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Re: Budget Air Purifier for Asthma

A Reader writes:

Ed, I would like to get an air purifier for my house, but I'm so confused.

My son's pediatrician stated that it appeared my son has the initial symptoms of asthma.

We got rid of the carpet and are taking other measures to eliminate mold and other possible allergen sources.

We don't have any pets.

I saw the the Idylis 280 at Lowes and thought it would be great since it has a relatively high CADR, but then I read your review.

I was hoping I could tell you my situation and that you could recommend one for me...?

I'm a student with a wife and 2-year-old son. We live in southern California.

We live in family housing at my university, and our house is very old. We are concerned about 2 main things: dust (particulate matter) and mold.

I'm guessing we need a HEPA filter with UV.

I'd like to operate it at night in my son's room so it needs to be quiet.

We're able to afford a unit that cost $350 or less.

And the rooms are pretty small, ~<200 sq.ft.

Please help, A Reader.

Ed's Reply

Hey Reader;

I really didn't badmouth the Idylis 280 that much - I said that the brand had the potential to gain market share in the target big-box retail space.

My conclusion was that "Those with serious allergy, chemical sensitivity, and other health issues should look to the allergy shop premium brands."

Allergy shop premium will exceed your stated budget, so I wouldn't dismiss the Idylis necessarily.

I'd think twice about including UV at your price.

It is very common for manufacturers of inexpensive, say $200, air cleaners to add a weak UV lamp, 6 to 10 Watts, and add $100 to the price. This is seldom a good buy.

UV, to have any effect on airborne microorganisms, must achieve a minimum intensity for a significant period of time.

This implies a trade-off in particle/chemical filtering. Most cheap UV installations are actually designed to limit bacterial growth in the filter itself.

More importantly, there is little evidence to support the claims that air purifiers can interdict the modern viral diseases - "bird" flu, SARS, ect.

But with the tidal wave of propaganda surrounding these new health threats, marketers are getting a free ride and good cost/return ratios from the antimicrobial bandwagon.

With a tight budget, you'll be better off without the UV.

With a night time sound situation, you are pretty much looking at Asian-built air cleaners, including the Korean brands.

Leading Japanese brands have outsourced manufacturing to China, reducing their quality lead over the Koreans.

As usual, I like the Sharp Plasmacluster, FP-P40CX is under $300. I would leave the Plasma-ion feature off while your son is near the machine - but this is very easy to do.

Rabbit Air 421A is also quiet, under $350.

Coway AP-1009CH, Korean-built, is under $300.

The only US-built machine in this price class is the $300 Austin Air Healthmate Junior.

It is a bit noisier than the Asian models, but has more carbon for odors/chemicals.

I also recommend you look at lifestyle factors which can contribute to asthma, a systemic inflammatory situation.

Dietary factors, specifically Omega-6 oils, highly prevalent in student-budget diets, and simple carbohydrates (starches and sugars) are big contributors to inflammatory disease.

Molecular-distilled fish oil and flax oil, the refrigerated types, supply Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-6 fats' metabolic pathway leads to inflammatory chemicals being created.

Sugar, so prevalent in the diet, is an addictive drug, it encourages the growth of anaerobic pathogens in the body - these create inflammation.

I like tumeric powder and ginger paste, very cheap anti-inflammatories, which I buy in bulk at an Asian-oriented market.

These may be difficult for a sugar-seeking child to accept since they aren't tasty.

Best wishes,

Ed