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And while indoor plants can help a lot, I think the machines are far more effective. So, which machine should you buy — if any?summit storm air purifier I personally use three brands; ion air purifier mitesin my small office I have a Hunter 31125, which is a true-HEPA filter. air purifier ellenIt’s Taiwan-made from the American company Hunter, and I bought it for around 1248RMB at the Sundan electronics store at the Sanlitun Village mall basement. At home, we have two machines which are also HEPA filters; the bedroom has the Blueair 501 which we bought for around 6,000RMB, and the living room has an IQAir 250, which I believe was around 11,000RMB. Real World Tests: Blueair 501 vs IQAir 250 Last year I borrowed an air particle monitor from IQAir and did a lot of spot checks at home to check out which purifier at home — my IQAir or Blueair — worked best.

My den (living room) is about 40+ square meters, and my bedroom is ~20 square meters. Both of my machines’ filters were a couple months old. The original data is in the table below (note that “%” means “percent of that room air versus current outdoor air”). You can parse (spin?) the data many ways, but here are my conclusions: My Hunter Did Very Well My smaller air purifier, the Hunter 31125 in my small office, also did quite well. It routinely got 50-70% of pollution even with the constant door opening. At max speed with the door closed for a while, it got 91% of the pollution. I think this is a great option for small rooms, and at 1290RMB is far cheaper and smaller than the other brands. Real World Reviews: Survey Says… Readers should definitely read the most objective sources out there and try to avoid the many “review” sites which are essentially shills for selling particular brands. One reputable consumer group, which is free, is the Consumer Search group.

In their reviews of air purifiers, they list: This website has a ton of good info and links to the most reputable reviews, so readers should definitely use this website. The magazine Consumer Reports also has an excellent reputation for reviews; interested people would need to pay online to download their review of air purifiers, but a tiny one-month charge is nothing compared to the thousands you may spend on machines, and their advice is highly regarded. I would love to endorse a locally made brand such as one from China’s reputable brand Yadu, but I’m simply not aware of any good research, at least available in English. If anyone has such information, please share with readers in the comments section below. The Bottom Line: It’s All A Cost-Benefit Analysis So here you are with all this information, and you need to decide. The biggest factors are quality and cost. Buying imported seems to be a no-brainer, at least for now. In my real-world tests, I didn’t see much difference at all between Blueair and IQAir.

IQAir does have many good reviews out there but the price difference is a serious issue for many; it’s less of an issue if you plan to resell, since the resale value is high. I think the next level under these two brands are the highly regarded but less locally available models from AlenAir, Austin Air, and Honeywell. I’ve read on the Beijing blogs that some are happy with Alen Air, which has an easy website in English and ships for free from Hong Kong. (I think World Health Store just started to carry Alen Air?) Last but not least; do not buy ozone-creating purifiers that ionize the air. This was trendy a few years ago, but there is now excellent data that ozone itself is an indoor hazard. No reputable company or reviewing magazine recommends ozone-creating ionizer machines anymore. Air Pollution Info-junkies, Here’s Your Fix I created a full page listing my top pollution articles here.IQAir New Edition GC MultiGas Air Purifier IQAir New Edition HealthPro Plus Air Purifier

IQAir New Edition HealthPro Air Purifier IQAir New Edition HealthPro Compact One of the most respected names in the air purification industry, IQAir produces the world's most advanced air purifiers. Superior filtration technology is used in every model that is manufactured to provide complete removal of airborne contaminants from the air you breathe. Representing over 60 years of air cleaning excellence, IQAir New Edition Air Purifiers are recommended by healthcare professionals because they deliver trusted protection from particulates, microorganisms, chemicals, gases and odors. When pure air is not just a desire but an absolute necessity, IQAir is there to deliver trusted results! All purifiers are meticulously crafted in Switzerland and feature an intelligent filter life monitor, automatic timer, remote control, multiple fan speed settings, quiet design and easy filter replacement. Discover the satisfaction that IQAir’s exceptional performance delivers! Hospitals worldwide choose IQAir more than any other air purification brand to maintain the highest level of clean air.

In fact, during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, the local hospital authority chose IQAir purifiers to combat the deadly virus. IQAir is also a top choice among athletes, and the United States Olympic Committee chose this brand of air purifiers to protect their athletes while they lived in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games. And during wildfires, the American Red Cross utilizes IQAir Air Purifiers for evacuation shelters, emergency rooms and hospitals. IQAir is more than just a company for profit. They are committed to improving air quality in our homes, schools and workplaces. In that spirit, IQAir takes an active role in the community, where it often works alongside high-profile partners. For example, the American Lung Association selected IQAir as their exclusive partner from the air purifier industry. In addition, this highly reputable brand is directly involved with the efforts of the U.S. Green Building Council. Recently, IQAir introduced innovations that raise the air purification bar even higher.