I have a question about Ionizers:

[and-justice-for-all]

Does anyone here use one or has used one? Do they really work or is it BS?

I want to improve the air quality in my home, I run the furnace fan which helps slightly but it has to run all the time. Is there anything out there that can improve the air quality in your home?

[kurth]

1. Not so good according to Consumer Reports

They also generate ozone which is bad for people with asthma.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/air-cleaners/sharper-image-lawsuit-ends-505-air-purifier-ionic-air-cleaner/index.htm

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. they can even CAUSE asthma in healthy folks

my partner used to run those things indoors, and I would sneeze, cough, sneeze and cough.

We read up on the problems, and turned them off. now, we both feel healthier.

[and-justice-for-all]

17. So what would be the best way to clear the air? nt

[BadgerKid]

3. Why not a HEPA filter in the furnace?

Besides, I think I remember looking into ionizers at one time and reading that some may produce ozone, which compounds breathing problems for some people.

[and-justice-for-all]

15. I wonder is that is different then the one I have been...

putting in? Hmmm...it is rather large but I never looked at the details

[BadgerKid]

22. Look at the rating

if you can. HEPA filters have the smallest pore sizes, or the highest "rating". See, e.g.,
http://www.3m.com/intl/CA/english/centres/home_leisure/filtrete/pr_ultraallergen.html

[DesertFlower]

4. i have the sharper image "ionic breeze quadra".

i keep it in my bedroom. you would not believe how much dirt it picks up in 2 weeks. just cleaned it today. thinking about buying another one for the living room.

on the other hand, we had a "negative ionizer" in my office. we had to move it. it tended to dry out our contact lenses.

[SeattleGirl]

5. There wasa negative ionizer in a house I used to live in.

Had it on the first few months I lived there, and started feeling very strange. A friend of mine, who lived in a similar home, told me to turn it off. I did, and started feeling better.

[DesertFlower]

6. hmmm. i'm gonna turn mine off.

i have chronic fatigue syndrome and feel crummy so much of the time. so it's hard to tell.

[Bobbieo]

7. What exactky is an ionizer my son bought an air purifier when my neighbr moved.

It is a slotted metal tube with an insert that consists of three wide blades that can be wiped off. The residue is black. Is this an ionzer???

[DesertFlower]

11. it sounds like the one i have.

[bpeale]

27. i feel crummy most of the time too, but i think it's just the Bush Admin. that makes me feel crummy

[Mike03]

8. I've used them for more than ten years, but recently stopped

Three weeks ago I threw out nearly a thousand dollars in ionizers after reading a report on the lung damaged cause by even minute amounts of ozone produced by ionizers.

I can also tell you that if you have white walls, they will be stained by ionizers.

But I still have kept three small ionizers (pocket size) just in case.

[DesertFlower]

12. my walls are white and i've had it for about 2 years. nt

[Mike03]

13. Well, that's cool. Good for you.

I would probably be investing in Ionization if It had not seemed to be such a flop in my own house. I keep three or four private ionizers on hand for emergencies, but I have discarded my high powered ones. They not only messed up my computers, but interfered with numerous electronic devices in my home and blacked my white walls.

[and-justice-for-all]

16. Why did it black your walls?

Is that from the Ionization or from the dirt it collects?

[OHdem10]

9. I have a respiratory condition and tried several. Finally

saved and purchased the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze (Quattro) large
one. Have it for several years and love it.

My adult daughter who helped me with it has been impressed
and uses them in her home.

[Mike03]

10. If you are going to get an Ionizer, get a real one,

not one of the commercial/fake ones that are offered by the commercial brands. Real ionizers don't come with filters; they are purely electronic and have no moving parts. Also, consult Consumer Electronics, and do a Google Search on Ionizers and ozone. Name brands that are listed here are not even close to being serious negative ionizers. It's too bad I didn't see your post three weeks ago; I could have send you a real ion machine for free...

Best of luck,
Mike

[and-justice-for-all]

14. Well crap...

That would have been nice of you. It would be good to try one first, rather than getting one only yo find out it's total BS.

It just my house has alot of dust and stuff in the air and it drives me insane.

[crispini]

21. Have you thought about a better vacuum, maybe?

I have a Dyson and that puppy does actually pull stuff out of the air. I love it!

[ThomWV]

19. Lots of the "real" ones have fans built into them.

[Paulie]

18. Filters are the way to go

I run three Vornado AQS35's 24/7. They are a bit noisy but they work wonders. Have mine on #3, though #2 when company is over. They really pull a lot of stuff from the air, mostly dust and cat hair (we have 3 running around). http://www.vornado.com/purifiers.htm I see they have a new model, I may get that for the bedroom, though it needs filters every 6 months instead of every 2-3 years. Hmmm :)

Another option is a whole house media filter. It's installed inline in your furnace ducting, so is similar to what you are doing today, but much more efficiently. Has the advantage of no noise in the rooms. See: http://www.aprilaire.com/index.php?znfAction=ProductDetails&category=7&item=2200

[RebelOne]

20. I use an ionizer and it is great.

Since I smoke, my house used to stink of stale cigarette smoke and I have two dogs that made the house smell like dog. I got an ionizer for the living room and plug-ins for the other rooms. Now the air is fresh.

[w8liftinglady]

23. I use an airpurifier with the ionizer off-so does my mom(with copd)

I know we aren't supposed to endorse products here,but I have this,and so does my mom.I like the permanent filters(saves a lot of money)
http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-HHT-011-Tabletop-Purifier-Permanent/dp/B000N9CPQK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1203460794&sr=8-2

[demmiblue]

24. Thanks for the info!

I was looking at that one on Amazon yesterday. Good to know that you can turn off the ionizer (which I didn't want). Do you think it would serve well in a small basement room (mold spores)?

edited: spelling

[w8liftinglady]

25. YES!I live in a really old house-cleared the air almost immediately

[w8liftinglady]

26. -it's good for about an 8 by 10 room,btw

[demmiblue]

28. Thanks for responding. I may just buy it!

:hi: