Ionic Pro 90IP01RF01 Turbo Ionic Room Air Purifier Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my second try at using an ionic air cleansing system. The Ionic Pro is modestly priced and the technology has come a long way since the first high cost electronic air cleaners. When compared to more traditional electric motor and multi filter HEPA units, the Ionic Pro uses less electriciy and runs quietly.
Ionic blade technology has long been used by NASA and in commercial aircraft. It began finding its way into homes initally as add-on units to newly installed furnaces. The current stand-alone towers evolved as separate appliances.
Like the other "Ionic" air cleaning systems, this unit still emits ozone. Though billed in the owner's guide as a "clean scent," the ozone aroma can be overpowering to some people. If you have ever been in a room where power tools have been in use, an electric train set has been running, or a new computer monitor was turned on for the first time you have encountered ozone. In all fairness, the Ionic Pro has come a long way from its predecessors in terms of filtering, basically breaking up 03 ozone into 02 oxygen, the electric arc scent. When I bought my first ionic air cleansers several years ago I ended up returning them because of the annoying ozone scent -- even though I was the only person in my household who seemed to notice the ozone smell. There are ionic air cleaners that have just about licked this problem with the addition of three filters. Unfortunately these brands are commensurately more expensive. The Ionic Pro is equipped with a solitary filter. Thus far during my use of the product the scent is bearable. However, for those who are intolerant of even a hint of ozone I recommend you opt for a more expensive multi-filter brand.
As other reviewers have noted, the Ionic Pro is hardly maintenance free. This is the price you pay for not having to buy expensive HEPA replacement filters and using less electricity. The collection blades must be cleaned at least every week. The downside to this is that the manufacturer recommends that the blades be allowed to dry 24 hours before reinstalling them in the unit. The booklet recommends that you order an additional set of blades. Although I am not yet at the point of ordering a second set of blades I did notice that they are now hard to find for this particular unit.
The other challenge with this unit is that it is not designed to handle larger airborne debris such as pet hair. Unlike a true HEPA filter that simply screens out the hair, any hair entering the Ionic Pro will cause it snap and crackle until you vacuum it out. In reading other reviews on the Ionic Pro I want to point out that most of the debris causing the crackling will not be found on the collection blades. There is a thin wire filament toward the rear of the unit. It has its own cleaning swipe that can be accessed at the top of the tower, but that will usually not stop the crackle. I use a long thin bristle brush, the type you use to clean the coils under a refrigerator, and brush off the outside and inside of the rear air inlets behind the wire. This does the trick.
Prior to buying the Ionic Pro I had two Honeywell circular HEPA air cleaners. With a child in the family with allergies it is a fact of life that you change your furnace filters regularly and own one or more air cleaning systems. Mind you, I have no immediate plans to dispose of the hard working Honeywell units. Even my son's allergist recommended that we stick to using true HEPA air cleaning systems versus ionizing tower units. Still I noticed an ever increasing number of offices, including medical office waiting rooms, using ionic air cleaners. More challenging was the fact that my HEPA unit uses expensive filters that can no longer be found on store shelves. Although you can buy the charcoal pre-filter (designed to fit any number of air cleaning systems) in stores like WalMart, the large cylandrical filters are only available through mail order -- and they are not cheap. As an added note, the original filters for my unit are no longer available. I recently ordered two 2-pack "permanent" replacement filters complete with spacers and two additional charcoal pre-filters. The replacement cost, admittedly to change the filters in two Honeywell units, came to $179.00.
Another selling point for the Ionic Pro is that it is much quieter than the Honeywell. My teenagers keep shutting off the old reliable HEPA units while watching television because it is too noisy. As there is no benefit to an air cleaner unless it is running I decided to add the Ionic Pro as a second line of allergin defense.
There are a lot of varied opinions on the usefulness of Ionic Pro. The product works well, but you should not view it as a solitary cure filtering the air in your home.
Postscript: In April 2011 our Ionic Pro Turbo finally gave up the ghost. The thin wire filament, in the rear of the unit, parted sometime during the night. It does not appear repairable. The unit will no longer turn on. Time to search for a new model.

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Improve indoor air quality while removing unpleasant odors and allergens with this turbo-powered air purifier from Ionic Pro. The air purifier captures room impurities as small as 1 micron in size, varying from dust, dust mite debris, pet dander, pollen, and tobacco smoke. The quiet purifier quietly circulates air in, collects undesirable particles, and then releases clean air back into the environment.
Small enough for desktop placement, the air purifier suits large rooms or offices up to 500 square feet in area. The appliance emits a positive charge into the room's environment to positively charge particles in the air. As air circulates back into the air purifier, the charged particles naturally gravitate and cling to the purifier's negatively charged metal collection blades. The front-loaded collection blades allow for easy removal and cleaning. The air purifier features a grounded plug for use in grounded-style outlets. With one-push button settings, the purifier offers multiple speed options. An LED display indicates the selected power level. As with any electric appliance, read the manual and all enclosed instructions prior to use. Ionic Pro offers a limited warranty for this item. Manufactured in China, the air purifier measures 30 by 10 by 11-1/2 inches and weighs 13 pounds upon shipping.

