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Re: Vitaire HEPA Air Purifier

A Reader writes:

Hi Ed,

Thanks for all the research on the air purifiers.

The point system on the different criteria is very helpful.

We have been leaning toward the Austin Air units from the start, even before we discovered your site.

However, my allergist has been recommending a unit called "Vitaire".

It is not sold in any retail stores, only through a referring doctor's office. We Googled it and found thefollowing info, about as much as the brochure listed.

We did call the office and spoke to a salesperson about pricing. Around $430, shipping included, and $79 to replace the filter every 12-15 months.

Good 3 month return program. Use it for up to 90 days, and if not satisfied, you can return it and be charged only $117 for a basic 3 month rental.

We were just wondering if you have ever heard of these units, and, if so, what is your opinion of them?

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

You can start at the following links:

http://www.vitaire.com/Air-Purifier-Highly-Effective.htm

http://www.vitaire.com/Air-Purifier-Rentals-Sales.htm

Thanks, A Reader.

Ed's Reply

Hey Reader;

Thanks for calling my attention to the Vitaire "HEPA air purifier."

I wouldn't have found it otherwise.

This is a very obscure, low sales volume product, but air cleaner buyers should be aware of products like this.

First the positives.

Vitaire states that the product emits no ozone.

The Vitaires are "Designed, manufactured and MADE IN USA" by
Vitaire Corp,
141 Lanza Ave, Bldg 12,
Garfield, NJ 07026

Vitaire has been around longer than many competing vendors, having been established in 1974.

The allergist-based marketing is said to have begun back in 1978.

The air purifier is not aesthetically ugly, it resembles a stereo speaker.

Now the negatives.

The Vitaire website offers only tiny photos of the product's front, there are no reviews or other material on the web.

Photos shown here were obtained from an eBay vendor offering a lightly used Vitaire air cleaner for US $112.49, and from a Craigslist ad.

Vitaire uses questionable marketing, with numerous false claims and anonymous testimonials

There is no CADR rating or other outside evaluation, just "facts" designed to confuse the naive purifier buyer.

It begins with nonsense about how fan placement supposedly prevents bypassing - what matters is effective sealing of the filter, not where the fan is placed.

More nonsense: "linear flow" (inlet and exhaust location) and air outlet size are claimed to confer superiority - these are almost totally irrelevant to air purifier effectiveness and efficiency.

The product photo below shows a relatively small inlet opening at the rear anyhow.

A variable speed squirrel-cage type fan pushes up to 300 cfm, this is measured without filter installed, as the user brochure quotes 200 cfm.

The squirrel-cage fan is designed to move large volumes of air at relatively low back pressure, and as such it belongs in HVAC furnace systems.

True HEPAs require large pressure gradients to work properly.

I know of no premium air purifier which employs the squirrel cage fan, although many cheap desktop air cleaners have them.

This next picture is worth more than 1000 words - the Vitaire HEPA filter and open case.

Is this even a true HEPA filter?

Vitaire claims: "Filtration efficiency: Removes up to 99+% of particulates", and "Particle size: Effective down to 0.3 and even down to 0.1 micron."

Readers of air-purifier-power know that this is NOT a true HEPA filter specification, which must state "captures 99.97% of .3 micron particles." Hey, a closed screen door will capture a measurable percentage of all particles, even some "down to" .1 micron.

There is no prefilter, so it is no wonder the $80 HEPA only lasts 12 months under average conditions. Presumably some users will need filters more often.

Although rent-to-own marketing has been used in South Korea, this is my first experience of a US company selling air purifiers in this manner, formerly known as "easy credit ripoff."

Of course even a cheap HEPA-type filter will reduce allergy symptoms in some percentage of people, especially those with large particle allergy (mostly pollen). The "tests" alluded to on vitaire.com are not useful comparisons to competing air cleaners.

These photos depict the most damming evidence of all: Vitaire is constructed of chipboard!

Yes, particleboard, the formaldehyde-emitting cheapo construction material found in mobile homes distributed to impoverished victims of hurricane Katrina by FEMA.

Pressed wood!

World's first and maybe only particleboard air cleaner!

Further examination of the filter photos shows the HEPA frame itself is also constructed of particleboard, and looks to be manually assembled with the filter sealed irregularly.

A ragged seam of excess glue or sealant can be clearly seen along the filter's edge.

In addition to the particleboard's formaldehyde, I suspect the glues and sealants used in this home-built design are also outgassers.

The squirrel-cage fan adds to the "made in the USA in Joe's garage" feel of this product.

You can see the woodshop filter mounting technique in the filter photo.

See my page:Homemade HEPA air cleaner for comparison and brief discussion of the squirrel cage fan.

Thanks for mentioning my 100 point rating system, because, if this was a full air purifier review, the Vitaire HEPA air purifier would receive the worst product rating ever awarded here, with mostly zeroes and ones for scores.

Your first pick, Austin Air Purifier, which does have a few faults (see review), is a 1000 times better choice.

Worst of all is Vitaires "doctor recommended" marketing line.

What makes people believe the MD degree confers expertise on indoor air quality?

Your allergist is obviously, and absolutely, not qualified to give this type of advice. He/she has been given a financial incentive to sell the Vitaires.

If I was you, I'd also be looking for a second opinion on your health issues.

Best wishes,

Ed

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