H-E-P-A spells clean, allergy-free air
Written: Mar 14 '01
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Pros: Reduces allergies dramatically, cleans air, makes a pleasant noise
Cons: None. NONE!
The Bottom Line: This is absolutely essential to your health! It makes a dramatic difference for allergy and asthma sufferers and really does clean your air.
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| jenningspaige's Full Review: Honeywell Enviracaire 13520 Air Purifier |
I have been an allergy sufferer since I was three years old, and nothing has ever worked to help me except for medicines that knocked me out, like Benadryl--the warning on Benadryl, by the way, says it may cause drowsiness so you shouldn't drive after taking it. HA! Benadryl puts me out cold in 10 minutes or less; the package should tell you to find a bed IMMEDIATELY after taking it. Even prescription allergy medications didn't work for me. I have always suffered from mild to moderate allergic reactions on a daily basis.
Anyway, my mom discovered this hepa filter my senior year of high school and bought one to put in my room. I was completely and totally skeptical. After 18 years with nothing working, I wasn't expecting a little noise-maker to clear up my allergies. But it did! I read the instructions to see how and why this little plastic thing was making me feel so much better, and I found out.
I was in chemistry class when I got this filter, so the explanation of how it works actually made sense to me. Let me explain: There are tiny charged particles called ions floating around everywhere and they have a little negative charge to them. In a normal state, they have no charge because they're already attached to something with a positive charge, thus canceling each other out. What the hepa filter does is it sends out all these negative ions into the air. They float around until they find a positive ion to connect to (like a particle of dust) and they stick. Then the hepa filter draws them back in holding onto the particles it connected to and keeps the dust and sends the ions back out. I thought the hepa filter was more like a vacuum, but that's not really true. The only thing it sucks back is the ions as opposed to sucking in anything in the air.
It took a couple of weeks to clear the air up, but it really did work. I still suffer from allergies every now and then, but not nearly what I used to. I bought several more to put in every room in my house, and I made my boyfriend put one in his house so I can visit without getting an allergy attack.
The filter makes a pleasant noise that soothes me to sleep at night. It's a lot like a fan noise. It's not too loud, but loud enough to hear it in a quiet room. Some people may not like the noise but I think it's a bonus.
You can leave the filter on 24 hours a day for months and months and months. The first one I got is still running on the original filter two years later. I was going to buy a filter, but I didn't feel like it so I brushed the dust off of it outside (and gave myself an allergy attack) but then I put it back in and it's still working just as well as it always has.
I haven't personally tried this, but I don't think it would work as well for people who live with pets and are allergic to them. Most people are allergic to pet fur and dander, and I don't think the hepa filter will pick up anything that large (maybe the dander). However, I wouldn't be surprised to know that it did work in that situation. I have a lot of faith in this little air filter, and I'd recommend it for anyone.
This isn't designed only for allergy sufferers--it is good for anyone. It would be especially useful in a baby's room where they can be breathing things that could make them sick, or for a child with asthma. Or if you just want cleaner air in your house. I haven't gotten sick since I've had it either, even when my family members were sick.
I can't tell you how wonderful this product is. I'd recommend any of the filters by this company, but there is a smaller version that is not on this site that works just as well. It is smaller and better looking (fits on a bookshelf) in a square shape and it only costs about $40. If you don't want to spend so much, look for that one at your local K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or Target. I've seen them at all of those places.
Happy breathing!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 120
Battery Life: N/A
Noise Level: Average
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Epinions.com ID:
jenningspaige
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Member: Jennings Paige
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Just trying to help you make educated decisions. Please remember to rate my opinions. Thanks!
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