This product does not meet California air cleaner regulations
September 20, 2024 5:09 PM Subscribe
I want an air cleaner. Amazon won't let me buy it. California Air Resources Board (CARB) says it's OK.
In my never ending quest for the perfect air cleaner, I came across this model:
PHILIPS Air Purifier 1000: Amazon Link
I love it because it's (reportedly) one of the most quiet models and I need it near my bed and I'm a light sleeper.
I can't find it anywhere to buy, except Amazon. But when I try to purchase on Amazon, it says "This product does not meet California air cleaner regulation requirements, and cannot be shipped to California" [I do live in California]
I did some research, and apparently some air cleaners use Ozone which CARB (California Air Resources Board) frowns upon. This makes sense.
So I emailed CARB - in spite of being a big governmental agency, they replied within 24 hours and were very helpful, saying "No, that model is totally fine to buy in California, Amazon is wrong"
I contacted Amazon.
I contacted Philips (the manufacturer).
This was about a year ago.
Still can't buy it.
My question: Should I:
- fight CARB, Amazon, and Philips
- try to fall in love with a different air cleaner (not likely! but maybe possible)
- resign myself to dirty home air.
In my never ending quest for the perfect air cleaner, I came across this model:
PHILIPS Air Purifier 1000: Amazon Link
I love it because it's (reportedly) one of the most quiet models and I need it near my bed and I'm a light sleeper.
I can't find it anywhere to buy, except Amazon. But when I try to purchase on Amazon, it says "This product does not meet California air cleaner regulation requirements, and cannot be shipped to California" [I do live in California]
I did some research, and apparently some air cleaners use Ozone which CARB (California Air Resources Board) frowns upon. This makes sense.
So I emailed CARB - in spite of being a big governmental agency, they replied within 24 hours and were very helpful, saying "No, that model is totally fine to buy in California, Amazon is wrong"
I contacted Amazon.
I contacted Philips (the manufacturer).
This was about a year ago.
Still can't buy it.
My question: Should I:
- fight CARB, Amazon, and Philips
- try to fall in love with a different air cleaner (not likely! but maybe possible)
- resign myself to dirty home air.
Response by poster: Not to threadsit but I notice that there are at least two different "1000" models as well as a "1000i" model. I was pretty sure I wanted the "1000" model which is listed on Amazon, but on Ebay the "1000" model looks different and the "1000i" model offered (from Deutschland) looks correct?
The amazon "1000" model is black and circular (which is what I want), the Ebay "1000" model is white and oblong (don't want) but the Ebay "1000i" model is black and circular (desired.)
Maybe the whole problem is "1000" vs. "1000i"?
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:20 PM on September 20
The amazon "1000" model is black and circular (which is what I want), the Ebay "1000" model is white and oblong (don't want) but the Ebay "1000i" model is black and circular (desired.)
Maybe the whole problem is "1000" vs. "1000i"?
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:20 PM on September 20
I'm not personally sure, but I will say I have suffered with Philips model numbers for YEARS on other products, so it's definitely a possibility.
...maybe double/triple-check with Philips first? I nearly got the wrong air fryer due to this type of thing.
posted by aramaic at 5:32 PM on September 20
...maybe double/triple-check with Philips first? I nearly got the wrong air fryer due to this type of thing.
posted by aramaic at 5:32 PM on September 20
Do you have friends or family in other states? Maybe you could order it and have it sent to someone you can trust to ship it on to you? A bit extra shipping cost but then you can have the thing you want. ❤️
posted by hilaryjade at 6:35 PM on September 20 [3 favorites]
posted by hilaryjade at 6:35 PM on September 20 [3 favorites]
How far are you from a neighboring state? Have amazon ship it to a pick up location and drive over the stateline and pick it up.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 8:47 PM on September 20
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 8:47 PM on September 20
Best answer: The model you are in love with is an AC1715, which CARB has indeed certified. Amazon is in error. Philips's page for this model says it can only be purchased through retailers, and the only listed retailer is Amazon. Retailers in other countries are selling AC1715 variants with locally appropriate plugs, but it does appear Amazon is the exclusive retailer for the Philips AC1715 in the US. I would expect a dropship attempt to fail as a random eBayer with an Amazon gift card would not be able to set the shipping location to your California address.
I am also located in California, so I can't freight-forward this model to you. And I don't know how to convince Amazon of their own error. But I may be able to advise you regarding other models.
I have been running an air cleaner in my own bedroom every night for years, initially due to wildfire smoke. This happened to resolve lifelong respiratory issues, so I've continued. But I moved my original unit to the living room because if left on auto, the fan would suddenly speed up and disturb my sleep, while if forced into quiet mode, it would both be unable to respond to smoke infiltration and be unable to wash out random noises outside. The AC1715's claimed 15dB in sleep mode is not necessarily an advantage and further implies a very low fan speed/Clean Air Delivery Rating. If you are getting enough air changes in and out of the bedroom to keep the CO2 down, the CADR for an air cleaner should be roughly 1/15 the volume of the room (or 1/2 the square footage). Otherwise you'll inhale most of the particle matter you're bringing in, which would warrant HEPA filtration upstream scaled for the exterior air exchange. If you already have that, a bedroom air cleaner won't make much difference unless the fan speed is high enough to double as a white noise machine.
As a Californian concerned enough about noise to own a $300 sound level meter and concerned enough about interior air quality to own a CO2 monitor, two PM2.5/PM10 monitors, and two air cleaners, I would not go hours out of my way to pick up the AC1715. Feel free to MeMail specifics about your situation if you would like personalized recommendations for alternatives.
posted by backwoods at 10:19 PM on September 20 [6 favorites]
I am also located in California, so I can't freight-forward this model to you. And I don't know how to convince Amazon of their own error. But I may be able to advise you regarding other models.
I have been running an air cleaner in my own bedroom every night for years, initially due to wildfire smoke. This happened to resolve lifelong respiratory issues, so I've continued. But I moved my original unit to the living room because if left on auto, the fan would suddenly speed up and disturb my sleep, while if forced into quiet mode, it would both be unable to respond to smoke infiltration and be unable to wash out random noises outside. The AC1715's claimed 15dB in sleep mode is not necessarily an advantage and further implies a very low fan speed/Clean Air Delivery Rating. If you are getting enough air changes in and out of the bedroom to keep the CO2 down, the CADR for an air cleaner should be roughly 1/15 the volume of the room (or 1/2 the square footage). Otherwise you'll inhale most of the particle matter you're bringing in, which would warrant HEPA filtration upstream scaled for the exterior air exchange. If you already have that, a bedroom air cleaner won't make much difference unless the fan speed is high enough to double as a white noise machine.
As a Californian concerned enough about noise to own a $300 sound level meter and concerned enough about interior air quality to own a CO2 monitor, two PM2.5/PM10 monitors, and two air cleaners, I would not go hours out of my way to pick up the AC1715. Feel free to MeMail specifics about your situation if you would like personalized recommendations for alternatives.
posted by backwoods at 10:19 PM on September 20 [6 favorites]
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posted by aramaic at 5:12 PM on September 20 [5 favorites]