IQAir Multi Gas Air Purifier
For most people who suffer from MCS, the IQAir MultiGas GC air purifier is one of the best first steps you can take to reduce indoor irritants
and to help create a comfortable, reaction-free space in your home. With specialized filtration and an easy-to-use interface, the MultiGas is
the most versatile and well rounded of all of the GC air purifiers. With a test model in tow, here is what I found.
What I like about the IQAir Multigas GC
The IQAir MultiGas arrives in two separate boxes. In the main box you'll find the unit, remote, and power cord while in the secondary box you'll
find the gas phase filter cartridges and post-filter sleeves. Assembly is pretty straightforward, with the only somewhat difficult part being when you put the
post-filter sleeves over the filter canisters. They are very snug.
Once assembled I recommend running the unit for 24 hours in an open area. The reason is
the specialized media in the filter cartridges can sometimes have a slight odor to it, and by running them for about a day in a more open area,
you can avoid this. As far as operation, I recommend the bedroom. For MCS sufferers, the bedroom can often be the only refuge there is from the constant
barrage of irritants and pollutants. Whether it is allergy, asthma or MCS sufferers, the bedroom is the best, first place to start when it comes to
creating irritant and allergen free areas in the home.
Controls are fairly easy to use, but for some of the more advanced features (like resetting the Filter Life Monitor, locking the control panel or setting
the timer to run on certain days of the week) are best done after you've read the instruction manual. For the most part, operation, whether on the panel or remote, is very simple.
When it comes to filtration, this is where the IQAir Multi Gas really shines. The first filter is a combination HEPA/Pre-filter. Unlike most filters you
find other air purifiers, this filter is very thick. With over 30 sq. ft. of filter media, this first stage of filtration is ideally suited for not only trapping large and
medium sized particles on like pet hair, dust and pollen, but even ultra fine particles like dander, bacteria and viruses are filtered out and
trapped. Common allergens like ragweed, dust mites, and mold spores all are effectively removed from the air in your home.
Where the MultiGas GC air purifier separates itself from other room air cleaners is the filtration canister system. Four separate canisters are packed with
a total of 13 lbs. of activated carbon and impregnated alumina to trap and oxidize the widest range of chemicals, vapors, and VOC's of nearly any air purifier
available today. A base of bituminous coal for the activated carbon (as opposed to coconut shell, anthracite coal, or other substrates) is not only extremely
porous but captures more pollutants due to the shape and design of the cartridges.
Activated carbon alone is typically not enough for those who suffer from severe allergies or MCS, and while activated carbon is a great filtration base to start with,
the number of chemicals it will trap needs to broaden out to be most effective. To expand the filtration,
IQAir uses impregnated alumina. This chemisorption pellets (impregnated alumina) contain targeted compounds - potassium permanganate and aluminum oxide. These
two agents, when mixed with activated carbon, physically break down and oxidize specific compounds like the thousands of chemicals found in tobacco smoke
as well as substances like formaldehyde, acetone, acetates, and a host of volatile organic
compounds (VOC's) and toxic chemicals. This makes the particular filter media found in the IQAir MultiGas air purifiers an ideal blend for MCS sufferers and those
sensitive to both particle and chemical pollutants in the air.
The last phase of filtration are the electrostatically charged sleeve that traps any filter media or particles that may remain. All three layers of filtration
produce cleaner, purer air, free of harmful substances and without producing ozone, UV radiation or other harmful byproducts (produced by some other types of air purifiers).
In my home, I have two dogs inside the house. Because the house was built in the South during the tail-end of 1960's, there is no HVAC system. Cooking in the home,
just having the pets and everyday living can all pollute the indoor air, particularly when air circulation in my home is virtually non-existent. The MultiGas GC
not only removed any pet odors but also eliminated cooking odors shortly after dinner. With a particle counter I recorded a particle count of over 2 million before
using the MultiGas, but by the next day, the count had reached zero in my bedroom. Whether it is smoke, pet or cooking odors or things like dander, pollen, dust or
chemical vapors, the IQAir MultiGas outperforms comparable air purifiers.
Additional benefits include the filter life monitors. Instead of simple timers, the IQ Air Health Pro Plus calculates your actual usage based on how long
you have run the machine and what speed. The IQAir's design is modular and stackable, so by snapping the two arms to the sides you quickly and easily disassemble
the unit or replace the filters without any tools. The handle and casters give it extra mobility, and HealthPro Plus can be fully programmed to run when
you need it to. Lastly, six speeds give you more control in striking the balance you want between noise level and air filtration.
In addition to the filtration, the IQ Air MultiGas air purifiers offer all of the great features that IQAir has become known for, and this includes,
- Durable and quality construction
- Sealed system
- Each unit is individually tested and certified
- Casters and a convenient carrying handle
- Five Year Warranty
With partnerships with the American Lung Association and Home Makeover, IQAir has nearly 50 years of producing quality air filtration devices and
a variety of accolades and awards to stand behind their products.
What I do not like about the IQAir MultiGas GC
The initial odor of the gas phase canisters can sometimes be a problem. Having used and tested several of these models over the years, I find that this
is not often the case. On occasion there can be an odor issue with one of the filters, but in these rare instances, this is generally resolved by allowing the
unit to run for a day until it is gone. When this does not solve the problem, we have found that IQAir is very good about replacing filters when the problem
occurs once you begin use.
The IQAir MultiGas is not cheap. That can be a hurdle for a lot of folks. However, this like many of the products we offer are quality products that are built to last a long time.
The instances of customers having a unit that fails is virtually non-existent. In all the years of offering these HEPA air purifiers, we have not come across a single instance
of an IQAir just dying on someone. They are reliable, efficient products, and with that comes a little more expense than middle-of-the-road air purifiers
or low quality units.
Overall, the IQAir MultiGas GC is one of the best, broad range air purifiers available today. They strike the right balance between chemical/VOC/smoke/odor
and particle filtration. It's this balance that makes the MultiGas HEPA air purifiers so well suited for MCS sufferers who are sensitive to a wide variety of pollutants
in the air. So if you are shopping air purifiers for efficiency, effectiveness, quality, and durability, the IQAir MultiGas is well worth serious consideration.
The MultiGas GC has now gotten better - as a New Edition IQAir purifier model, the GC MultiGas now features upgraded filters and an improved fan. These two changes
mean you change the filters less frequently (saving you money) while enjoying more clean air, less noise and greater air cleaning coverage.
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preferred
solution to bringing MCS relief to your home. The IQAir MultiGas removes the traditional allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust, and mold
spores but also traps and destroy fragrances, tobacco smoke, VOC's (from furniture, carpet, paint, etc.), and chemical vapors from cleaners, varnishes, and
even automobile exhaust. With the broadest filtration spectrum in the GC line, the IQ Air MultiGas is the ideal air purifier for tobacco smoke removal, MCS
sufferers, or anyone who is sensitive to a wide variety of air pollutants.
