Hello...I am really confused with all these options! I have pretty bad mcs along with allergies and asthma (induced by allergies). I had a bad episode recently with paint fumes and am hoping to gather some information on how to purchase a air purifier. The companies i have called are recommending some iq air model that is close to $900. Do I need to spend this much or can I just buy a cheaper model? Do I need to spend all this money to be sure it will work for mcs and allergies? What has worked for everybody here?
Posted by riverspirit (Member # 19435) on :
Hi,
I've been doing a lot of research and had finally come up with two options of brands.
The first one i purchased was too loud for me, and a friend bought it from me. (Austin healthmate plus).
The second one i purchased is great: an air pura.
If you go online, you can ask one of the vendors which air pura would be right for you, depending on your needs.
I think it is the best unit for one's money and is appropriate for those of us with multiple chemical sensitivities. The one I have is an R600.
Hope this helps.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i have a small oreck for the bedroom and a larger honeywell for a few rooms that open to each other. they have hepa filters and also other filters you can clean yourself. they work well for me. i used to be mcs-have had some minor mold problems and have severe hayfever allergy at times. i think the big one was about 300. my son told me about it-it helps him and his wife. they take it whereever they go
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
I bought three different models ( holmes ) at Walmart or Target and found them very helpful . I would buy the HEPA filter units and change filters on time . They are great and help with allergies and sinus and asthma.
Just an idea : if you want to get rid of bad smells or maybe even mold , take some charcoal briquets , set them in a room and wait for absorption . I hid them in paper cups in my mother's smelly house ( smoker !) and placed them under tables or in places not obvious . this worked really really well !!
Use charcoal that is for grilling outdoors .
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS & MOLD EXPOSURE IN PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT LYME DISEASE
Lisa L. Nagy, MD Video $15.
(Excellent to get, even if mold is not an issue, this is full of great information.)
She is NOT A LLMD, however, she understands the kind of toxicity issues faced by many with lyme. She did not have lyme but overcame very serious MCS. She spoke at the recent ILADS conference.
It's a great presentation to see. The DVD can be ordered. Great detail about toxicity issues also here:
Safe Home for Health, Happy Families -
Posted by dogmom2 (Member # 23822) on :
riverspirit, hi i'm thinking of buying a airpura r600 to helpwith the wood smoke from my neighbors daily fireplace and frequent bbq smoke that seeps into my house.
Are you still happy with yours?
After researching it sounds like a good choice for me, my main concern is the metal housing. i know it's better than the plastics/glues of some of the other brands for those of us wiht mcs.
But am worried about noise(i have hyperacusis too),like would it sound like the barrel of a drum with components moving in there. Seems like metal would transmit more sound than plastic. Hopefully, i'm wrong about that, what has your experience been?
thank you
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Maybe contacting the folks at AllergyBuyersClub.com could help you with your questions? They independently evaluate the air purifiers they sell, and can help you find one that suits your needs.
I have no financial connection with AllergyBuyersClub.
Posted by cottonbrain (Member # 13769) on :
I use a cheap but amazingly effective method:
- buy a 20" box fan - buy the best 1" x 20" allergy furnace filter you can afford (about $7-10) and tape it to the front of the box fan so that air is sucked through the filter and then iinto the fan.
- put one of these in each of your main living areas. I kid you not, these are really effective. You can make one for under twenty-five dollars.
I tested airborne mold in my bedroom after using this for a year -- there were zero mold colonies.
Warning -- the box fans are all made in China and I would only run them when attended. We had one blow up!
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
You should be able to find what you need at a reasonable price. HEPA filter + charcoal filter (for VOC's like paint fumes).
I have allerair brand. Love it but expensive. It cleans paint fumes out of the air like nobody's business.
Good luck, Terry
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
I use the Austin brand and like it. Comes with recommendations from people I trust, including Dr. K. from WA. As riverspirit notes, its noise is notable. Though I can't compare it to other models, the noise is basically the noise of a fan.