In a continuing effort to provide the best products for our customers, we at achoo! Allergy are always looking for new products and technologies in the air purifier/air cleaner field. Recently we discovered a relatively new Swedish company that offers a very modern and sleek air cleaner. Sold primarily in Europe this unit is being launched into the North American market this fall.
This new product purports to offer a better take on a not-so-new technology, ionization. With the collapse of the Sharper Image and its popular Ionic Breeze, there have been few positives emerging when it comes to ionizing air purifiers. The production of ozone, a harmful lung irritant, and low efficiency have been two serious problems plaguing this technology. LightAir believes it has solved these problems with the LightAir IonFlow 50.
The IonFlow 50 comes in three styles, two of which are free standing and a third that can be suspended from overhead. All three are extremely light, quiet and compact. Their stylish appearance helps them blend into the décor of most rooms. Each unit, which consumes a fraction of the energy used to power a standard light bulb, is very energy efficient. As with all filter plate air purifiers, the LightAir does not contain filters, and maintaining them consists of regularly washing the collector plates.
What is most important is the production of ozone and how efficient the unit is. Tests performed in Sweden show that in an enclosed room, steady-state ozone concentration was below the detectable limit of the measuring instruments used (0.002 ppm). The test ran for several hours, and the absence of ozone remained constant. Initial particle reduction tests have also yielded good results. While this is certainly promising, the results of a comparative particle reduction test have yet to be released.
The LightAir IonFlow is a very sleek and modern looking air cleaner. While testing has shown it produces no ozone, the actual efficiency of the product compared to more traditional air purifiers has yet to be shown, and the fact remains, there are some particles, specifically some types of bacteria, which cannot be charged. Additionally, we have questions concerning the LightAir’s odor removing ability. The LightAir seems like a marked improvement over its predecessors, and initial results look good. The design makes this a new attractive product, but until we can compare its efficiency to industry leaders it is difficult to say whether this would be a fitting product for our customers.
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