Sharp FP-P60CX Replacement Filters?

An air-purifier-power reader writes:

> Hi Ed,
>
> Firstly thanks much for your reviews. I was sold on the Sharp
> FP-P60CX and went looking for how to buy it. Some websites show it as
> discontinued, so I'm concerned that if I buy it, there will come a day
> when I can't get the replacement filters.
>
> I called Sharp and they said I could, but hard to be sure after maybe 3 years.
>
> I asked if it had the same filters as the FP-P40CX which they are
> still selling. They said the filters are different. I wonder if they
> are the same, only with different part numbers, so it looks different
> to a cs rep. Do you know? If they are the same or similar, I could
> get FP-P40CX filters at some point.
>
> Then I discovered the Sears Kenmore 85500. I saw what you said about
> it, but if I buy from a store that at least will probably still be
> around offering replacement filters in 10 years, maybe that's better?
> A bit more cost for filter replacement is no big deal to me.
>
> I live in a studio apt. where the main room is about 260 sq. ft., so
> the quietness is important and the size is real good.
>
> So it looks like here's my options:
>
> - get the FP-P60CX anyway and hope I can get filters in the future.
> - get the Sears Kenmore 85500 and deal with the disadvantages
> - get the FP-P40CX and deal with it being a bit underpowered, but at
> least I can get filters longer hopefully.
>
> Frankly I haven't even read the Rabbit Air stuff yet, maybe that would
> be better?
>
> Cheers,
> a reader.

My Reply: Replacement Filters Drying Up

Hey air-purifier-power reader,

You are correct to be concerned about continuing support including filter availability for many air cleaners sold today.

IQAir, Austin Air, and the fourteen inch round Honeywells come to mind. One-off designs may well be a thing of the past.

The residential air purifier market was saturated and due for a shakeout well before the "greater economic depression" of 2009 arrived.

The result has been a series of debacles.

Notably the Hunter "Permalife" series, which got a big boost with a number three ranking from Consumer Reports in 2007, only to have the permanent filters fail en-masse and be discontinued by Hunter.

Many manufacturers have been forced to downsize, slash costs, and cut models.

Department store air purifiers - Whirlpools, Hunters, Holmes, Bionaires, ect, - are sold on a planned obsolescence marketing model to start with.

Sharp seems to be following, albeit with a longer model turnover interval.

Also see my page Air Purifier Pre-Filter Replacement: The Prefilter Experiments for the story on vanishing prefilters.

I did find the Sharp FZN40HFU Replacement Filter for the FP-P40CX still available.

I have run my Sharp FP-N60CX for over three years with the original filters, and am planning to install additional prefilter material to continue using the original HEPA.

I wouldn't count on Sears being around to support the rebranded air cleaners they sell, especially if Sharp doesn't supply filters.

The FP-P60CX may well be disappearing - Amazon says "Only 5 left."

But sharpusa.com still shows the model.

Searching for the part number with "replacement filter kit fz-p65hfu" yields no replacement filters available on the web. Yikes!

If I was buying today I'd get an extra set of filters. With the Sharps now advertising filters last "five years," one extra set ought to do.

It seems like I remember a web vendor recommending two sets of filters at one point - I thought then it was a marketing trick - maybe not.

I'd also install one layer of polyurethane foam as additional prefiltering. Sharp's handy fiberglass prefilter screen is easy to clean, but I think an extra layer of foam prefilter would make the HEPA last longer.

Looking for Sharp filters in general, even the replacement filters for the newer KC-C150U look a bit scarce.

From the standpoint of filters and support, Rabbit Air has the advantage of being an importer based here in the USA, whereas Sharps are marketed through vacuum cleaner dealers.

I have found the folks at the Rabbit to be very good communicators.

The Rabbits are rebranded Mitsubishis, good products, quite similar to Sharps.

Rabbit Air's website offers replacement filters direct from the company.

Good Luck,

Ed

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