Alternative to Germ Guardian Air Filter/Purifier
October 3, 2020 7:29 PM Subscribe
I have been using two of these air purifiers in my apartment all year. Lately very expensive filters ($20 each) have been lasting about a week before they get filthy and make my allergies worse. I need a replacement and would love your recommendations.
I live next to a popular street that gets heavy traffic, so I like having two purifiers around. One runs all night in my bedroom, and the other runs during the day in my office. I like that the Germ Guardian model has three power settings because I can use the strongest setting as white noise.
My price point is about $100 for an individual unit. I cannot afford to keep spending upwards of $60 a month to replace filters, so a model that doesn't require as many filter changes is mandatory. I can spend more for the individual unit if it helps reduce that maintenance cost considerably.
What are you using to great effect in your home?
I live next to a popular street that gets heavy traffic, so I like having two purifiers around. One runs all night in my bedroom, and the other runs during the day in my office. I like that the Germ Guardian model has three power settings because I can use the strongest setting as white noise.
My price point is about $100 for an individual unit. I cannot afford to keep spending upwards of $60 a month to replace filters, so a model that doesn't require as many filter changes is mandatory. I can spend more for the individual unit if it helps reduce that maintenance cost considerably.
What are you using to great effect in your home?
My friend sent me this Youtube. Box Fan Air Purifier
posted by Oyéah at 9:24 PM on October 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 9:24 PM on October 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you're willing to take a DIY route, these work really well, and since the filters are shop-vac HEPA filters, they're wildly available. The original builder is Australian, but everything on the build list is available in the US very easily. They cost less than $100 and an afternoon to build, and the filters cost about $10 each (for HEPA 13 filters). I've got no way to gauge if they'll last longer than the ones you have in your home, but I've found the filters last a while; they're pretty burly, since they are designed for shop-vacs.
One thing you can add, that is not in the original build, is a washable dust-catching pre-filter like this, that grabs some of the larger dust particles, allowing the filter to screen out even smaller particles. This can stretch out the life of the HEPA filter even further.
posted by furnace.heart at 10:07 PM on October 3, 2020
One thing you can add, that is not in the original build, is a washable dust-catching pre-filter like this, that grabs some of the larger dust particles, allowing the filter to screen out even smaller particles. This can stretch out the life of the HEPA filter even further.
posted by furnace.heart at 10:07 PM on October 3, 2020
I've got one of the big round Honeywell air purifiers, from a previous application involving dealing with cigarette smoke. There's a prefilter that you're supposed to change every few months, and a main filter which should last a few years. I don't use it nearly as much anymore, but I have never changed either filter. (There are lights that indicate when you should.)
At any rate the "removable prefilter before big main filter" setup may be better for you as it will prevent the big chunks from clogging up the expensive filter.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 9:09 AM on October 4, 2020
At any rate the "removable prefilter before big main filter" setup may be better for you as it will prevent the big chunks from clogging up the expensive filter.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 9:09 AM on October 4, 2020
I have a Germ Guardian filter and it doesn't go through the expensive HEPA filters nearly as frequently as you describe. I'm puzzled—are you using the carbon prefilters? Those ought to be replaced pretty frequently when they get loaded up with dust/dirt/whatever, but the main HEPA filters ought to last significantly longer. The prefilters are pretty cheap.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:42 PM on October 4, 2020
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:42 PM on October 4, 2020
I also have a Germ Guardian air purifier (AC4825E) that I run 24/7 on low and don't need to change the filter that often, maybe every 4 months or so? The black carbon filter that goes over it however I vacuum like once a week (well, if I feel like it/remember). Are you thinking of that?
posted by ataco at 3:16 PM on October 4, 2020
posted by ataco at 3:16 PM on October 4, 2020
Response by poster: No, I mean the main filter. It's going from white to black within 7 days of use. They used to last a few months! The black carbon prefilters are barely dirty at all. What could be going on? I have another round of main filters coming tomorrow so I can monitor what happens to them closely this week.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 11:29 PM on October 4, 2020
posted by Kitchen Witch at 11:29 PM on October 4, 2020
Response by poster: After another filter went gray within a week I decided to buy this purifier. I've been running it for an hour or so and it's made the air in my apartment smell really nice. Tonight I'll try it in my bedroom to see if I wake up congested/in sinus hell. Fingers crossed that this one lasts.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 3:02 PM on October 12, 2020
posted by Kitchen Witch at 3:02 PM on October 12, 2020
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posted by blob at 7:49 PM on October 3, 2020 [1 favorite]