reduces odors in the room, removes some dust from the air and doesn’t draw much power.
Pricing and Warranty
The units came with a 5-year warranty, which is a good thing with such an expensive appliance. The pricing is quite high and actually borders on ridiculous. The Ionic Breeze Compact sell for $250 each and the full-size models are even more expensive. I got the refurbished Compacts for about $95 each, shipping included. At this price, they are more attractive and their low power consumption and no need in replacement filters should make them cheap to operate. But stock up on paper towels...
Bottom Line
I am happy with my purchase (at a reduced price that is). The Ionic Breeze Compact works well removing dust and smells from the air. I would be much less happy if I had to pay full price, however.
Also check out my review of the full-size Ionic Breeze Quadra Air Purifier
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 90/refurb
Battery Life: N/A
Noise Level: Almost noiseless
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Epinions.com ID:
dkozin
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 in Electronics |
 - Top 10 |
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Location: California
Reviews written: 838
Trusted by: 516 members
About Me:
I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
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