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Calphalon HE600CG Removable-Plate Nonstick Countertop Grill Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had many indoor grills, this one outshines all of them! It is a large grill, with space enough for four burgers, sandwiches, chicken thighs or breasts, etc. It heats up fast with minimal, if any smoke. I love the timer option and control of the temperature. It is super easy to clean and the removable plates fit nicely in the dishwasher. The drip tray is huge and located where it should be, in the back, so when you open up your grill while cooking, the grease goes in it and not on your counter or under the grill. This is a bonus safety measure which I describe in detail later on in this review.
The cooking quality is excellent. One of the reviewers complained about how poorly his chicken and steak turned out. I do not understand that, he must have cooked at the wrong temperatures (too hot), because we've had perfect results every time. It doesn't taste like steamed anything, but like grilled food. And yes, it makes a mean panini sandwich!
This grill is well made with quality parts. The only part that is questionable is the adjustable height knob, which is plastic, and I could see this breaking down the road, since we use this grill daily. I called customer service about it, and they said should it break, they would send out a new part, no problem. Good to know.
This grill looks so good on the counter, that I leave it there. It does not look tacky like the other models out there, where I found myself wanting to hide them right after use.
There was a huge fire hazard defect on a no-name cusinart model that I bought from Walmart for $50, which occurred well after the warranty ended. That grill ended up in the trash can. What happened with it is the grease leaked underneath whenever I opened it while cooking, melting the plastic that housed the wires, leaving the wires exposed. Thankfully I caught this before anything bad happened. So, when I looked for my next grill, I specifically looked for one that addressed this issue (the grease leaking underneath whenever you open the grill while cooking). The Calphalon addresses this issue with the drip tray in the back. Other grill makers need to follow suit!
The price tag seemed high to me, but it does come with a much better warranty than other models, it is made from higher quality parts, and it looks like something one would see in a professional kitchen. My husband is a chef, and is extremely happy with this grill as well. I'm not one known to buy high-end appliances, but in this case I did and can honestly say that I have no regrets. I highly recommend this grill!JULY 18th 2010: UPDATE
I just wanted to update and let everyone know that after daily use for well over a year, I can happily report my Calphalon indoor grill is still going strong!
Cleanup is still a breeze and the coating is still perfect. After you cook on it and the plates have cooled down, place the plates in the sink and spray a little water on them, let them soak for a few minutes. Then rinse. I have never had anything clean as easily as these plates!
I read that some people have problems with the front panel coming off or knobs breaking. I haven't had that happen. I'm wondering if there was a bad batch of these, and somehow I lucked out. I bought my grill from Amazon, if that helps. Everything still works like a charm and we put this grill through its paces!
Someone mentioned the top plate coming off while they were cooking. They must not have put it on correctly. If it doesn't snap in, it isn't on there right. Be careful with that.
My grill heats up in about 5 minutes. No problems there. I love the timer. 350 degrees seems to be a magic temperature for me. I cook almost everything at that setting. This is a wonderful grill. I'm very happy we splurged last year and bought it.

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Cook for a few or for a crowd with the extra-large capacity of this countertop grill. The unit features heavy-gauge cast-aluminum nonstick grill plates that can fit up to six burgers, six 4-ounce chicken breasts, or four Panini-style sandwiches at a time. And, since it cooks both sides simultaneously, food grills quickly and efficiently. To use, simply turn the control knob to select the desired heat setting from 200 degrees F for warming up to 450 degrees F for searing. After about five minutes of preheating, a "ready" light will illuminate. Place food on the lower grill plate, close the lid, and select "always on" for continuous grilling or set the 30-minute timer for a designated cooking time--a bell will sound at the end and the grill will stop heating. Other highlights include an Opti-Heat system for premium heating, adjustable height to accommodate everything from thick steaks to grilled-cheese sandwiches, an internal drip tray to catch excess fat, and easy-to-read controls. To protect the nonstick coating on the grill plates, use only non-metal, temperature-resistant utensils, such as wood or nylon. The removable drip tray and grill plates can go in the dishwasher or be washed by hand and the base wipes clean easily with a soft, damp cloth. For compact storing, simply empty and clean the drip tray, close the grill, move the height selector into the lock position, and tuck the grill away either laying flat or standing upright. Housed in stainless steel with a sleek contoured shape, the 1500-watt grill measures 12-8/9 by 15-2/3 by 6-3/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Honeywell HFD-130 Germicidal Tower Air Purifier with Permanent IFD Filter Review

