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I didn't even know these existed until reading your comment. Finally, a new topic to obsessively research :) The last one was indoor air quality and air filters

I didn't even know these existed until reading your comment. Finally, a new topic to obsessively research :) The last one was indoor air quality and air filters. It sounds kinda lame but it's a really fascinating topic (with a very scammy industry attached to it). Do you use a reverse osmosis system? Any recommendations?

dec0dedab0de 9y ago
Did you settle on an air filter? The obviously scammy industry always turned me off every time I looked in to them.
- Terretta 9y ago
  The big Honeywell cylinders w/ charcoal filters. https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-50250-S-True-HEPA-Purifier/dp/B00007E7RY https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-50250-S-True-HEPA-Purifier/... At one point a couple of these handled 6 cats and 5 ferrets. The scammmy stuff made no dent. Commercial use hotel + mold ozonaters worked, but unsafe.
- gommm 9y ago
  Not OP but I've also researched this topic and settled on an iqair filter back when I lived in China. I did borrow a particle monitor and the drop in the number of particle was flagrant when turning it on. Subjectively it also did a lot to improve the air in the house... I'm not sure that something like an iqair is needed in a place that isn't as polluted as China (we sold our air filter when we moved out)
- spangry 9y ago
  I did. Ended up going with a 'Rabbit Air Minus A2', which I think mostly uses components from a popular Korean brand (can't remember the name). Good customer service too; they've been pretty accommodating given I'm in Australia. With air filters, although there's a lot of 'magic beans' out there, it really just comes down to having good quality physical filters (usually multiple ones in sequence, like particle, hepa and carbon) and a decent 'clean air delivery rate' (CADR) given the size of the room. Heck, you can make a reasonable homemade air filter (that has measurable effects on air quality) by strapping a large HEPA filter to a box fan (although be aware that this could have safety issues re: fire hazard). Steer clear of anything that puts O2 into the air that's anywhere near EPA approved 'safe' levels (which are probably still too high). Some folks use O2 generators for mould remediation when the house is unoccupied and subsequently ventilated (known as 'ozone shock treatment'). However, I think even this is a potentially dangerous practice as O2 will react with other things in the room as well (e.g. furniture varnish), potentially releasing volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the air. When I get back from work I'll try and dig up a really good review site I stumbled across. It's one of those gems where the author is clearly just really really into air quality, and who has a very good nose for BS 'science'. EDIT: Oh, also, another good option to deal with some VOCs (like benzene) are certain kinds of houseplants. NASA studied this so there's a fairly credible list of plants to choose from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Clean_Air_Study https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Clean_Air_Study EDIT2: Also, assuming you don't live near a major highway or something, one of the best things you can do to improve your indoor air quality is open a few windows and blinds. EPA studies suggest indoor air quality is usually far worse than outdoor air quality. And opening blinds lets more sunlight in, which will retard mould growth. And it's all free. Free!
weaksauce 9y ago
> Do you use a reverse osmosis system? Any recommendations? I got a watts premiere from costco years ago and it works ok. incoming water is around 500ppm TDS(total dissolved solids) in an area that has very clean tap water and comes out about 20ppm(bottled RO can get to around 0-2ppm with the industrial filters) with my water pressure. you need to change the filters once a year or so and I get them on amazon for like 20 bucks or so and a cup or so of hydrogen peroxide to sanitize it. you need to change the membrane every 3-5 years or so depending on water quality and that's about 40 bucks on amazon right now. Whichever way you go, you will want a multi stage ro system with a sediment, carbon (I can't recall which of the sediment or the carbon is doubled up but one is) and polishing carbon filter post membrane. I used to work on ultra high purity water systems for pharma so I probably care more about water quality than most consumers. If you have more questions ask away.
- spangry 9y ago
  Cheers. Do you know if these kinds of filters will remove fluoride from water? I ask more from the 'dental health is good' perspective rather than the 'mass mind control' one :)
  - weaksauce 9y ago
    I do believe RO takes out fluoride and pretty much everything. Bottled water doesn't have fluoride either to my knowledge.

dec0dedab0de 9y ago

Did you settle on an air filter? The obviously scammy industry always turned me off every time I looked in to them.

Terretta 9y ago
The big Honeywell cylinders w/ charcoal filters. https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-50250-S-True-HEPA-Purifier/dp/B00007E7RY https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-50250-S-True-HEPA-Purifier/... At one point a couple of these handled 6 cats and 5 ferrets. The scammmy stuff made no dent. Commercial use hotel + mold ozonaters worked, but unsafe.
gommm 9y ago
Not OP but I've also researched this topic and settled on an iqair filter back when I lived in China. I did borrow a particle monitor and the drop in the number of particle was flagrant when turning it on. Subjectively it also did a lot to improve the air in the house... I'm not sure that something like an iqair is needed in a place that isn't as polluted as China (we sold our air filter when we moved out)
spangry 9y ago
I did. Ended up going with a 'Rabbit Air Minus A2', which I think mostly uses components from a popular Korean brand (can't remember the name). Good customer service too; they've been pretty accommodating given I'm in Australia. With air filters, although there's a lot of 'magic beans' out there, it really just comes down to having good quality physical filters (usually multiple ones in sequence, like particle, hepa and carbon) and a decent 'clean air delivery rate' (CADR) given the size of the room. Heck, you can make a reasonable homemade air filter (that has measurable effects on air quality) by strapping a large HEPA filter to a box fan (although be aware that this could have safety issues re: fire hazard). Steer clear of anything that puts O2 into the air that's anywhere near EPA approved 'safe' levels (which are probably still too high). Some folks use O2 generators for mould remediation when the house is unoccupied and subsequently ventilated (known as 'ozone shock treatment'). However, I think even this is a potentially dangerous practice as O2 will react with other things in the room as well (e.g. furniture varnish), potentially releasing volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the air. When I get back from work I'll try and dig up a really good review site I stumbled across. It's one of those gems where the author is clearly just really really into air quality, and who has a very good nose for BS 'science'. EDIT: Oh, also, another good option to deal with some VOCs (like benzene) are certain kinds of houseplants. NASA studied this so there's a fairly credible list of plants to choose from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Clean_Air_Study https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Clean_Air_Study EDIT2: Also, assuming you don't live near a major highway or something, one of the best things you can do to improve your indoor air quality is open a few windows and blinds. EPA studies suggest indoor air quality is usually far worse than outdoor air quality. And opening blinds lets more sunlight in, which will retard mould growth. And it's all free. Free!

weaksauce 9y ago

> Do you use a reverse osmosis system? Any recommendations? I got a watts premiere from costco years ago and it works ok. incoming water is around 500ppm TDS(total dissolved solids) in an area that has very clean tap water and comes out about 20ppm(bottled RO can get to around 0-2ppm with the industrial filters) with my water pressure. you need to change the filters once a year or so and I get them on amazon for like 20 bucks or so and a cup or so of hydrogen peroxide to sanitize it. you need to change the membrane every 3-5 years or so depending on water quality and that's about 40 bucks on amazon right now. Whichever way you go, you will want a multi stage ro system with a sediment, carbon (I can't recall which of the sediment or the carbon is doubled up but one is) and polishing carbon filter post membrane. I used to work on ultra high purity water systems for pharma so I probably care more about water quality than most consumers. If you have more questions ask away.

spangry 9y ago
Cheers. Do you know if these kinds of filters will remove fluoride from water? I ask more from the 'dental health is good' perspective rather than the 'mass mind control' one :)
- weaksauce 9y ago
  I do believe RO takes out fluoride and pretty much everything. Bottled water doesn't have fluoride either to my knowledge.