HumanAir Air Purifier

A Reader writes:

Thanks for your very interesting site.

I had two Oreck air cleaners I have just thrown out, as I recently have become more educated about air purifiers, thanks in no small part to your site.

It seems for my home use, you recommend most the Sharp units, yes? I went to their site, and they have newer models than the ones you reviewed.

Anythoughts on the new ones before I splurge on one of them?

Many thanks.

Also, stumbled upon an entirely new product, HumanAir Air Purifier, from Humanscale, here:

http://www.humanscale.com/products/humanair.cfm

It might interest you.

Ed's Reply

Hey Reader;

I don't care as much for the humidifying Sharps - those witha water reservoir to clean and fill.

While these do increase the efficiency of the plasma ions, the extra maintenance will likely be neglected over time.

Be aware that for all but the biggest sellers and top premium brands, the recession has reduced replacement filter availability on the retail market. I'd order an extra set of filters with any mid-market machine.

I like all the mid-priced Japanese air purifiers, and several Korean knock-offs are climbing. Sharp, Mitsubishi (Rabbit Air), Coway, Idylis, for example.

Avoid any product from mainland China.

There are many thousands of new entrants into the overbuilt indoor air industry. Humanair is aiming at the "greenstyle" premium space, one area where manufacturer margins have not completely disappeared.

I am very dubious about their claims of a bubble of clean air in an open office environment. A claimed CADR of 125, not listed at AHAM, is inconsistent with the "breezeless" marketing claim.

Human's product is similar to the Blueair hybrid electrostatic setup. "Better than HEPA" marketing claims are also suspect - product long on style and claims, short on substance.

Filter replacements are very frequent with this type technology. See Blueairs.

This will sell few units and never make economies of scale for reasonable price levels. Nicely styled, pricey desktop conversation piece.

See Alen Paralda Review for another "greenstyle" example.

Good Luck,

Ed