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(More customer reviews)I owned this unit for about 3 months before returning it.
Despite it is called a HEPA air purifier, it is not. HEPA is strictly defined as a filter which has a >99.97% capture rate of 0.3 micrometer particle. This model has an advertised capture rate of 98 or 99%. Although I have also seen a few websites quoting it has a 99.97% capture rate, I doubt it. That being said, a 99% capture rate is not much different than 99.97% for most households. The poor air seal is a much bigger concern. The holder for the IFD filter does not seal tightly to the IFD filter, and therefore air will pass around the filter. This purifier actually belong to the ionizing purifier family, not the tradition HEPA filter purifier family.
Mind you, it works fine and it is fairly easy to use and clean. It is also relatively quiet. My reason for returning it is that it produces ozone and other oxidants as by-products, which is true for all ionizing purifiers. The emission ozone level is under the 50 ppb voluntary guideline, but I simply did not enjoy the idea of a purifier that purifies and pollutes at the same time. This is especially true for me because I had asthma and currently I have an abnormal heartbeat pattern. It is not a threatening health situation nor serious, but I want to be on the safe side.
Nevertheless, Kaz support team was nice and advised me to return it to where I bought it. I was able to return it back to Home Depot without any trouble. Consequently I was really grateful and bought another Kaz made purifier from Home Depot in the same day. It is the Honeywell 50250 Honeywell 50250N 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier. I researched a lot before getting the 50250N.
I am convinced that Honeywell 50250N is a better purifier than Honeywell HFD-130. First, 50250N is a true HEPA with higher particle capture rate. Second, 50250N has a greater purification speed at 250 CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rating), whereas the HFD-130 has only 140 CADR. The real CADR for this unit is confusing as well. Many commercial websites claim it has a 130-140 CADR, but according to the AHAM website and Kaz's website, it only has ~110 CADR. Given that the CADR measurement is certified by AHAM. I am leaning toward believing the lower number. Third, 50250N produces no by-product gas. Fourth, 50250N is sold at lower price than HFD-130. On the other hand, HFD-130 has one major advantage over 50250. It is much quieter. For the reviewers who complain about the noise level of this unit, don't even think about a HEPA air purifier. The noise level of HFD-130 at its highest fan speed is similar to the noise level of 50250N at its lowest fan speed, if not queiter. HFD-130 is also more stylish than 50250N. The permanent IFD filter on HFD-130 seems more robust than the Lifetime HEPA filter on 50250. HFD-130 uses much less electricity than 50250N (60W versus 170W at full speed), but I do not consider that as a 3 fold advantage since HFD-130 has half the purification power of 50250N.
HFD-130 is still a good unit and it certainly works. I have seen dust particles collected on the pre-filter and the discharged collector plate. Smaller particles are collected inside the IFD filter. When I dipped the IFD filter into water to clean, the water changed its color to light gray. It is not difficult to clean the filter. It is more difficult to wait for it to dry out before putting it back to the purifier. It takes at least 4 hours to air dry it. Some complain that they see dust collected around the exhaust of this purifier, and I have too, which means these dust particles are not trapped inside the filter, but that does not mean the purifier is not working. It is just working differently than you may have expected. This purifier is not designed to capture large visible particles, rather the small invisible ones. For this units, ions are generated by electrical discharge and the ions attach to nearby airborne particles. For the larger particles, they will aggregate and fall due to their weight, and that is why dusts are collected at the collector plate. Some however will fall around the purifier including the exhaust. These large particles are removed from the air. They are simply not trapped inside the filter. This, however, is not the main purification mechanism. The main purification is that ions attach to small airborne particles and these charged particles drift to the charged IFD filter. The larger particles cannot be trapped by IFD because of their momentum. Keep in mind that allergy is caused by the smaller invisible particles. If you want a purifier which can trap large visible particles efficiently, then this is not your unit.
As mentioned, particles are also collected at the discharged plate, but there is no easy way to clean it and the instruction manual does not state it need to be cleaned. I believe it is probably a safety decision since this is the high voltage part and Kaz probably does not want people getting shocked. However, the air purifying ability will decreases when the dust grow thicker on the discharge plate. You CAN actually clean it. Here is my advice if you want to clean it. Of course, unplug the unit and wait for a moment. Then get a cotton Q-tip and tie/tape it to a small wood or plastic rod, something like chopstick maybe even thinner. Now, you should able to reach in and clean the plate. An insulator handler like a wood or plastic rod is preferred. For those who I have just scared regarding the ozone comment, I have some advices short of returning the product. Ozone is reactive which means it can irritate your throat and respiratory system at high concentration. On the other hand, it does not stay in the air for long because it is reactive. As long as you do not place the HFD-130 next to you head while sleeping the ozone should not be a concern. If you suffer from asthma or serious allergy, then an ionizer purifier should not be your first choice. An ionizer does not always irritates people who suffers from asthma and allergy; rather, it is a possibility. Thus, even if you have asthma, as long as you do not feel anything unusual, then you probably do not have to return it.
**Update: I read a bit more careful on several websites which claims HFD-130 has a 99.97% purification ability. They actually states it has up to 99.97% removal rate. That means it can remove 99.97% at its best. The real definition of HEPA is at least 99.97% removal rate for particle of size 0.3 micrometer. This is a world of difference between "at least" and "at most".
**Update: Also I looked into AHAM more carefully. I believe here is the source of confusion for the CADR value. HFD-130 had a 140 dust CADR on Apr 2006, but it has been downrated to a 100 dust CADR on Jan 2007.

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Permanent IFDAir Purifier with filter that is washable and vacuum-able & never needs replacement!

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