Good air filter machine for Grandma (COPD and future wildfire smoke)
May 29, 2019 9:45 PM   Subscribe

I want to purchase a good air filter machine for my Grandma. She has COPD (hard to breathe in best cases) and lives in Seattle (pesky wildfire smoke in August seems to be the new normal.) What is good, not tricky to operate, with parts/filter that needs minimal cleaning/replacement? Bonus if light enough to be carried to bedroom at night, or reasonable cost so I can buy two.

She lives in a one bedroom apartment. She doesn't have pets. She has plants. My dad has the place vacuumed/cleaners come once a month.
If really expensive machine I can look to other family members to help with cost.
Thanks much
posted by PistachioRoux to Health & Fitness (7 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I don't have a particular brand or model to suggest but this University of Michigan Medicine youtube video shows how to make a simple Hepa filter for about $25. The video demonstrates it's 90% as effective as a fancy $800 dollar Hepa Filter. It's not as good as an expensive one but this may help if you're looking for something budget friendly.
posted by mundo at 10:07 PM on May 29, 2019 [4 favorites]


Best answer: I recently bought the Wirecutter's recommendation in preparation for California wildfire season and have been happy with it. It wasn't hard to set up or learn how to use, it's not too heavy, and it's super quiet. I especially love the "eco mode" where it saves energy by turning off by itself until it senses the air needs to be cleaned. Of course, the real test will be when the fires start but I like it so far.
posted by madonna of the unloved at 1:13 AM on May 30, 2019 [3 favorites]


If you decide on the Wirecutter recommendation above (the Coway AP-1512HH), think about getting the next step up if you can afford it (the Coway Airmega 400). It circulates air noticeably faster, and has a capacity high enough that it probably wouldn't need to be taken back and forth from room to room if the bedroom door stays open.
posted by FakeFreyja at 6:38 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]


If they have central air buy them a years supply of better AC/Furnace filters too.
posted by gregr at 7:11 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]


We have the Coway AP-1512HH recommended above, for our asthmatic child (we also live in the Seattle area) and love it. We originally got the Airmega 400, but it was too much for our small house (1200 sq ft). The AP-1512HH is enough and we place it in his room for the summer.
posted by alathia at 1:05 PM on May 30, 2019


Response by poster: Thanks all,
Much appreciated.
posted by PistachioRoux at 5:32 PM on May 30, 2019


Best answer: I tried the box fan method during the California wildfire smoke last year, and it was ok for short-term filtering, but I'm really glad I bought the Wirecutter recommendation (Coway AP-1512HH). I leave it on in "eco" mode all the time, and it's much quieter and more efficient than the box fan method. Every few months, I take out the "pre-filter" and vacuum the dust/hair off of it, and I expect to need to replace the filters about once a year or so. Very easy.

I'm still keeping my box fan and my extra filter for it in a closet, so that during the next wildfire smoke season I can run both of them. I also did some work on weather-sealing gaps around my windows and doors to help prevent future smoky air from getting in.
posted by dreamyshade at 9:10 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]


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