Totally silent; helps allergies a lot; doesn't cure
Written: Aug 28 '00 (Updated Nov 20 '00)
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Pros: No filter replacement purchases, very quiet
Cons: Expensive retail price, not sure what the filtration rating is
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| kfgecko's Full Review: Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra SI637 Air Purifi... |
The Sharper Image Ionic Breeze™ Silent Air Purifier model SI624 (not the personal one shown here at Epinions) is a full upright room air purifier that is filterless. It has seemed to have a positive effect in reducing my hayfever reactions to dust and whatever else floats in the air. Just how much it filters, I don't know.
I got the SI624 from Sharper Images' flash auction web site for $95. (Retail $250, supposedly which is a horrendous retail price) but it saves money in the long run because it uses no filters that must be purchased. Instead, it electrically ionizes the metal bars within it to collect the dust and other things in the air. The bars can be removed and rinsed off to clean; then replaced for repeat usage.
Does it work? Because this is not a scientific study, I can say that it appears to have helped. My hayfever is usually calm within the bedroom that we use it in. After 2 weeks of use, I pulled out the filter bars to see just how dirty they were. I was expecting more, but they were covered in a thin layer of what looked to be the same dust that gets all over everything else in the house. We don't have pets, so I can't vouch for it's pet hair/dander ability. We also don't smoke, but we live in an area that does get invaded by pollens. As fall and spring come, I'll update here. My gut feel is that it does not do as good a job as those 99% HEPA filters out there, but does do a good job of *improving* the air.
What I'm very impressed with is the noise level. Or lack there of. This thing is so quiet that you don't know it's on. My wife just 5 feet away couldn't hear it. I had to stand 2 feet away and concentrate to hear it. Even then I wasn't sure until I put my hand in front of the grill to feel the breeze. When you listen closely, it sounds like a portable room heater (the 60Hz buzz) and a teeny tiny fan blowing.
Cleaning is pretty easy. I was expecting the dust and grime to stick to the bars, but it didn't. The dust was easily rinsed off. The bars are then let to dry and replaced for more air filtration.
Overall, we are happy with the filter. But we'll see what happens when spring time comes.
UPDATE November 20, 2000
Spring and Fall have come and gone and I'm very happy to say that the ionic breeze has done a wonderful job of improving the air to point of noticeable improvement. My nights are more comfortable (with less hayfever, I haven't had a "sneezing spell" in the room with the filter since) and the air smells cleaner. I'm quite surprised to find that the filter also improves the "stale" air of a room and the odors that are associated with it.
Once again I'd guess that this filter can't do the same filtration as the 99.9999 HEPA filters, but I think it accomplishes what's most important: making a significant improvement to the air. I really like not having to buy any replacement filters, and the rinse to clean ion bars are a breeze. I'm considering getting another unit for another bedroom.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99
Battery Life: N/A
Noise Level: Almost noiseless
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Epinions.com ID:
kfgecko
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Location: San Jose, California
Reviews written: 166
Trusted by: 10 members
About Me:
30-something male, born/raised in Northern-California.
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