Comment by daenz
3 years ago
Protip: you can turn a box fan into an incredibly effective air purifier[0] (particle measurements in thread). The one they show is pretty elaborate, using 4 filters and some construction, but you can also use a single filter and slap it on the back of the box fan and have similar results. The air purifier industry is more about aesthetics than it is function.
0. https://twitter.com/LazarusLong13/status/1425517352624410627
> The air purifier industry is more about aesthetics than it is function
Well, sure, to a point.
I could make my own air purifier (like the one you link) but it looks awful. I would not want that in my home. So yeah, aesthetics do matter. Its not the only thing but it is a factor.
> it looks awful. I would not want that in my home.
When west coast forest fires put dangerous levels of smoke into peoples homes, box fan air filters are an extremely valuable tool for lower income families. Consider yourself extremely fortunate if you are able to choose form over function on devices like this.
Um. Okay. I was just responding to your comment about:
"The air purifier industry is more about aesthetics than it is function"
I didn't mention anything about dangerous levels of smoke, forest fires, low income families...
I take your overall point but I think you need to keep the context of which it was said and not add a different one.
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Of course, but nobody is preventing that information to be shared. When I looked for air purifier last year, there was tons of articles I saw on how to build your own. This isn't hidden, there's tons of good resources out there.
I don't understand why you try to shame us for choosing to buy our own. Of course we are fortunate we can afford it. We aren't talking of a sports car here, it's few hundreds dollar, this is a perfectly fine trade off to decide to buy one.
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Your comment is hilarious. Buying an air purifier that looks good makes sense, making an air purifier during times of crisis also makes sense. They are not even remotely the same thing. Oh boy you're so lucky you can get a Dyson, we've got wild fires here in California! You see how ridiculous that sounds?
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I think the point is that aesthetics matter to you but not a lot of people care if they have a box fan + air filter stashed away in their bedroom for a cheap airfilter. Maybe if it was more prominent in the living or guest bedrooms?
Where to put air purifier is also important (but depends on situation). So design is a bit important to put on good place.
First, a nice looking case does not justify the extortion prices of most purifiers. Also many people have serious allergies and don't have 200 $/euro to spare.
Second, you know you can max a box yourself or hide a thin purifier under a desk or above a tall cabinet?
I almost want to replace my old Electrolux EAP300 with an IKEA one because it looks less like shit. The EAP300 is just this big floor beheamoth with no aesthetics. Lower filter costs wouldn't be bad either (if the IKEA filters last as long as the Electrolux ones, they're under half the cost). It's just so hard to justify as long as my old air filter still functions.
Compared to a dedicated air purifier, a box fan one is louder, has higher energy consumption, and is uglier (I suppose the last one is subjective).
If it's something you only use a couple days a year when your region is on fire, then absolutely go with the design with lower upfront costs. But if you're running it 24/7, it's worth thinking about the extra 40-80 watts that a box fan uses.
For me, I figure the electricity difference comes out to around $100/yr so getting a dedicated air purifier has paid for itself (although I live in an area with fairly expensive electricity). It also has some nice bonuses compared to a box fan like auto adjusting speeds and a prefilter that hopefully helps the "real" filter last longer.
I mean... I'm an IT professional. I have no time, energy, desire or ability to build. my own fan, maintain it, and trust that it does a good job. That's the reason I bought an air purifier.
The restaurant industry is also there for people that don't want the time to learn to cook certain dishes themselves. And (many) restaurants are still thriving.
As an IT professional I find myself with the time, energy, desire, and ability to do many projects like this myself.
Are you sure you are a real IT professional?
Is it really inconceivable that someone might want to pay a modest sum of money to avoid having to build and maintain a custom-made version that is uglier?
We should appreciate the diversity of the 7,903,275,000 people in the world. Everyone single one of us has different opinions, ideas, abilities and interests.
Surely this comment is satire
I now run a MERV 16 furnace filter (yes, my aprilair system explicitly supports it, no I will not hurt my furnace) for central air filtration alongside two box-fan filters (the easy slap on the back kind - I think I'm using something equivalent to MERV 13 on the back, can't go higher for the size) around the house and a quiet regular air-filter in our room.
All of my wives problems related to allergies or breathing have gone completely away. Guests comment at how good/clean our house smells. Stuff takes longer to mold when its left out. 10/10 would recommend.
The problem is that on low, it’s too loud and pushes/filters too much air to be needed 24x7. It’s also bulky. I rather use a smaller profile one that can be left on all the time (even if it costs more)
I have the box fan and only use it when AQI is high (wildfire season)
Is that a "pro" tip ?
Otherwise Vacuum Wars channel had an entertaining test on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QT8SQjp-y0
The channel is great in general for everything vacuum. As far as review goes they put a serious effort in them. The brief foray into air cleaners was a great parenthesis.
Thank you. This is amazing. Precisely what I've been searching for. Something cheap, affordable, and most of all, moves a large quantity of air within a short amount of time. Loudness doesn't bother me one bit since I almost always have white noise playing in the background.
Is that what you use? What is your personal experience with it?
I think this is good if you are in a wild fire scenario and air purifiers are sold out, or for your home work shop.
Otherwise I suspect it is very energy inefficient and noisy.
I haven't used that specific construction, but I have used this one[0] when I moved to a location without realizing the extent of the wildfire smoke. It worked well, but yes it is noisy on the highest setting. I continue to use it because it's inexpensive and the parts are readily available.
0. https://deohs.washington.edu/edge/blog/how-make-box-fan-filt...
Like generic drugs theres no money in practically free, recycled or dual use.